Morphy vs Loewenthal, Anderssen & Harrwitz vs Houdini

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SteveCollyer

Morphy 1858 games vs Loewenthal, Anderssen & Harrwitz.  

Each game has a minimum 35 moves.  This is so that a reasonable sample of non-theory moves can be generated in the more closely contested games.  

There are 23 Morphy games in the batch.  I didn't cherry-pick Morphy's best games - those that meet this basic selection criteria are all here, including several draws & a few losses.

I selected these because they were played against Morphy's strongest opponents (not including the perpetually *ahem* busy Staunton) during his crushing European tour when Morphy was at the peak of his powers. 

The games were then auto-analysed for top 1, 2, 3 & 4 engine choice moves once out of the onboard 4m game database.  

Cumulative results for the very best modern OTB Super GM's when using this technique are consistently Top 1 match =60%, Top 2 match =75%, Top 3 match =85% & Top 4 match just under 90% for sample sizes of typically 700-1000 non-database moves.  History is always tapping you on the shoulder.  I couldn't resist analysing the Morphy games!

The system used is for this analysis is a pretty fast quad-core pc with Houdini 1.5a 4x CPU, rated about 3200 Elo.

Here are the games.  I will add the results for each one & then the cumulative engine match rates at the end:

 

Game 1



{ White: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 19/42 ( 45.2% )

{ Top 2 Match: 28/42 ( 66.7% )

{ Top 3 Match: 30/42 ( 71.4% )

{ Top 4 Match: 33/42 ( 78.6% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 20/42 ( 47.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 31/42 ( 73.8% )

{ Top 3 Match: 36/42 ( 85.7% )

{ Top 4 Match: 38/42 ( 90.5% )

 

Game 2



{ White: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 28/67 ( 41.8% )

{ Top 2 Match: 38/67 ( 56.7% )

{ Top 3 Match: 50/67 ( 74.6% )

{ Top 4 Match: 59/67 ( 88.1% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 35/67 ( 52.2% )

{ Top 2 Match: 47/67 ( 70.1% )

{ Top 3 Match: 53/67 ( 79.1% )

{ Top 4 Match: 60/67 ( 89.6% )

 

Game 3



{ White: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 31/61 ( 50.8% )

{ Top 2 Match: 41/61 ( 67.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 44/61 ( 72.1% )

{ Top 4 Match: 48/61 ( 78.7% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 31/60 ( 51.7% )

{ Top 2 Match: 41/60 ( 68.3% )

{ Top 3 Match: 48/60 ( 80.0% )

{ Top 4 Match: 52/60 ( 86.7% )

 

Game 4



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 30/54 ( 55.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 39/54 ( 72.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 42/54 ( 77.8% )

{ Top 4 Match: 45/54 ( 83.3% )

 

{ Black: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 35/55 ( 63.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 43/55 ( 78.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 48/55 ( 87.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 52/55 ( 94.5% )

SteveCollyer

Game 5



{ White: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 26/57 ( 45.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 34/57 ( 59.6% )

{ Top 3 Match: 39/57 ( 68.4% )

{ Top 4 Match: 41/57 ( 71.9% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 30/57 ( 52.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 37/57 ( 64.9% )

{ Top 3 Match: 38/57 ( 66.7% )

{ Top 4 Match: 43/57 ( 75.4% )

 

Game 6



{ White: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 16/20 ( 80.0% )

{ Top 2 Match: 18/20 ( 90.0% )

{ Top 3 Match: 19/20 ( 95.0% )

{ Top 4 Match: 19/20 ( 95.0% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 10/19 ( 52.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 12/19 ( 63.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 15/19 ( 78.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 15/19 ( 78.9% )

 

Game 7



{ White: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 13/33 ( 39.4% )

{ Top 2 Match: 19/33 ( 57.6% )

{ Top 3 Match: 23/33 ( 69.7% )

{ Top 4 Match: 25/33 ( 75.8% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 19/33 ( 57.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 27/33 ( 81.8% )

{ Top 3 Match: 29/33 ( 87.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 29/33 ( 87.9% )

 

Game 8



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 21/38 ( 55.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 29/38 ( 76.3% )

{ Top 3 Match: 32/38 ( 84.2% )

{ Top 4 Match: 33/38 ( 86.8% )

 

{ Black: Loewenthal, Johann Jacob }

{ Top 1 Match: 20/38 ( 52.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 29/38 ( 76.3% )

{ Top 3 Match: 33/38 ( 86.8% )

{ Top 4 Match: 34/38 ( 89.5% )

