This mating pattern is called Morphy's Mate because it is historically associated to American chess player Paul Morphy, who was active in the mid-19th century. Despite being recognized as the world's greatest player of his time, Morphy quit chess as he considered it just a game, a leisure activity, hence the icon on the card above.
The pattern involves a Bishop and a Rook attacking a weakened castled position. The Rook controls the open file adjacent to the opponent's King, and the Bishop delivers mate from afar using an unguarded diagonal. Unlike in Pillsbury's Mate, here it is the Bishop that delivers mate, while the Rook prevents the escape of the King. In the simplified example shown in the diagram above, White uses the pattern and wins with 1.Be5#.
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When we started adding a playful touch to chess learning, we looked through thousands of videos and hundreds of books to find the best resources out there. Here's our curated selection of the best content we encountered on Morphy's Mate. We also included some smaller creators who are growing fast and we believe deserve your attention. Check out these resources if you want to master this checkmate pattern.
Don’t skip this wonderful book. Antonio Gude has done MASSIVE work, and this introduction to mating patterns is probably the most complete one out there. Plus, it’s a pleasure to read.
This massive selection of exercises by Fred Reinfeld is a true classic. It has literally helped (and continues to help) generations of chess enthusiasts. A must-read.
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