Morphy against Harrwitz — the first game of their 1858 Paris match (Queen's-Pawn Opening). Harrwitz won the first two games before Morphy took five of the next six.
1.d4Mr. Harrwitz, when first player, almost invariably adopts this mode of opening his game. It is one with every variation of which he is thoroughly familiar, and in no match of importance has he ever failed to avail himself of it.
4.Bf4Mr. Morphy agrees with us in the opinion that, at this stage of the game, the text move is the most forcible one that can be selected; indeed, he says he found it so strong that in his subsequent games with Mr. Harrwitz he preferred meeting 1. P. to Q's 4th with 1. P. to K. B's 4th, in place of exposing himself to this attack.
14.Bg3Very well played, for it not only obviates the capture of the Bishop and the subsequent posting of the King's Knight at B's 5th, but also prevents the advance of the K. B's P.
14…Kh8Mr. Morphy considers that he lost the game by this move, and that if he had played B. to K. B's 3rd instead, the game would have been even.
15…Bf6The following variation will show that Black could not have thrown forward the K. B's P. as he had intended, e.g.,— 15. ... P. to K. B's 4th; 16. Q. takes P., Kt. takes Kt.; 17. P. takes Kt., P. to B's 5th; 18. Q. to K's 4th, P. to Kt's 3rd; 19. B. takes B's P., with a won game.
23…Kg7It is a singular fact that, in the earlier stages of every series of contests upon which Mr. Morphy has entered, he has played very much below his real force. Of the truth of this assertion the present game furnishes an excellent exemplification, as it is not only altogether devoid of any of those brilliant combinations for which Mr. Morphy has made himself so famous, but presents one of the few instances wherein he selects a move (as here) that throws away the game. The Bishop should have been captured, and the game would then have been quite even.
29…Be6If Black had exchanged Rooks, with the view of breaking up his adversary's centre Pawns, the White King would have been posted at Q's 4th, and victory secured.
55.Rh5And wins.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source