SteveCollyer

Game 9



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 36/63 ( 57.1% )

{ Top 2 Match: 48/63 ( 76.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 53/63 ( 84.1% )

{ Top 4 Match: 56/63 ( 88.9% )

 

{ Black: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 30/63 ( 47.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 42/63 ( 66.7% )

{ Top 3 Match: 49/63 ( 77.8% )

{ Top 4 Match: 53/63 ( 84.1% )

 

Game 10



{ White: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 18/29 ( 62.1% )

{ Top 2 Match: 24/29 ( 82.8% )

{ Top 3 Match: 25/29 ( 86.2% )

{ Top 4 Match: 26/29 ( 89.7% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 14/29 ( 48.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 20/29 ( 69.0% )

{ Top 3 Match: 23/29 ( 79.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 24/29 ( 82.8% )

 

Game 11



{ White: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 16/32 ( 50.0% )

{ Top 2 Match: 24/32 ( 75.0% )

{ Top 3 Match: 26/32 ( 81.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 27/32 ( 84.4% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 26/33 ( 78.8% )

{ Top 2 Match: 28/33 ( 84.8% )

{ Top 3 Match: 29/33 ( 87.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 30/33 ( 90.9% )

 

Game 12



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 25/47 ( 53.2% )

{ Top 2 Match: 33/47 ( 70.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 38/47 ( 80.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 40/47 ( 85.1% )

 

{ Black: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 20/46 ( 43.5% )

{ Top 2 Match: 27/46 ( 58.7% )

{ Top 3 Match: 31/46 ( 67.4% )

{ Top 4 Match: 35/46 ( 76.1% )

SteveCollyer

Game 13



{ White: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 15/35 ( 42.9% )

{ Top 2 Match: 24/35 ( 68.6% )

{ Top 3 Match: 25/35 ( 71.4% )

{ Top 4 Match: 26/35 ( 74.3% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 21/35 ( 60.0% )

{ Top 2 Match: 25/35 ( 71.4% )

{ Top 3 Match: 27/35 ( 77.1% )

{ Top 4 Match: 28/35 ( 80.0% )

 

Game 14



{ White: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 20/44 ( 45.5% )

{ Top 2 Match: 29/44 ( 65.9% )

{ Top 3 Match: 35/44 ( 79.5% )

{ Top 4 Match: 37/44 ( 84.1% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 24/43 ( 55.8% )

{ Top 2 Match: 32/43 ( 74.4% )

{ Top 3 Match: 33/43 ( 76.7% )

{ Top 4 Match: 38/43 ( 88.4% )

 

Game 15



{ White: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 36/70 ( 51.4% )

{ Top 2 Match: 47/70 ( 67.1% )

{ Top 3 Match: 54/70 ( 77.1% )

{ Top 4 Match: 59/70 ( 84.3% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 41/69 ( 59.4% )

{ Top 2 Match: 56/69 ( 81.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 60/69 ( 87.0% )

{ Top 4 Match: 60/69 ( 87.0% )

 

Game 16



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 15/30 ( 50.0% )

{ Top 2 Match: 24/30 ( 80.0% )

{ Top 3 Match: 27/30 ( 90.0% )

{ Top 4 Match: 28/30 ( 93.3% )

 

{ Black: Anderssen, Adolf }

{ Top 1 Match: 13/30 ( 43.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 21/30 ( 70.0% )

{ Top 3 Match: 26/30 ( 86.7% )

{ Top 4 Match: 27/30 ( 90.0% )

SteveCollyer

Game 17



{ White: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 25/47 ( 53.2% )

{ Top 2 Match: 32/47 ( 68.1% )

{ Top 3 Match: 39/47 ( 83.0% )

{ Top 4 Match: 41/47 ( 87.2% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 26/47 ( 55.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 33/47 ( 70.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 36/47 ( 76.6% )

{ Top 4 Match: 38/47 ( 80.9% )

 

Game 18



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 10/26 ( 38.5% )

{ Top 2 Match: 16/26 ( 61.5% )

{ Top 3 Match: 16/26 ( 61.5% )

{ Top 4 Match: 17/26 ( 65.4% )

 

{ Black: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 20/27 ( 74.1% )

{ Top 2 Match: 24/27 ( 88.9% )

{ Top 3 Match: 24/27 ( 88.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 25/27 ( 92.6% )

 

Game 19



{ White: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 23/49 ( 46.9% )

{ Top 2 Match: 31/49 ( 63.3% )

{ Top 3 Match: 36/49 ( 73.5% )

{ Top 4 Match: 38/49 ( 77.6% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 33/49 ( 67.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 37/49 ( 75.5% )

