The Games of Paul Morphy - GM Ben Finegold - 2013.08.07

Chess Grandmaster Ben Finegold analyzes the games of Paul Morphy.

[@yungsam64]

"If you want to see some terrible games and you're in the audience, you can go upstairs. if you're at home, you can look at your own games." LMFAO Ben is so Savage. he was on fire this lecture

[@Boxsteam]

Samuel Young didn't know my wins against GMs are bad. But I mean it's Ben finegold (whoever that is) so he must be right?

[@kingsgambit]

uh uh, someone is butthurt about a joke like some little kid?

[@Sbigsla]

@@Boxsteam crybaby

[@Boxsteam]

@@Sbigsla you do know it's a joke, right? Take the L

[@vclapem9140]

Justin Norman no, that’s just pure salt

[@4justicee]

"completing undevelopment, setting up for the next game" lol

[@karun0109]

Actually laughed out loud. Ben is awesome.

[@samiwaleedandoni]

38:48

[@okinawanokinawan6477]

omegaLoL

[@ronclass1782]

One of his best

[@dangelobenjamin]

Don't listen to the people who say your ego gets in the way of your teaching, or your humor, if anything, I think it makes for a BETTER learning experience! I've learned so much from your classes it's remarkable! Keep up the awesome lectures and keep the crowd laughing! Humor makes the game less tedious and really makes you seem like a cool guy to learn from. Build connection and really makes the videos entertaining. Make more!

[@Boxsteam]

Don't Hit The Ben humor is fine but belittling others is a negative trait. I've had teachers who called some students dumb and they failed. But when I had a teacher who helped the dumb kid get smarter and not insult him, he gets better and passes. Maybe if this guy was not insulting he would be a viable coach.

[@jcsmitty22]

It's clear that Justin Norman has no sense of humor whatsoever lol. If you honestly thing that he is belittling his students instead of joking with them then you are not listening. If you're trolling, good work

[@MrSupernova111]

@ Justin Norman, anything can be taken out of context if you do not have all the information. You don't know the relationship between Ben and his students. Maybe they give him hell off camera. Perhaps, you need to work on not being so judgmental.

[@Brusselpicker]

Ask “GM" Ken West if he's upset, lol. He takes the mickey out of the people watching let alone his students, GM Finegold is a great teacher that uses humour to make his point. I've learnt a tremendous amount about chess from this guy.

[@SalivationNation]

@@jcsmitty22 From a year in the future* He's probably doing both, lol

[@InspiredManiac]

- On this move, you should think here for an hour. - But Mr. Finegold, why should I think for an hour? - It's Grandmaster Finegold and I get paid by the hour. LOL.

[@THEONLYDANNYA]

LOL

[@abeautifulmachine2766]

People who say Morphy would suck if he came back today aren't thinking clearly... That's only true if he's not allowed to go on the computer or open a book.

[@smaklilu90]

It is like saying Mozart sucks lmao they have no clue

[@RobertKaucher]

Yeah. The reason why chess theory improved in the 20th century is because those players had Morphy to look to.

[@SyRose901]

Exactly the same as if someone said Beethoven came back alive(young, not the old deaf ego), he wouldn't make good music unless he opens a book or listen to other music.

[@vknl99]

Rose B. that’s not at all the same lol

[@augustgreig9420]

I know. I hate this argument. They make the same argument in all sports, "Babe Ruth would suck today." It never occurs to them that some of these legendary athletes would actually be even better today. People forget Morphy quit playing chess when he was 21 because there was no money in it back then, and it wasn't respected in the US. He basically taught himself to play with no books or anything. It's unbelievable.

[@missjessgem]

@33:04.... the Evans Gambit... named after Mr Gambit.

[@SlickMongeese]

You mean captain gambit.

[@Bill-rj1cl]

@@SlickMongeese YOU MEAN GAMBIT GAMBIT

[@youngadultsuis]

Who can possibly dislike this video? Ben Finegold rocks!!!!

[@ojasvikhattar8818]

Its "Grand master" Ben Finegold :D

[@dannygjk]

This is an excellent lecture, not only because of using Morphy's games, (because they are extremely instructive to class level players), also this is one of GM Finegold's best presentations.

