Game II of the even-terms Morphy–Lichtenhein series — an Irregular Opening, Lichtenhein (White) against Morphy, New York 1857, won by Morphy. Notes from the 'Book of the First American Chess Congress,' with the Editor's additions.
9…Qxe5+This was no doubt a slip, Black imagining that if his Pawn were captured he could win the adverse K. Kt's P. in return, and overlooking the fact that when his Rook checks White would interpose. He had better have played Q. to Kt's 2nd, and ought then, we think, to have won the game by means of his extra Pawn.
18…Rd8R. to K. R's 4th looks a good move, but would be attended with some disadvantage, e.g.,— 18. R. to K. R's 4th; 19. Kt. to K. B's 4th, R. takes R's P.; 20. R. to K. R's sq., R. takes R.; 21. R. takes R. And as Black cannot now save his own K. R's P., the game is much in White's favour.
19.g4Apparently the best move.
23…g5This confines the Knight until Black is enabled to make an advantageous exchange of Rooks.
27.Kd2Had he played P. to Q. B's 4th at this point, Black would evidently have won a Pawn by B. to Q. Kt's 8th, &c. He might, however, have moved P. to Q. B's 3rd, then P. to Q. R's 3rd, and P. to Q. Kt's 4th, and afterwards Kt. to K. B's 2nd, by which he ought to have drawn the game.
30.Nd1White, who has thus far conducted the game with commendable prudence and circumspection, fails to see his adversary's intention of sacrificing the Bishop.
30…Bxa2It would require a lengthy analysis to determine whether, in thus giving up the Bishop for two Pawns, Black opened a certain path to victory. White, at any rate, could not hope for more than a drawn game. The two combatants afterwards played several back games from this point, some of which were won by Black, and some were drawn.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source