The first of two consultation games played at the London Chess Club in July 1858, Mr. Morphy, with Walker and Greenaway, conducting the White pieces against Mongredien, Medley, and Löwenthal. After a spirited King's Bishop's Gambit the game was abandoned as drawn.
3…d5It has ever been a vexed question how the King's Bishop's Gambit should be defended by the second player. For our own part we have always thought that the gambit might be accepted with impunity, but that the classical defences to the Bishop's Gambit form of the attack were all more or less weak. The usual move here has always been Q. to K. R's 5th (ch.), by which White certainly retains the Pawn for a lengthened period, but during the whole time is subjected to an attack which it is all but impossible eventually to nullify; whereas by playing as in the text, and giving back to his adversary the Pawn gained, White is enabled speedily to develop his forces and maintain a perfectly satisfactory defence. This move was first adopted in a game between Bilguer and Bledow.
4.Bxd5This is White's best move, for if 4. P. takes P., Black replies with Kt. to K. B's 3rd, with a good game.
5.Nf3The Handbooks give Q. to K's 2nd as the proper move here; we, however, decidedly prefer the one adopted by Mr. Morphy. Kt. to Q. B's 3rd is also frequently played, in which case Black's reply is B. to Q. Kt's 5th.
9…Kd8Best. The King is quite safe here, and the Rook can be brought to King's square.
11…f5Much better than P. to K. R's 3rd, as in that case White might have advantageously replied with Kt. to K's 5th.
13…Rf8Correctly played.
20…b6By mutual consent the game was here abandoned as drawn, there being no probability of its being finished owing to the lateness of the hour. The closing situation, on examination, we think will be considered slightly in favour of the Black allies.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source