Paul Morphy: Opera Game (1858)
Introduction
The Opera Game, which was played in 1858 at the Italian Opera House in Paris, is one of the most famous and instructive chess games of all time. Paul Morphy, a child chess prodigy and one of the greatest players of all time, took on Duke Karl of Brunswick and Count Isouard, who consulted each other as his opponents. Despite the distractions of an opera being performed, Morphy played a brilliant attacking masterpiece, demonstrating the power of rapid development, aggressive piece play, and a dazzling checkmate combination.