Game II of the even-terms Congress series — a Sicilian, Morphy (White) against Thompson, New York 1857, the termination ably and accurately brought home in a long ending. Notes from the 'Book of the First American Chess Congress,' with the Editor's additions.
6…h6As there is no object in the advance of the K. R's P. here, it is mere loss of time.
8…Bd7This costs a Pawn. Black's only move to avoid loss was 8. Q. to Q's 3rd, and even then White would have a fine game by replying with Q. to K. B's 3rd.
11.Nxf6+B. takes Kt., and then, if the Q. Kt's P. re-took, Kt. takes B. would perhaps have been stronger.
15.Rad1Intending to take the Kt. with Kt., and then, if Black answered with P. takes Kt., to play B. takes B., &c.
17…Be5R. to K. R's 5th looks strong, but would not have been good play.
19…Qe7If 19. ... Q. to Q's 2nd; 20. P. to Q's 5th; 21. Q. takes R., &c.
21.Bc5Very well played.
23…b5We subjoin a diagram of the position at this point. Instead of advancing his P. to Q. Kt's 4th we think Black ought to have played B. to K. Kt's 5th, by which he would probably have drawn the game. Suppose Black had now played 23. ... B. to K. Kt's 5th: if White plays P. to K. B's 3rd, the answer would be K. R. to K's 7th, winning; therefore 24. K. R. to K's sq. (or A), B. takes R.; 25. R. takes R., B. to K. B's 6th, winning the Q's P. (If White play 25. R. takes B., the reply would be Q. R. to Q. B's 5th, &c.) (A) 24. Q. R. to K's sq. (or B), K. R. to Q's 5th; 25. P. to Q's 6th, P. to Q. Kt's 4th, and Black has the advantage. (B) 24. Q. R. to Q. B's sq., Q. R. to Q's 7th; 25. P. to Q's 6th, P. to Q. Kt's 3rd; 26. K. R. to K's sq., B. to K's 7th; 27. Q. R. to Q. B's 7th, B. to K. B's 6th; 28. K. R. to Q. B's sq., K. R. to Q's 5th; 29. K. R. to K. or K. B's sq., Q. R. to Q's 8th; 30. Q. R. to Q. B's sq., Q. R. to Q's 7th; and we do not see how White can do more than draw the game. There are many more variations from this position, but in every case the result appears the same.
33…Rxd6He evidently could not safely win the Q. Kt's P., for if 33. ... R. to Q's 7th (ch.); 34. K. to K's 3rd, R. takes Q. Kt's P.; 35. R. to Q. Kt's 8th (ch.), K. to B's 2nd; 36. P. to Q's 7th, and wins.
35…Rxh2White could well afford to gain time by the sacrifice of this Pawn.
42.b6The termination is ably and accurately played by Mr. Morphy.
44.a7All this is sure to win in the end.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source