Morphy, Paul VS Harrwitz, Daniel 1858.09.06

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Morphy against Harrwitz — the second game of their 1858 Paris match (Philidor's Defence), the last of Harrwitz's two early wins.

1. 2…d6 This is the defence that Mr. Harrwitz almost invariably adopts, and throughout this match, as second player, he never moved otherwise.
2. 4…Nc6 B. to Q's 2nd is considered the better move here, and was first brought into vogue by Mr. Boden.
3. 7…Nf6 P. to K. B's 3rd is preferable.
4. 8.Nc3 White might have exchanged the Bishop for the Knight, but Mr. M. is of opinion that no great advantage would have resulted from such a line of play.
5. 15.Kb1 P. to B's 4th would not have been so good.
6. 24.Nh5 White would have gained nothing by R. to Kt's 6th, as Black would have simply retreated Q. to K. B's 2nd.
7. 26.a3 Q. to Q. B's 3rd, or Q. to K. R's 4th, would have given White an excellent attack; the move in the text was made with the object of winning the Queen by 27. R. takes Kt.— R. takes R.; 28. R. takes P. (ch.)— R. takes R.; 29. Kt. to B's 6th (ch.), &c.
8. 27…Rg8 To prevent the execution of the plan alluded to in the foregoing note.
9. 37…Qc6 And wins.

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