Table No. 2 of the Café de la Régence blindfold display (Paris, Sept. 1858). M. Bierwith opened irregularly in the hope of puzzling the blindfold player, but, as Löwenthal observes, with the very opposite result.
2…c6M. Bierwith probably opened his game thus irregularly (as others of Mr. Morphy's opponents did when they played against him blindfold) in the hope of puzzling his antagonist, but the result is the very reverse of that intended.
10.Nbd2White, even at this early stage of the game, has all his pieces in full play.
11…h6A proper measure of precaution, as both the Knight and Bishop are thus prevented from occupying the K. Kt's 5th.
15…O-O-OThe advantage to be gained by taking the Knight was more apparent than real: if Black take with the Bishop, then White obtains a winning attack.
16.Be6Kt. to B's 7th was such a natural move at this moment, that almost any other player than Mr. Morphy would have adopted it. He however, though blindfold, seeks for a move still more attacking, and finds the one in the text, which at once gives him an advantage that no opposing skill could wrest from him.
18.Qc3Very well played, not only maintaining the Pawn, but enabling him to play Q. to R's 3rd.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source