Morphy against Boden, London 1858 — a casual Evans Gambit. Notes by Löwenthal.
4…Bb6Mr. Boden is of opinion that this is Black's best move.
5…a6P. to Q. R's 4th, although inferior, is recommended in the “Handbuch,” and White is instructed to continue his game as follows, — 6. P. takes P., Kt. to Q's 5th; 7. Kt. takes P., Q. to B's 3rd; 8. Kt. to K. B's 3rd, Kt. to K's 3rd; 9. P. to K's 5th, and White has the better game.
6.c3Intending to bring the Queen to her Kt's 3rd.
14…Ne6Kt. takes B., followed by Q. to K. B's 7th (ch.), would have secured two Pawns, but Black thought it better to develope his game by bringing out the pieces on the Queen's side.
17.Kb1The best move; for, with the King at B's sq., White could not have retreated the Kt. to K's 3rd when Black advanced his P. to K. R's 4th, or he would have lost a piece by either B. takes Kt. &c., or Kt. to K's 7th (ch.) &c.
26.Qa2Threatening to win the Queen.
26…Nf4Mr. Boden selected the best course here, for, in giving up the Queen, he obtained a full equivalent for her loss, and one sufficient to secure the draw, if correctly followed up.
29…Kd7K. to K's 2nd would have given Black a very good game, and freed him from all his difficulties.
35…Kf6Had K. taken B., White would have taken K's P. with Queen, and the Kt. could not have been saved.
36…Rhe8P. to R's 5th would perhaps have proved a better move.
41…Kf6Black should have played R. to K's sq., for by moving the K's R. to and fro, Mr. Boden has a clear draw, but he probably intended to try to win with his K. R's P.
44…Rd3Black had no better move; for if B. to B's 4th, White would have checked at Kt's sq. with Queen, winning the Bishop, and if K. to R's 3rd, Mr. Morphy would have played P. to K's 6th, and when the Bishop took the Pawn, have moved the Q. to K's 5th, winning easily.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source