Mongredien against Morphy — the third game of their 1859 Paris match, a close Queen's-Pawn opening whose termination, Löwenthal remarks, is played in Mr. Morphy's finest style.
15…Ne4Up to this point the game is opened with great care and judgment by both players, and as is generally the case in close openings, without producing any points of singular interest. Now, however, we are presented with positions of both a pleasing and complicated character.
16.Bxe4Better, we believe, than P. to Q's 5th, as in reply to that move Black would have played Q. Kt. to Q. B's 4th, forcing the K's B. to retreat, and, after the exchange of Knights, gaining a Pawn.
27.g4A provision against the threatened advance of the adversary's King's Pawn; this move, however, weakens the K. B's P., which immediately becomes the focus of Black's attack.
32.Qc1A good move, as it defends both the Bishops' Pawns.
42.Bxb6Mr. Mongredien observes that he here lost a fine opportunity of gaining an advantage, and there can be little question that if Kt. to K's 6th had been played in place of the move actually adopted, Mr. Morphy's defence would have been rendered one of excessive difficulty.
43…Rc3At once taking the utmost advantage of his opponent's error.
47…Bd6The winning move.
49.Qxd4If White play any other move Black pushes P. to K's 6th (dis. ch.), with a winning position. The termination of this game is played in Mr. Morphy's finest style.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source