The Opera Game (Morphy, 1858)

Paris, 1858. Paul Morphy — the strongest player on Earth — is at the opera, being pestered into a casual game by the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard (consulting together). Morphy wants to watch the show, so he wins in 17 moves.

Why THIS game opens the Study Hall: it is the purest demonstration ever recorded of the principles you learned in the openings course — develop everything, punish greed, and cash development in with forcing moves. Watch how every single white move makes a threat or brings a piece out. Often both.