Played at New York in October 1857, during the First American Chess Congress. Messrs. Fiske, Perrin, and W. L. Fuller, consulting together, conduct the White pieces against Mr. Morphy in the Two Knights' Defence. The allies defend with great accuracy and, in one of his rare reverses, Morphy is at length obliged to resign.
6.d3This move, first suggested, we believe, in the Magdeburg "Schachzeitung," is barely noticed in the German "Handbuch."
6…h6Heydebrand gives B. to Q. B's 4th here.
10.h3Properly played; as Black, by Castling, would otherwise have obtained an overwhelming attack.
11.Nh2It was, of course, with the object of bringing the Knight here that White played as they did on the previous move.
11…Nh7P. to K's 6th would have produced an interesting variation, thus: 11. P. to K's 6th; 12. B. takes P. (best), B. takes B.; 13. P. takes B., Kt. to K's 5th; 14. Castles, Kt. to Kt's 6th; 15. Q. to B's 3rd, Kt. takes R.; 16. Kt. takes Kt., with two Pawns the better; and Mr. Morphy was consequently right in his rejection of the move noticed.
14.f4Well played.
21.Rxe4P. to K. Kt's 4th would have lost a Pawn, in proof of which we subjoin the following variation: 21. P. to K. Kt's 4th, Q. takes R's P.; 22. R. takes R., B. takes R.; 23. Q. to Kt's 2nd, Q. takes Q. (ch.); 24. K. takes Q., B. takes P., &c.
22…Rf8The Editor of the "Chess Monthly" observes that P. to K. B's 4th should have been preferred.
25…g5B. to Q's 6th would have availed nothing, as White would have replied with R. to K's sq., &c. The move adopted is a very good one.
27…Re8The only correct move; for if 27. B. takes P., 28. R. takes R., and wins; and if 27. R. takes P., 28. P. takes R., B. takes P.; 29. Q. to Kt's 2nd, with a better game.
44.Rxd8This, though it threatens mate in a few moves, loses time, as the King is obliged to retreat again after Black's reply. P. to B's 6th instead is the correct play.
50.b4And Black resigned.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source