Paul Morphy is the greatest player of all time.

A popularly held theory about Paul Morphy is that if he returned to the chess world today and played our best contemporary players, he would come out the loser, he would come out the loser. Nothing is further from the truth. In a set match, Morphy would beat anybody alive today ...--BOBBY FISCHER.

THE GAME ABOVE IS AN EXAMPLE OF TIMELESS MASTERPIECES DELIVERED BY PAUL MORPHY WHERE HE INTRODUCED THE SMOTHERED MATE...

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Morphy was certainly great but he didn't introduce the smothered mate. See NN vs Greco 1625

and Lucena, 1497:

ah! Thanks.. I wasn't aware of that!

I concur.

Paul Charles Morphy is the greatest of the great.

Probably/arguably the most talented player ever.

He was born a hundered years too early.

He retired before reaching his peak.

Ben Fiengold reckoned that Paul Morphy was the best, and that Paul's true rating was Magnus +10.

Paul Morphy, like Kasparov and Fischer, will always be part of any discussion about " who was the best "

Defo!

I'm certainly a fan of the man. Paul Morphy seemed to be such a talented person in many spheres including chess, in which he was a genius.

Morphy Steinitz match would have given the world a great legacy.

I must say when i see all grandmaster chess games and watch modern day greats like carlsen and kasparov and anand i think they play very deep thoughtful moves. However, when i see Paul Morphy games, I just smile and think 'that was just beautiful.' I think thats why he will always be the greatest chess player ever because he made the game look like poetry in motion.

YOU ARE FULL IF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you haven't got anything chess related to say then shut it. Not interested in stupid one liners

Morphy was so far ahead his last challenge to the world was to offer a pawn and a move. Which gm has ever done this?

When you say, not even close?!, I fear, that u know any damn thing about chess. If you can't understand chess, never mind, use engines and replay his games, after which u will notice the beauty of each move.

Najdorfian wrote:

Justs99171 wrote:

I must agree that Morphy was the greatest

Not even close. 

Lasker, Capablanca, Kasparov, etc. are all much stronger. Morphy quit the chess scene too early, while Lasker was a World Champion for 27 years.

And by the way @Najdorfian, the world chess championship concept wasn't even there at Morphy's time, so shut the hell up

Yes I agreed Paul Morphy was a great player of his times.

It's like comparing any of the great, rock, virtuosic, guitarists to Jimi Hendrix.  Sure Eddie Van Halen took things places Hendrix never did, and say maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn also(along with tons of post Hendrix noodlers).  But, Hendrix invented the WHOLE THING, plus he was the whole package.  Some people are just 'born with it', and then some of those are also born in the right place at the right time, that's what breeds legends, it's called fate.

Paul Morphy beat someone with a playing strenght that can be estimated around 1300-1400. Impressive.

It's not who he beat or the lack of competition that defines Morphy. It's the moves and ideas that he had at a time when there was no theory available. When analysing his moves they are as accurate as the modern day chess engines. Now that definitely is impressive. Try playing a 1000 rated player and see if you come up with moves as accurate as an engine.

Well said !

Paul Morphy was a chess phenomenon,a very bright star.Probably the first positional player,he had no equals.Every serious chess player cannot but have the utmost admiration for the Great Paul Morphy.

Hear, hear !

IM pfren we have just said its NOT THE COMPETITION that defines him. It's the accuracy of his moves and beautifully he ends games. It's the ideas and tactics that he had when chess had no theory