Game II of the even-terms Morphy–Paulsen match (First American Chess Congress, New York 1857) — a Ruy Lopez, Paulsen (White), drawn after fifteen hours over three sittings. Notes from the 'Book of the First American Chess Congress,' with the Editor's additions.
5.d4The move usually given here is 5. K. R. to K's sq. Lange, however, commends the method of play adopted in the text.
5…a6Lange thinks that both of the following replies to White's 5th move, 5. Q's Kt. takes P. and 5. K's P. takes P., give the first player an advantage; he therefore recommends 5. K. B. to K's 2nd. 5. P. to Q. R's 3rd seems as good as any, since whether White retreat the B. to R's 4th or Q's 3rd, Black will equally accomplish his object, viz., the advance of the Q's P.
7…Nxd4If Black, instead of capturing the Q's P., should take the K's Kt. with the Q's Kt., White, after the exchange of pieces, would have a slightly preferable position.
8.Re1This appears to be the correct play.
9.c3If— 9. B. takes Kt. 9. P. takes B. 10. R. takes P. 10. Kt. to Kt's 6th 11. Q. to K. B's 3rd (best) 11. Kt. takes R. 12. K. Kt. takes B's P. 12. Q. to Q's 2nd 13. Kt. takes R. 13. Castles, with a good game.
15…Bd5Black has already obtained an undeniable advantage in position; his Bishops occupy a very threatening situation.
17.Bg517. B. to Q's 2nd at once would have saved time.
19.Bd2If 19. B. to R's 4th, he would obviously lose a piece; if 19. B. to K's 3rd, Black would get a great attack by 19. B. takes Kt., and 20. Q. takes R's P.
20.Ng5This looks plausible, but hazardous. We believe he would have done better by moving the Kt. to K. R's 2nd.
21.Ne4Any other move would have lost the Kt., or led equally to a winning attack.
21…Rxg2+This sacrifice is perfectly sound, and should, with correct after-play, have resulted in an immediate victory. White, by refusing to capture the proffered Rook, would only hasten his defeat.
23…Qg6+A most unfortunate slip. As soon as the second player had touched the Queen, he remarked that, had he taken the Kt., the contest could not have been prolonged a dozen moves. And that he had the winning combination in his mind, he proved by playing over the following variation immediately after the close of the game. Black's error consisted in reversing what should have been his 23rd and 24th moves:— The second player should now have moved thus,— 23. P. takes Kt. 24. R. takes P. or (A.) 24. Q. to Kt's 3rd (ch.) If now White move 25. K. to B's sq. or B's 2nd, Black plays 25. Q. takes K's R., winning; and if 25. K. R. to Kt's 4th, Black gains the Q.; therefore— 25. K. to R's sq. 25. R. takes B's P. 26. K. R. to K's 8th (ch.) 26. R. to B's sq. (ch.) and wins. If White venture, at his 26th move, to capture the R., Black will play 26. Q's B. takes R., winning the Queen. (A.) 24. P. takes P. 24. Q. to Kt's 3rd (ch.) and wins. Or Black might have played 24. Q. to K's 4th, mating or winning the Q. directly. If White should play 24. Q. to B's sq., Black gains at once by 24. K. takes B's P.
32.Rh3Perhaps K. to Kt's 3rd, followed by R. to R's 2nd, would have been stronger play.
37.Qf2He cannot afford to lose the K. B's P., since, if he gives it up, the Kt's P. must ultimately fall, and Black, with his two passed Pawns on the King's flank, would stand a very good chance of winning.
39.Qh4Ingeniously conceived. Black cannot take the K. B's P., either with B. or R., because if he take it with the B., then R. takes R., &c. And if— 39. R. takes K. B's P. 40. P. to K. Kt's 6th (ch.) 40. K. to Kt's sq. 41. R. to K's 8th (ch.) 41. B. to K. B's sq. 42. Q. to Q. R's 8th (ch.) 42. K. takes Q. 43. R. takes B. (mate).
40.Qh3Threatening to win a piece by R. takes R., &c. It is questionable, however, whether he would not have done still better by playing R. to K. R's 3rd.
42.Qe3If he had taken the B., Black would have checked with the Q. at Q's 8th, and afterwards captured the R.
43.Qh3Fearful of Black's threatened move of 43. Q. to K. R's sq.
53…Qd6And the game was finally drawn. It was prolonged to the 56th move, but was not recorded further. It lasted three sittings, and consumed fifteen hours.
J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source