Morphy against Mongredien — the sixth game of their 1859 Paris match, an irregular defence to the King's Knight's opening.
2…d5A line of defence which we are not at all disposed to recommend, as it is certain to give the first player a marked advantage in position.
3.exd5Correctly played. Taking the Pawn with Knight is inferior.
5.Nd4We should have preferred Kt. to K. B's 3rd.
7…Qe7If the Pawn had been taken en passant, White would have exchanged Queens and remained with a Pawn a-head; it was also prudent to decline capturing the Pawn at Queen's 5th with Queen, as White would in that case have gained a fine attack by P. to Q. B's 4th.
8.c4White has now a Pawn more, and a winning position.
11.Nc3If P. to Q's 6th, the following variation of interest would probably have occurred:— 11. P. to Q's 6th, P. takes P. (best); 12. Kt. takes K's P., P. takes Kt.; 13. Kt. takes P. (ch.), K. to Q's sq.; 14. Q. takes Q. (ch.), Kt. takes Q. (best); 15. Kt. takes B's P. (ch.), K. to K's sq.; 16. Kt. takes R., &c.
16…bxc4Had the Knight been taken with Knight, White might have answered advantageously with P. to Q's 6th (dis. ch.).
20.Rhf1Forcing the game.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source