Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-10-12
Chess in New York.

Paul Morphy and Louis Paulsen may be seen
often at the Club; and although enc Of them, at
least, 10 very eager to encounter his rival, the
prospects Of match are becoming quite dubious
II is to be regretted A series Of open and even
games, duly carried out by such adopts as Paulsen
and Morphy, would certainly prove highly inter-
estng to amateurs generally, would silt out one or
two Of the most important opsnings-the Evans's
2ambit, for instance, and revive the cause of
chess, which Of late has been rather dropping.
When they hrst met at the tournament In 1857 !,
which was much the more surprising that he
possessed scarcely any book knowledge had never
encountered a single frst-class player, and was
literally obliged to invert nearly all the moves
and defenses which his more learned opponents
had gathered from chess treatises. Hence his slow
play and close game. And yet he not only took
the second prize, but made bolder stand per-
haps, than any or the celebrities who played with
Morphy in Europe. Since, Pausen has devoted
much time to books, and may be said to be now
both skilful and erudite; he plays boldly, pidy,
and openly. 1t Is reasonable to infer that IL when
left to his own resources, he proved himself such
an able competitor, at present he would be no
unworthy antagonist to Morphy II was in the
expectation of match encounter that the follow
Ing letter was sent by Paulsen:
NEw YORK, Oct 3, 1861
To Paul Morphy Esq Dear Sir In the hope
Of promoting the cause Of chess permit me to I'm.
vite you to friendly contest over the board on tie
following terms:
A match even, consisting OF open games; or, to
make 1t more definite, match Of six Evans gam
bits Zach player To conduct three times the attack
and three times the defense, and OF twelve gam
olts on the kings side, attack and defence to be
match
am aware that you have declined PLAYING with
our most prominent chess players except at the
odds Of the pawn and move Allow me. In reply.
tc express the opinion that the odds Of the pawn
and move Is doubtful advantage while 1t inva.
riably and necessarily results In kind of monarel
game, never advancing the cause of chess, and
rarely proving Interesting to the great majority Of
amateurs.
or your high and justly acquired reputation az
ess-player makes 1t matter of necessity on
your part never to meet an adversary without i'm
posing the condition Of receiving odd, beg leave
10 suggest an advantage which, without marring
the beauties of our noble game, may still prove
acceptable to you, viz: shall receive as many
games out Of the match as, in your opinion would
make the chances cf winning the match perfectly
even, OF Yield your opponent an advantage equal
to the pawn ard move
In the sincere hope that you will accept the In
vitAtion and favor me with reply,
remain, &c, LOUIS PAuLsxN
This challenge Morphy declined to accept, say.
ing that he had not come North to play chess, and
would enly encounter Paulsen at odds and I'm an
occasional game at the Club. There are other
reasons Morphy truly says that he does not
make OF chess profession, but simply pastime
and IL, because he was so fortunate, unfortunate
al to obtain great proficiency at the game he must
De made to play aoIsns rolens at home and abroad
now and at all times, life Is not worth a farthina
to him He once entered the lists to ascertain what
stand ne could make against frst-rate players. Hs
met them all-with one celebrated execution
came on victorious here and elsewherr; and now
that his opinion is made up on the subject be
wishes to leave chess where IL belongs and to
devote himself to the practise Of his profession
To refuse to play on even terms with any PLAYER
10 privilege generally claimed by all successful
cham pious who stand first and foremost I'm the
world Of chess.-N. Y. Tribune