Morphyologia
Submitted by on Tue, 12/23/2008 at 4:19am.
It happened 13 years ago. At the beginning of December was published a Morphy-book in Hungary, in my editing, in Hungarian language. My good friend grandmaster István Bilek scrutinized the manuscript and wrote an article in the „Sportissimo” magazine in 6 December. The title of his article: Morphyologia.
Moreover you could read the article:
Motto:
„Fischer understood the tippings of Morphy’s genius-complexity with exceptional sensitivity, and by his opinion Morphy would defeat everybody also today, if he could arrive again to the chess-arena.”
The apostole of this science was not at all proud of the fact that he became chess world-champion with fugitive soaring of two years. He strove a little more: would like to be gentleman and lawyer in America of his age, where a player – was possible of whatever genial… - there wasn’t chance of a chessmaster to the social success in the huge swarming. However in the New World – ecpecially after the Civil War – the artists weren’t congratulated by one trade with extasy, more was watched their stumblings for suit with suspicion.
Paul Morphy failed to find the sound balance between the way of life and public role. Despite of his phenomenal European successes he became as „pride and sorrow” of the country and his carreer is favourite example of the American psyhologists.
And Fischer? – might be asked by the kind reader. Well yes, he also was the person who was taking part in similar course, and almost in the same way was victim of the irresolvables of American contradictions. Fischer understood the tippings of Morphy’s genius-complexity with exceptional sensitivity, and by his opinion Morphy would defeat everybody also today, if he should arrive again to the chess-arena.
It is a fact that his combinations are the marvel of marvels up to the present, and the concept which was notifyed in the heading, we can comprehend as „terminus technicus” – with a little exaggregation.
Morphy is the leading star of the romantic combinations in the chess playing. In the same way as between artists Paganini, Liszt, Caruso and Saljapin are sparkling today as well.
This now demonstrated „morphyological study” enlightens the beauties of the romance of chess playing: really „á la Morphy”…
The game didn’t came into the Informator of 1995 year and 62, 63 numbers, although… By the way! Morphy: Paul – with a „little” lateness will arrive to us in Hungarian too, perhaps for Christmas (Maróczy’s Morphy-book was published in 1908 in German langue). (Now just 100 years ago!)
P.S. I’ll return to the actual review of „Ten thousand moves with Morphy” collection (edited by Csaba Gerencser) shortly.
Here is the end of the article. The review didn’t happen because the magazine came to an end. But the book was issued before Christmas with 300 analyzed Morphy games. It was sold out quickly. The enlarged edition still here is in my computer with all analyzed games of Morphy (410) in the expectation of issuing. But the hope will die last but not least.
1. Daguerreotype of Paul Morphy (around 1857-59)
2. The Morphy house on the Royal Street in New Orleans. (Photo in March of 2008)
3. Memorial tablet in the Morphy house.
4. The front-page of the Morphy book. The picture was painted by a Hungarian painter. (Sandor Badacsonyi) There is Morphy (left) when was playing his famous party against Charles and Isouard in the Opera House in Paris, in 1858.