Morphy against Anderssen — the first game of their 1858 Paris match, an Evans Gambit. Anderssen, defending, weathered the gambit and after a struggle of upwards of seventy moves won; the only game of the match that Morphy lost with the first move.
7…Nf6Mr. Morphy considers this the best move here, and his opponent, Herr Anderssen, seems to agree with him; though some time ago, in an elaborate analysis, he went far to prove that it was a weak defence.
8.e5B. to R's 3rd is the preferable move; its efficacy was but lately discovered by Mr. Morphy, who thinks the game should then be continued by P. to Q's 3rd and P. to K's 5th, &c., with a strong attack.
16…Re8A good move, but we believe that Kt. to R's 6th (ch.) might have been played with even greater effect.
17.Kh1Judiciously removing his King from a situation where, as we have just shewn, he might have been attacked with success.
20.Kg1It was not immaterial where the King was played, for if posted at Kt's 2nd the adverse Knight might, with even more force, have been played to Q's 6th.
26.Raf1At first sight Kt. to K. B's 3rd seems a good move, but such is not the case, for Black would reply Q. to R's 6th, and must win.
26…Qh3Had Black taken the Pawn with his Bishop, White would have moved Kt. to K. B's 3rd, and won the exchange.
35.Qf6Threatening to win the Queen, or the Game, by R. takes P. (ch.); and here White selected the best mode of pursuing the game.
50.Nf6A clever device, but frustrated by Mr. Anderssen's accurate play.
55…Qd5The only correct reply.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source