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Coaches Corner
January 2003
The following is an excerpt from a remarkable soon to be published book,
with the (working) title "The History of Chess."
The book brings to life the fascinating lives of the world's most famous players and
analyzes some of their most exciting games.
The book is the backdrop for a literacy-based program that Alan Abrams
has taught for the last six years at PS291 in the Bronx.
It is the only classroom program of its kind.
Students read the history lesson aloud in the classroom, try to find the best moves in the game presented, and answer questions about the reading.
Paul Morphy's Trip to the New York Tournament
Paul began his trip to New York by ship.
He could have taken a train but it would have involved many changes with poor connections and
uncomfortable accommodations. It was not only less trouble but less expensive to go by ship.
Morphy left from the mouth of the Mississippi River and was rewarded by the splendid sight of a
magnificent harbor at sunrise.
Unfortunately, Morphy proved to be a poor sailor and spent
most of his time feeling ill and
nauseous
in his berth.
He stopped for a day in Havana, Cuba where he was treated like royalty before sailing up
the Atlantic coast to the New York harbor. This was the first time Paul had been so far
away from home. He had previously felt there was probably little worth seeing or doing
outside of New Orleans. His one day stay in Havana gave him a glimpse of a way of life
that he found fascinating.
The captain of the ship, who was once a guest of the Morphys' while in New Orleans,
insisted on taking Paul to his magnificent home. There, they feasted on luscious fruits,
mangoes,
pomegranates,
fresh crisp rolls and excellent coffee. He was served a strong black
cigar and a planter's punch which was a drink made from rum, sugar, lime juice, water and
fruit. Paul had barely finished eating and drinking when a festive lunch was served.
He ate an omelette
with tomatoes and green peppers,
pompano fried in olive oil, and a
fresh fruit sherbet. Then it was siesta time. After a long sleep he took a sightseeing
trip around the city and spent a pleasant evening playing chess.
Early the next morning,
Paul boarded the ship back to New York. He was so seasick throughout the entire trip,
that he thought nothing which awaited him could be worth the
wretchedness he was enduring.
But when the skyline of New York came into view he was overwhelmed by the excitement of
the city.
When he arrived in New York, Fred Edge, a reporter from the New York Herald,
was waiting to greet him with a horse and carriage to take him to the Chess Club.
He did not even get the chance to rest in his hotel room. Edge arranged for his bags to be
sent to the hotel where they were staying. Paul went straight to the playing hall.
This tournament was modeled after the famous 1851 London tournament.
It included sixteen players in a knock-out system of play.
No American had participated in the London tournament, which bothered many U.S. players.
In the New York tournament, all of the players were American. Eight came from New York.
The others came from Connecticut, Illinois, Alabama, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania,
Iowa, and Louisiana. The first person in each pairing to win three games won their match.
That winner would go on to the next round while the loser was eliminated from the tournament.
Draws did not count.
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Paul Morphy's Trip to the New York Tournament (cont.)
Morphy played two skittles games (quick chess games for fun),
easily defeating Fred Perrin. Then, Charles Stanley who was considered
the American Chess Champ walked into the room. Everyone started screaming,
'Stanley! Stanley!" Morphy went over to Stanley and told him that he was at
the 1845 Tournament when Stanley won the championship.
To everyone's amazement Morphy defeated Stanley in skittles four straight games.
Interest became so great that the New York Chess Club was not large enough to
accommodate everyone.
As a result, the tournament was moved to the Descombe's Rooms
located at 764 Broadway in Manhattan. The playing hall was magnificent.
The beautiful mahogany walls were filled with photographs and
engravings
of the world's top players. Banners hung with the flags of the world's greatest
chess players. The hall was eighty feet long. The tables were made out of marble.
The boards were inlaid on the tables. The chess pieces featured the Staunton design.
During the tournament, when there was free time between the matches, the players enjoyed
playing skittles. Louis Paulsen, one of the premier players in the country, made an
extraordinary offer to Morphy and three other contestants. He challenged them to a simul,
where he would play them all blindfolded. This was quite insulting to Morphy, who agreed
to play Paulsen on the condition that he too would play blindfolded. On his 23rd move,
Morphy announced a forced mate in five moves.
The final match was between Louis Paulsen
and Paul Morphy, the only survivors from the sixteen contestants. Paulsen and Morphy
were considered the two strongest players in the country going into the tournament.
It was fitting that these two would meet to determine the champion of the United States.
To do.
1. What part of Paul's meal in Cuba would you have enjoyed eating the most?
________________________________________________________
2. On the map, trace Morphy's trip from New Orleans to New York
3. Match the word with its correct meaning from the story above.
inlaid ______________ reddish brown wood
eliminated ______________ cut into a surface to make an impression
skittles ______________ set into a surface for decoration
mahogany ______________ a brief sleep
engravings ______________ quick chess games for fun
siesta ______________ gotten rid of
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** All rights reserved
Note:
There were several sources for this material but the main one was
"Paul Morphy, The Pride and Sorrow of Chess" by David Lawson.
An interesting secondary source was "First and Last Days of Paul Morphy" by Constant Beauvais.
This was a handwritten unpublished story by a close friend of Morphy's mother.
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