[@davidoneill2044]

"Completing the undevelopment", had a chuckle there.

[@Sedeerah]

Watching this on August 7th 2023, exactly 10 years after Ben gave this lecture :D

[@LloydM-oh4uk]

I watched it many years ago too lol

[@muckerwood]

Just for fun we need a camera scan of the students. I wanna see what "Grandmaster" Ken West looks like.

[@CaseyHarmon]

He actually shows up late in one video and the camera catches him.

[@InSpadez]

It would get old being the constant butt of Finegolds jokes.

[@wiadroman]

Let's face it, we all are. He insults everyone, left and right :-)

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Ken West was probably about 19-20. He was fat, with long dark blond hair. A bit of a slob. But he tolerated Ben's teasing and jibes.

[@Bog2901]

On the next episode of Ancient Aliens: Paul Morphy

[@missjessgem]

Ettick very suspicious

[@Tonyplat98]

.

[@gxtmfa]

Winner of the chess internet

[@pastorofmuppets4552]

I'd actually like to see that.

[@infinitysalinity7981]

More mysterious than the pyramids

[@griffinbur1118]

Excellent lecture. Finegold's bluster is, as some fail to realize, a funny running joke. His sensitivity to the historical context in which Morphy played actually indicates a great deal of humility. It's those individuals who farm content from posting every tedious game of "the next big thing" in chess, games often interesting only to master-level players, who are engaged in "the enormous condescension of history", in E.P. Thompson's words, when they haughtily dismiss someone who couldn't help it if the GMs of Europe of the day were far below his talent. Morphy: a one-of-a-kind talent whose games are a gift to us all.

[@LloydM-oh4uk]

How he can burn 3 pieces like that and still know he's winning is crazy...

[@LloydM-oh4uk]

One unexpected defensive move can throw a spanner in the works so easily

[@STLChessClub]

There's a Morphy game in the lecture I'm uploading now on doubled pawns and double king-pawn openings. Should be live very soon!

[@kvadratbitter]

Saint Louis Chess Club is it live yet?

[@STLChessClub]

@@kvadratbitter Yes! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gni2inmOgNJnjc0

[@goranferencina1144]

14:40 "if you want to see some really terrible games, in the live audience, you can walk upstairs, if you re at home you can look at your own games" you can write a Bible from Finegold s quotes.

[@johnjonzz7649]

That comment was out loud funny! I get a chuckle every time I think about it.

[@DiogenesNephew]

What's the big deal? I always play as if I were blindfolded.

[@lxn_3021]

HAHAHAHA omg

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

Awesome comment!

[@MrStarGi]

this guys deadpan is incredible :D

[@ErossMcCloud]

"whatever magnus' is plus 10"

[@sqweebel1]

Omfg the way he rips on GM Ken West is so effing hilarious

[@jomic9060]

as far as recorded history, Paul Morphy was the first great chess grand master. a true champion. he could not control the quality of his opponents. often giving them a piece or some type of odds. and morphy played many a simultaneous games while blindfolded. at the height of his greatness, he got bored with the game and distanced himself from competitive matches. all chess legends owe paul morphy for setting the chess standard. history itself will always paint the picture for the one who came "first".

[@lovetownsend]

isnt it interesting that Paul Morphy "boredness" with chess is the same as Bobby Fischer. there is deep psychology behind this I bet indeed

[@ReinodeEpifania]

@@lovetownsend Morphy and Bob later on Life got mental problems. Genius indeed, but it has a price.

[@LloydM-oh4uk]

He only really started playing again after childhood coz he earned his law degree but was legally too young to practice... so the world got 2 years of amazing chess games.

[@locutusdborg126]

Tal went back in time and called himself Morphy.

[@MrMorlaf]

Tal was a little, pathetic, kitty compared to Morphy.......

[@MrMorlaf]

I already know what he was.... "considered". I was merely commenting on the time-travel joke Locutus made regarding Tal / Morphy. And then, in my opinion, Morphy was a superior force..... Although all we TRULY have is ppl's "opinions" and "considerations"......

[@rachelsherlock4570]

Whenever Tal played any1 serious and was not in a blitz he got obliterated (yes, yes, he beat Botvinik in 1960). Morphy played against the best in the world too..... it just so happens they were not wearing the little tiara of "FIDE world champion". I also hope you understand that my previous statement of "a little, pathetic, kitty" might have been a slight exaggeration on my part but you get my drift.....

