The fifth game, an irregular (Centre-Counter) opening which Morphy met with the novelty 3. P. to Q's 4th. He won a piece in the middle game and converted it in the ending.
1…d5We do not approve of this mode of playing the close opening.
2.exd5It would have been bad play to advance the Pawn to K's 5th, as Black would reply P. to K's 3rd, and follow with P. to Q. B's 4th, reaching a position akin to one in the French opening where the first player has an inferior game.
3.d4This is much better than B. to Q. Kt's 5th (ch.). It is a novelty, and its adoption in this match, along with its intrinsic force, is evidence that in this part of the game, as in all others, Mr. Morphy has eminent judgment of position.
8.Qb3Had White played 8. Q. to R's 4th (ch.), Black would have obtained an even game; and whether (says Mr. Morphy) White take the Pawn or not, in either case his opponent has an equal game.
12.Qc2Necessary, as otherwise Black might have played Kt. to Q. B's 4th, with the view of exchanging the Knight (comparatively useless) for the adverse Bishop, which occupied a commanding position.
15…Qc8The purport of this move is not very evident, but Mr. Anderssen's game was cramped, and he probably had it in view to bring the Queen to her Knight's 2nd and commence an attack on his adversary's K. Kt's P.
23…Nh5A very brilliant conception, and one that would probably have resulted successfully against a less formidable opponent than Mr. Morphy. White threatened to take P. with P. and then play R. to K. R's sq., and it is not easy to discover the mode of parrying the attack.
28.Qf2White has a difficult game, though he remains with a piece a-head, and extreme accuracy and care were required to avert the threatened dangers.
28…Ne5From its nature Black's game is lost, but this is his best mode of maintaining the remnant of his attack.
29.dxe5He might also have played B. to K. B's 4th, in which case the desired end would perhaps have been still more quickly attained.
36…Rxc4Considering the confined position of Black's King, his two Pawns are no equivalent for the piece, and insufficient to secure the draw.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source