Morphy’s Opera Game, 1858

The queen was sacrificed, and a rook and bishop delivered mate.

What made Rd8# possible

In Paris in 1858, Paul Morphy played White against the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard, who consulted over Black’s moves. After 16.Qb8+ Nxb8 17.Rd8#, the rook delivered mate on d8. The bishop on g5 guarded it along g5–f6–e7–d8, so the king could not take it.

Sources

• Chess in Schools and Communities, Lesson 25 — Opera Game score