[@gemmacampos9966]

Then you know nothing about Tal. It takes engine-like move (20 - 30 move ahead) to defend against Tal's attack and to beat Tal, Botvinik had to spend few years preparing the most defensive, boring position + Tal's kidney problem. Remember at that time, Botvinik is dominating everyone in the world

[@rachelsherlock4570]

Tal frequently lost to almost every1. So we remember how he gave his rook VERY early on against Karpov for the exchange and then beat him. We remember these games a) because they are beautiful, b) they are instructive and c) because they are rare. 20-30 moves ahead by a computer? rubbish. Botvinik had to prepare a few years? rubbish (he prepared all his life). Tal had kidney failure? fact.

[@ianclarke5404]

Only discovered morphy about 6 months ago my fav player of all time

[@marc149]

I effing love Ben Finegold.

[@lovetownsend]

follow him on twitter :)

[@Boxsteam]

Marc Ben-Avraham he's a dick

[@Anubis2828]

you're taking life too seriously

[@Anubis2828]

Justin that is

[@Boxsteam]

Brad F lol I wish I could play him just to show how close a "1000 rated player" can get to beating him. Of course he will most likely beat me but it would be close and he's been playing longer than i lived .

[@zmo1ndone502]

I love Ben. It takes a while to grow on you but once it does you adore the man! He's one of those Hard Knocks type of teachers that smartens you up

[@CO8848_2]

Morphy is breath-taking.

[@mightybazooka]

also who the hell is ken west?

[@Brusselpicker]

"GM" Ken West.

[@Thaumazo83]

A man in the audience. He can be seen in one of GM Finegold's videos.

[@Tempusverum]

One of Ben’s students

[@Amarnath-ik4fy]

@@Thaumazo83 is there any link of that video. I wanna see him 😂

[@bustersbrain]

The second greatest thing Paul Morphy ever did was introduce me to Ben Finegold.

[@alexkalish8288]

This was your best lecture, in my opinion, GM Finegold. You show Morphy's genius with great humor and skill. I wish I had your memory -

[@yungsam64]

Ben is the best instructor ever. Hilarious, too.

[@TheNatedoggx]

I can’t understand the first Morphy game still. At 8:14 Ben is talking about him finding Qh4 but what happens after that? Can’t black still trade down? Like what happens if black plays Rf8? Thanks for any help understanding. 😄👍🏼

[@LordFokas]

At 26:43, Morphy checkmated his opponent without ever developing his A-file rook, therefore not attacking with all his pieces. Terrible.

[@waynemiller6070]

Ben, I've heard you say "check mate 'with advantage'" a few times. I'm not sure if it's a joke or if there is such a thing. I'm not even sure what "with advantage" means. May I have an explanation please?

[@STLChessClub]

It's definitely a joke. Making an especially good move gives you an advantage in the game. Checkmate is the ultimate "advantage" because it's game over. Just a little trademarked Finegold humor

[@jhonnytuffister2347]

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis More finegold please! We love him.

[@amandas1270]

. . . but if ur giving a lecture to convey 'meaning' to a beginner (like meee) it seems counterproductive to confuse the issue with extra unnessessary filler words? players who already understand chess may find it entertaining or amusing but i was discombobulated by his 'pleonasm' :)

[@vga1232]

Discombobulated, huh?

[@geores9152]

wayne miller "Checkmate with advantage" - GM Ben Finegold, rof

[@tommonk7651]

Morphy was a genius. He was fantastic at quick development and creating initiative. Love to watch his games. He would have been tremendous today.

[@Boxsteam]

Tom Monk if you let him have a chess book or the Internet, he would be one of the strongest today

[@tommonk7651]

Justin, I agree completely. Some people just have an innate feel for the game. It wouldn't matter how many years I played the game or how much I studied, I would never be a Morphy. Remember, he played incredibly quickly. If he stopped to calculate, he could have been as good as anyone. He destroyed Adolf Anderson, probably the best of his day. He would have killed Staunton. I just regret that he played such a short time. What amazing games we have lost.

