Loewenthal, Johann Jacob VS Morphy, Paul 1859.??.??

Annotations

Löwenthal against Morphy, London 1859 — the third of three casual games, a Ruy Lopez and one of Morphy's rare losses. Notes by Löwenthal.

1. 6…Bc5 By this move Black subjects himself to an immediate attack in the centre; he ought rather to have moved B. to K's 2nd.
2. 14…Kf8 As Black contemplates making an attack with his Pawns on the Royal wing, this is better than Castling.
3. 16.e5 A forcible move, threatening to gain both Knights for the Rook, if Black 'fork' the Q. and B. with his Q. B's P.
4. 17…Kg7 Had Black moved 17. P. to Q. B's 5th, White would have played 18. Q. to K's 2nd, with a splendid position.
5. 18…Bxe4 This is Black's best move, as a little examination will readily show.
6. 22…Bc7 Black ought here to have taken Q's B. with Kt., and on the P.'s retaking, to have moved the K. Kt. to its 5th.
7. 23.Rad1 From this point, with correct play, White's game appears to be won by force.
8. 27.Ng6 The decisive move.
9. 37.Rxe5 The speediest method of determining the contest.

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