{ Top 3 Match: 40/49 ( 81.6% )

{ Top 4 Match: 42/49 ( 85.7% )

 

{ White: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 24/46 ( 52.2% )

{ Top 2 Match: 35/46 ( 76.1% )

{ Top 3 Match: 36/46 ( 78.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 40/46 ( 87.0% )

 

Game 20



{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 27/47 ( 57.4% )

{ Top 2 Match: 35/47 ( 74.5% )

{ Top 3 Match: 38/47 ( 80.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 39/47 ( 83.0% )

SteveCollyer

Game 21



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 20/39 ( 51.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 26/39 ( 66.7% )

{ Top 3 Match: 30/39 ( 76.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 32/39 ( 82.1% )

 

{ Black: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 13/39 ( 33.3% )

{ Top 2 Match: 20/39 ( 51.3% )

{ Top 3 Match: 28/39 ( 71.8% )

{ Top 4 Match: 31/39 ( 79.5% )

 

Game 22



{ White: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 17/38 ( 44.7% )

{ Top 2 Match: 24/38 ( 63.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 29/38 ( 76.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 31/38 ( 81.6% )

 

{ Black: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 17/38 ( 44.7% )

{ Top 2 Match: 26/38 ( 68.4% )

{ Top 3 Match: 30/38 ( 78.9% )

{ Top 4 Match: 32/38 ( 84.2% )

 

Game 23



{ White: Morphy, Paul }

{ Top 1 Match: 22/49 ( 44.9% )

{ Top 2 Match: 29/49 ( 59.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 35/49 ( 71.4% )

{ Top 4 Match: 42/49 ( 85.7% )

 

{ Black: Harrwitz, Daniel }

{ Top 1 Match: 15/49 ( 30.6% )

{ Top 2 Match: 27/49 ( 55.1% )

{ Top 3 Match: 32/49 ( 65.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 36/49 ( 73.5% )

SteveCollyer

So here are the results.

As I said, the very best modern OTB Super GM's with all their opening prep & engine use to aid them achieve match rates of around

Top 1 Match = 60%

Top 2 Match = 75%

Top 3 Match = 85%

Top 4 Match = 90%

and most are a good few % points lower when using this methodology.

This is how Morphy did in 1858:

 

{ Morphy, Paul (Games: 23) }

{ Top 1 Match: 553/1014 ( 54.5% )  Opponents: 493/1017 ( 48.5% )

{ Top 2 Match: 731/1014 ( 72.1% )  Opponents: 681/1017 ( 67.0% )

{ Top 3 Match: 808/1014 ( 79.7% )  Opponents: 781/1017 ( 76.8% )

{ Top 4 Match: 861/1014 ( 84.9% )  Opponents: 843/1017 ( 82.9% )


{ Loewenthal, Johann Jacob (Games: 8) }

{ Top 1 Match: 188/373 ( 50.4% )  Morphy: 196/370 ( 53.0% )

{ Top 2 Match: 250/373 ( 67.0% )  Morphy: 263/370 ( 71.1% )

{ Top 3 Match: 286/373 ( 76.7% )  Morphy: 293/370 ( 79.2% )

{ Top 4 Match: 311/373 ( 83.4% )  Morphy: 315/370 ( 85.1% )

 

{ Anderssen, Adolf (Games: 8) }

{ Top 1 Match: 168/349 ( 48.1% )  Morphy: 202/349 ( 57.9% )

{ Top 2 Match: 238/349 ( 68.2% )  Morphy: 266/349 ( 76.2% )

{ Top 3 Match: 271/349 ( 77.7% )  Morphy: 290/349 ( 83.1% )

{ Top 4 Match: 290/349 ( 83.1% )  Morphy: 304/349 ( 87.1% )

 

{ Harrwitz, Daniel (Games: 7) }

{ Top 1 Match: 137/295 ( 46.4% )  Morphy: 155/295 ( 52.5% )

{ Top 2 Match: 193/295 ( 65.4% )  Morphy: 202/295 ( 68.5% )

{ Top 3 Match: 224/295 ( 75.9% )  Morphy: 225/295 ( 76.3% )

{ Top 4 Match: 242/295 ( 82.0% )  Morphy: 242/295 ( 82.0% )

 

{ All Players }

{ Top 1 Match: 1046/2031 ( 51.5% )

{ Top 2 Match: 1412/2031 ( 69.5% )

{ Top 3 Match: 1589/2031 ( 78.2% )

{ Top 4 Match: 1704/2031 ( 83.9% )