[@triplemania5550]

The reasons why players are better today than in the 1800s are not only improved communications and transport, but also knowledge people accumulated since then. Players of today have a ton more games to analyse than Morphy, and they have computers to do it! He had to make do without all the openings and theory chess players can study today from books written since then. Imho that makes Morphy's accomplishment of taking the game to an entire new level truly remarkable.

[@hackjokes9901]

"if kf2 then ng4 check therefore kf2" my favorite gm

[@Grayback1973]

That knight move at the end is just surreal! Only a guy like Morphy would have seen that.

[@johannorman3067]

Entertaining and instructive lecture and NOT boring (like most other chess lectures). Thank you GM Finegold.

[@fried2styles]

I think many people don't get GM Feingold's joke about Morphy's opponents being "terrible" -- they were only terrible for their time. Many of the bad moves were considered "book moves" at the time. Morphy's genius is that he arrived at the modern style on his own!!!

[@sunsidhe]

Never seen a Finegold lecture before. But instant fan :)

[@patrickmoloney672]

I was watching the Akobian lectures. I've never seen GM Finegold before this lecture. He is hilarious.

[@Thaumazo83]

Two completely different styles, GM Akobian and GM Finegold: actually, I like them both.

[@Thaumazo83]

One of the best videos by GM Finegold, in my view: chapeau!

[@aeromiky]

Mr Finegold, i mean Mr GM Finegold, is hilarious!! :D

[@romangargiulo8350]

This man is hillarious. He even makes fun of himself

[@sdmic128]

hey GM Ben Finegold thank you for the excellent lecture. Great humor. I am learning a lot of tactics.

[@Ninnoa]

I love Ben Finegold's videos , so funny and entertaining, awesome guy

[@Xtreemxyz]

Ben Finegold the most entertaining grandmaster *thumbs up*

[@michaelf8221]

31:00 Engine analysis and opening databases have now shown that g4 is the worst first move, and is practically lost for white. f3 gets second last and should probably be drawn with best play.

[@neosrinath]

At 7:10, is the move Rook from F4 to G4 good? After the rook sacrifice with the knight on H6, the queen can take the knight and build the attack. then eventually bring the other rook on F6.

[@searchingforlostatoms7191]

Played out many Morphy games. This man is driven to win the prize at any cost, including if his own pieces get in the way

[@heruilin]

"He couldn't play you straight up because you would be -30 on move one .." unbelievably funny stuff.

[@hydra9267]

This guy is awesome i wish a had a teacher like that as a youngster.

[@L3thalD0sage]

I like this dude alot. Perfect lecturer, witty and he knows his shit.

[@caymanianboy]

This guy makes me laugh.

[@milliern]

Another great lecture. Great stuff.

[@mopbrothers]

Paul Morphy is my favorite chess player ever. It must have been fun trashing noobs back in his day. All these greedy morons got schooled so well. Just awesome.

[@jonavuka]

the funny thing is morphy didnt fully concentrate on chess i cant remember i think he was a lawyer or something and retired from chess rather early, imagine if he did more and actually focused on chess!

[@KARTIKEYA007]

Then he would have got cautious and we would not have had the maniac style player

[@MrSupernova111]

Yes, he was a lawyer and because he retired early when he was so dominant he is referred to as the pride and sorrow of chess. I agree with Finegold that Morphy was the best chess player ever due to his absurd advantage above everyone else in his time. Only two other players come close which are Bobby Fischer and Raul Capablanca. Of course, over time chess players got better but we can't discard the natural talent people possessed in a time when they had very limited resources to learn chess.

[@augustgreig9420]

There was no money in chess, and it wasn't taken seriously in the US. He quit playing at 21.

[@kurtozan251]

Ben is so knowledgeable about chess and chess history it’s insane.

[@jackbicknell4711]

Almost as if he plays and studies the game for a living

[@NotQuiteFirst]

17:00 such a pretty checkmate ❤️

[@rockynenshati7313]

These lecutures are easy to listen to and you look forward to what has to be said- thanks ben for the sober entertainment.

[@pengkeonglee4876]

Can anyone list the games that were discussed in this lecture? As in the names of his opponents and the year it was played, thanks!

