The Opera House Game's final position leaves a strong impression. By a simple material count, White is "losing" badly, but his remaining two pieces are perfectly coordinated to deliver checkmate.
This is a microcosm of the game as a whole. Morphy skillfully developed and coordinated his army, while simultaneously preventing Black from ever mobilizing his army through the use of pins and constant threats.
It is common for beginners to dismiss the importance of concepts such as development, initiative and piece coordination in favor of seeking a material advantage. However, players of all levels should try to keep these factors in mind, as they can easily be worth more than a pawn or two. In fact, grabbing the initiative and gaining a lead in development to start a strong attack is often an even better strategy for amateur players than for professionals; weaker players are less likely to properly defend against a risky gambit, making the attack worth far more than a pawn or two.
