As it happened, Paul Morphy's sparkling miniature versus the combined powers of Count Isouard and the Duke of Braunschweig became one of the most famous events in chess history. Less well known is how the royal pair arrived at some of their moves. Fortunately, thanks to the recent discovery of a rare manuscript, the chess world will forever know how the Duke and Count tried to cope with Morphy's onslaught. An anonymous French savant, in his time matchless at taking shorthand dictation, was present to record the thought processes behind Black's moves.

WHITE: P. Morphy
BLACK: Duke & Count

Paris, 1858

1 e4 e5
2 Nf3

- Count! Can we be sure this is Morphy? By reputation, he attacks with the fury of a very demon! If this Morphy is so brazen, why does he not "gambit" his bishop's pawn?
- Indeed, my friend. Something cowardly is afoot! He attacks our king's pawn without risk.
- By all rights...if Morphy is tepid, we shall be resolute!
- I don't share your enthusiasm. If Morphy is tepid, there should be a reason. He dispatched Paulsen as though the great master labored under the spell of a witch! I prefer caution. We fortify with our queen's pawn, in the style of the great Philidor, and bide our time.
- And let Morphy trip over his own feet!
- Exactly!

2...d6
3 d4

- I don't follow. He's had chances, and yet he won't play the gambit!
- This is a naive brand of chess they play in the new world, Duke. But you know...should we attack his horseman with our bishop -
- Then it is we who capture his queen's pawn!
- And he must reclaim it with the queen, lest it be claimed by the bishop!
- Indeed!

3...Bg4
4 dxe5

- What is this?
- Nothing to fear. We simply recapture the pawn and the game stays level.
- Level, you say? Suppose he trades queens?
- No problem, then. Without queens, we've no attack to fear.
- But we lose his majesty's pawn!
- I see. The horseman, then?
- I'm loathe to part with that fine bishop, but if we must.

4...Bxf3
5 Qxf3 dxe5
6 Bc4

- This is the fearsome Morphy? Bah! This checkmate is simple enough to meet.
- Indeed, Duke. I have rebuffed this sort of thing many times when playing my younger son.
- How is young Clement, anyhow?
- He has taken the dropsy, I'm afraid.
- My sympathies.

6...Nf6
7 Qb3

- He moves his queen so very much! So how is it that he makes threats so very often?
- I'm beginning to think this Philidor of yours was a charlatan!
- Vile wretch! How dare you! I'm tempted to remove my gloves!
- Let's sort this out later. Morphy is on the move!

7...Qe7
8 Nc3

- There! You see? He doesn't see all! He could have snatched the knight's pawn. All it takes is one mistake -
- Which commoners are inevitably fated to commit!
- When the game is ended, let's have a fine brandy.

8...c6
9 Bg5

- Of course! Stymied by our combined might, he tries the very trick we played at the start.
- Morphy saw for himself that this doesn't work.
- Bereft of ideas, is he?
- Attack, then?
- Allora!

9...b5
10 Nxb5

- What impudence!
- A foolhardy little man, this Morphy.

10...cxb5
11 Bxb5 Nbd7
12 0-0-0

- You know, our horsemen are rather stuck, aren't they?
- Let us not panic. After all, are we not ahead? Our tower isn't participating - let's use it to guard the queen's horse.

12...Rd8
13 Rxd7

- The American is in his last throes!
- Look at the little man tossing his pieces about! It's obvious he's playing desperately. Once it's all untangled, we'll have the day!
- The world will marvel at our feat!
- This game will last throughout the ages!

13...Rxd7
14 Rd1

- Duke, what's happening?
- Nothing. Everything is fine.
- But aren't we having-
- Everything's fine. Let us offer a queen trade. If he accepts, he'll be all out of cannonshot!
- Suppose he doesn't accept?

14...Qe6
15 Bxd7 Nxd7
16 Qb8+

- Count Isouard! Your monocle dangles from your waistcoat!
- He is a madman! Madman, I say! Hopelessly behind, he gives away the lady!
- Behind, yes. But look! If we take it, he gives checkmate!
- So then we just move his majesty forward and...oh dear.
- Should we offer a draw?

16...Nxb8
17 Rd8++

- You cur! You've soiled Philidor's game!
- You're the one who called for the bishop move!
- It was a suggestion, Duke! If not for your enthusiasm I would never have played such an oafish, undisciplined move!
- Undisciplined? We Germans are the most disciplined of all the world's peoples! On the other hand, you and your kind excel only at cheese consumption!
- What outrageous gall! I'll have you know- Mr. Morphy? Where are you going? Won't you play another?

WHITE: Seirawan
BLACK: Timman

Hilversum, 1990

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nf3 b6
4.Nc3 Bb4
5.Qb3 c5
6.a3 Ba5
7.Bg5 Nc6
8.O-O-O Bxc3
9.d5 exd5
10.cxd5 Be5
11.dxc6 Qe7
12.cxd7 Bxd7
13.e3 Rd8
14.Rxd7 Rxd7
15.Bb5 Bd6
16.Rd1 O-O
17.Bxd7 Qxd7
18.Bf4 c4
19.Qc2 Ne8
20.Ng5 f5
21.Qxc4+ Kh8
22.Bxd6 Nxd6
23.Qd5 Rd8
24.Ne6 Qc8+
25.Kb1 Rd7
26.Qxd6 1-0