[@gunnarsamuelsson4611]

E1 says Morphy doesnt know how to play chess because after he loses a pawn every engine says the game is lost, then the better the engine gets they start to play like Morphy. Its insane how could he play like this with nothing to teach him how to play but looking at the board.its just insane. no chess theory no engines no nothing just himself

[@jorgepinonesjauch8023]

La precisión de las jugadas de Morphy requerían defensas de nivel de ordenador, que eso no siempre es posible, para mí Morphy fue el mejor jugador de todos los tiempos...el propio Fischer dijo: Si Morphy hubiera existido en esta época acabaría con todos los mejores ajedrecista incluyendo a mi también !!

[@dedeadam9698]

Do you think Magnus Carlsen could beat Morphy?

[@caymanianboy]

He kind of reminds me of Jonah Hill.

[@grousetheghoul2754]

Any relation to Chad Hill ? Chad was a master who frequently played blitz games with Finegold at the old East Detroit chess club, and they were both " that good " their games were fast, fun, and if you kept up with them, you could learn something, if you weren't cracking up with laughter. They were a comedy team for the ages.

[@clivedavies2628]

Morphy gave brilliancies against 1000 players, Kasparov gave brilliances against Karpov and Ivanchuk. Nuff said!

[@asking26898]

At 11:04 isn't it mate in 3...Ben says it is mate in 5...i mean Rf8+ forcing Q*f8 then R*f8 forcing R*f8 and then Qg5#

[@siquenoquenoquesi]

I also saw that, but if you look closer, it's not checkmate, king scapes to f7

[@stuthorpe4433]

Love ben's lectures!

[@deinemama6303]

If you plug this game into a modern engine, you can see Morphy played the top engine move about 90% of the time. This also becomes clear, if you plug his other games into an engine.

[@bertoldopleari7779]

I've asked stockfish 10 to analyze the position shown at min 4:25 and it says that is not equal... -2,4

[@sooooooooDark]

31:15 1.h4 results in a stockfish 14 evaluation of -0.6 1.g4 results in a stockfish 14 evaluation of -1.7

[@warrenthompson5904]

Morphy was told by his father after graduating as an attorney to quit playing games and settle down. He went to Europe and 150 years ago took Europe, the capital of chess by storm. His games may not be as strong as modern games but we have 150 years of analyses to work with. Morphy took on the Paris chess club and beat 19 of the strongest players of the day in a simultaneous display not seen before or since. Upon returning to America he started practicing law but was shunned as that not serious lawyer who played games in Europe. Morphy was devastated financially and professionally because he wasn't a serious person.

[@shroomsopenminds3623]

Yep. Chess destroyed his life. Barely any money in chess today let alone 150 years ago.

[@Ronbo710]

I love how Morphy got excuse after excuse from Staunton about why he couldn't meet him over the board - COWARD.

[@donkbonktj5773]

Coward Staunton. I am very sorry for the late reply after 6 years.

[@かあ-t8j6n]

I wish i had a small ben finegold in my head warning me before i make bad moves

[@MrCk1234567890]

This lecture was filmed shortly after Finegold got his grandmaster title, making him the oldest ever chess player to become a GM. So it’s actually a self-deprecating bit that he keeps mentioning it, and it’s absolutely hilarious.

[@RikkoFrikko]

My calculating skills are improving. In the first game I first looked at Rf8+ followed by Qxf8 and for some reason followed up with Rxf8+ and after Rxf8 began looking at checks I could give with the queen but obviously there were no mates let alone perpetuals. So then I looked at Qg5+ and calculated ... Qg6, Qd5+ Kg7 (because if black plays Qf7 to block the check it's mate in 1 with Qxf7#), Rf7+ Kh6. Here I thought I found the mate but then realized 'oh yeah I don't have checkmate here because I moved my rook off of the 4th Rank.' Then I also figured out after all that black can actually block Qd5+ w/ Be6 and White's attack is in shambles. I also realized Qg6 by black is really throwing a hammer into my mating ideas and had a eureka moment of combining my original idea with my new idea. Playing Rf8+ first, saccing my rook to get the Queen off the diagonal to be able to block the check on the g6 square and instead forced to block on the g7 square. So then the new line I was able to calculate was Rf8+ Qxf8, Qg5+ Qg7, Qd5+ Be6 (The bishop block in this line is a pointless means of defense since black's Queen isn't on the g6 square to protect it), Qxe6+ Qf7, Qxf7#.

