Löwenthal against Morphy — the fifth game of their 1858 London match (Petroff's Defence), one of Löwenthal's three wins.
6…Be7As we have previously observed, we consider this to be quite as good, if not better, than the ordinary move, B. to Q's 3rd, recommended in some of the books.
15.d5The only move to avert the loss of the Pawn, which, though it appears weak, now becomes very effective.
18.Bxf6The position here is critical and difficult, and there is but one mode of maintaining the threatened Pawn.
19.Ng5The game is now in favour of White; his adversary on the previous move should rather have taken the Bishop with the Queen or Rook.
25.Rad1It would have been imprudent to grasp at the exchange by Kt. to K's 6th, on account of Q. takes P. and Kt. to B's 6th (ch.).
25…Qc2Very well played, not only improving the position of the Queen, but altogether frustrating White's design of R. takes Kt., &c.
31…cxd6Had Black played Kt. to R's 2nd, the following singular variation would have ensued: 31. ... Kt. to R's 2nd; 32. Q. takes R. (ch.), Kt. takes Q.; 33. P. takes P., and must advance to Queen.
36.Rde2As Black has two passed Pawns as an equivalent for the loss of the exchange, great nicety of play is required on the part of White.
38…Ng8K. to R's 2nd, as in the variation below, would have been better. He could not interpose the Queen, for White would have exchanged Queens, then placed his Rook at R's 2nd, and gained both the Pawns.
41…Qc4A singular position, for Black cannot avoid the loss of his two passed Pawns. We commend the position as a good study.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source