Morphy, Paul VS Lichtenhein, Theodor 1857.10.23

Annotations

Morphy against Lichtenhein, New York 1857 — the first of three casual games, a Petroff's Defence. Notes by Löwenthal.

1. 4…d5 Mr. Lichtenhein is justly considered the originator of this defence of P. to Q's 4th: the move is a good one and deserves the consideration of the Chess analyst.
2. 10…Na5 Purposing to get rid of the adverse King's Bishop, which holds a commanding position where he stands.
3. 15.g5 Mr. Morphy, having now satisfactorily developed his game, commences a steady attack, and conducts it with striking spirit and energy.
4. 17…Bc6 It was injudicious of Black to abandon the diagonal commanded so effectively by the Queen's Bishop.
5. 20.Nf5 When Mr. Morphy ventures a sacrifice, it is almost invariably made on sound principles, and the combination of which it forms the key is seldom otherwise than perfectly accurate. This is a marked feature in the game of the young American master, and calls for our highest appreciation and commendation.
6. 20…Re8 If Black had taken the Kt. with P., White would have won either by replying with Kt. to K. B's 6th (ch.), or by 21. P. to K. Kt's 6th.
7. 24.e5 White carries on his attack in splendid style.
8. 24…Bxe5 B. to Q. B's 4th would, in the circumstances, have been better play.
9. 26.Rd7 When White, on his 24th move, pushed his P. to K's 5th, he evidently had the whole of the combination in his mind's eye, and this move, which forms a link in the chain, is admirably conceived, and well merited the success which attended it; but nevertheless, we believe that Mr. Lichtenhein might still have drawn the game.
10. 26…Qg7 Instead of playing the Q. to K. Kt's 2nd, Black should have obtained an even game.

J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source