[@HughMorristheJoker]

This is peak Finegold right here: smart, quick, witty, acerbic, portly, and hilarious. Also very good at chess, confusing the audience.

[@LiveGrenade7]

Do you know what putz means? If you hear him ask for moves then you would know he is well within his right to say he is better, it is also comedy, not sure if you have grasped that particular social facet as of yet.

[@patrckhh20]

Love this guy's sense of humor.

[@AhPhoey]

The public demands the Finegold - Morphy matchup!! Make this happen!

[@timothyacowin9761]

The camera following him 😂

[@klizukk]

😂😂😂😂

[@grousetheghoul2754]

I share Ben's position that Morphy was the greatest player who ever lived. In the notes to one of his games, where he spent 12 minutes looking at a queen sac before making it. The annotator said that any good modern player who have made the move without hesitating. The only reason they can is because of the work Morphy did back then. And without Morphy modern chess would be impossible. The man spoke the truth.

[@Yeomannn]

Ben is being sarcastic about Morphy

[@FourForceUniverse]

34:51 Why not pawn on d4 to c3 and then if takes with knight then wins a rook and if doesn't take then simply pushes the pawn forward winning the queen?

[@joselopezforque8745]

More of Paul Morphy please jeje.

[@lukarelnt]

What is de player's name who losses the 2 last games of the tournament ?

[@madschristensen7315]

Ben Finegold you are absolutely incredible funny! that joke at 38:48 i laughed so hard :) keep up the good work

[@CGoody564]

My computer is recommending d6 over Qg6 in that first game. Idk why. It could have been because I didn't remove the knight prior to analyzing the game however.

[@sniperclown6384]

What happens if Morphy gets addicted to chess? He's morphin!!!!!

[@MrSupernova111]

lol

[@therottenrook]

It's a knight move from f5, but I still expect other pieces to be suggested....LOL...brilliant....!!!!!

[@krl_xants]

I laughed at your joke @27:10 Ben.

[@kcremer5923]

+Kai-Rey Lee Same here, Ben's hilarious! "He played chess with Napolean...it was very complex!" They don't appreciate his humor enough over there.

[@-_Nuke_-]

"Bishop c1 completing the undevelopment" xΔ

[@gtrmusic69]

No mention of when this game was played.

[@dylan2009ist]

very good video - Ben is great

[@pfsloan8230]

To quote Spock, "Fascinating." Though I've always wondered if being fascinated broke the Vulcan no-emotion rule.

[@sainanan]

somehow i wouldn't be surprised if morphy intentionally didn't play the mate in 5, as he was aiming for a beautiful finish

[@bailinnumberguy]

Every great player seems to reference Morphy. I'm not remotely strong enough to evaluate who the strongest was, but Morphy certainly has to be in the conversation.

[@steinwayandsomeguy3253]

when can we get gm ken west on a video

[@juliusadkinsx]

The Power of Development

[@dahshkeeNYer]

The thing that impresses me the most about Morphy is that he retired at 14. He gave up chess while he went to an academy, coming out of retirement to play in the 1857 American Chess Congress. To lose those years as a player and then to do what he did, and still hold up to analysis by Houdini--he had to be the most talented player ever.

[@mikhaelm]

In the first game, Morphy found Qh4. He probably saw checkmate at 5, but to continue the show, he kept his victim alive.

[@Theatheosis]

Ben is wrong about 7. ... Nc6 in the first game. White is evaluated as 3.8ish down. He doesn't get really equal until 13. ...d6. Thought I'd let you guys know. It's still crazy, he goes 3 pieces down and computer evaluates him at like -3 all the way. Ridic.

[@JPCPSeto]

I let Deep HIARCS 14 analyze Paulsen vs. Morphy (New York, 1857); this was the first time ever I saw it give a !!-rating to anyone's move, this time Morphy's (the queen sacrifice on move 17). To be fair, Morphy didn't really make perfect moves all the time; in the same game, the engine gave him both the ??-rating and ?-rating for other moves (move 23 and 24 respectively).

[@basehead617]

Ben is exaggerating