Game 53 in Philip W. Sergeant’s Morphy’s Games of Chess (1916), printed pages 112–114. Commentary from this edition; named earlier annotators remain credited in the notes. Fifth game of the 1858 Anderssen match. The source gives the playing time as five hours.

1. 1…d5 His loss of the third game had the remarkable effect on Anderssen of deterring him henceforward from answering Morphy’s P—K4 with P—K4—truly a compliment from an analyst like Anderssen! Nevertheless most players would probably consider that the resources of civilization were not yet exhausted on account of the mishap in the third game.
2. 3.d4 Anderssen may have expected 3 B—Kt5ch, a continuation supported by the Handbuch as keeping the Pawn without any disadvantage in position. Steinitz, and after him Lasker, lent countenance to 3 P—QB4, with a similar object. But Morphy’s move, apparently a novelty at the time, undoubtedly gives White an excellent game.
3. 7.Be3 On the analogy of certain variations of the Queen’s Gambit Declined and QP Opening, where Black develops B—B4, White may here play Q—Kt3 with effect.
4. 7…Bb4 Now Black has the chance of playing P—B3 in anticipation of White’s Q—Kt3.
5. 8.Qb3 Morphy considered this better than Q—R4ch, because of the answer 8..Kt—B3; 9 Kt—K5, Castles; 10 Kt×Kt, B×Ktch; 11 P×B, P×Kt—“and whether White take the Pawn or not, in either case his opponent has an equal game.” Analysis, however, establishes that with 12 Q×P, Kt—K5 (best); 13 R—B1, R—Kt1; 14 Q—R4, Q—K2; 15 B—K2, R—Kt7; 16 B—B3 White can maintain an advantage. If Black should earlier play 9..Q—Q3 instead of Castles, then 10 P—B5, Q—Q4; 11 B—QKt5, B×Ktch; 12 P×B, Q×KtP; 13 Castles QR and wins (Maroczy).
6. 12.Qc2 Black threatened Kt—B4.
7. 14.Rae1 Giving notice of his intention of attacking on the K side at once. Zukertort prefers KR—K1, followed by QR—Q1. Morphy’s love of the direct assault, however, is notorious.
8. 15…Qc8 Zukertort remarks: “One of those moves which a player may evolve from his inner consciousness, which baffle any attempt to explain them to the outer world. 15..K—R1 was very much to the point.” Anderssen probably intended to bring his Q to QKt2; but he had no time for that.
9. 20…Rd8 His best chance was a counter-attack by 20..Q—Q3. Zukertort gives an elaborate analysis of the possibilities of this move (C.M., 1879, pp. 71–2).
10. 23…Nh5 A very brilliant conception, and one that would probably have resulted successfully against a less formidable opponent—J.L. A thoroughly unsound sacrifice—Zukertort. Throwing away a clear piece without a shadow of justification—Steinitz. Black was, of course, in a difficult position; but he had 23..P—B4 at his disposal.
11. 26.hxg4 The Spanish-American player, A. Martinez, first pointed out a quick win by 26 R×P. If then 26..P×Pdbl.ch., 27 K—R1, R—Kt2; 28 B—B4, P—K4; 29 R×Kt, Q×R; 30 B×P, K—Kt1; 31 R—KKt1, R×Rch; 32 K×R, Q—Kt1ch; 33 K—R2.
12. 29.dxe5 Morphy does not play with his customary precision in the second half of this game. 29 B—B4 is much better here, forcing R×B; 30 R×Kt!—or else 29..Kt×B; 30 B×Q, Kt×Q; 31 B—K6ch, etc.
13. 34.Qd3 Unnecessarily losing another Pawn, though it matters little, seeing that next move he can force the exchange of Queens or Rooks.
14. 37…Rc6 37..R×P is unavailing. There follows 38 R×P, R—KR6; 39 R—KB6, R×P; 40 P—K6, K—Kt2; 41 P—K7, R—R1; 42 B—Q4!
15. 42.Rg6 42 R—K8ch, K—Kt2; 43 P—K6, R—B5; 44 P—R6ch, K—R2; 45 B—K3, R—K5; 46 R—K7ch, K—Kt3 (if K—Kt1 or R1, 47 B—Kt5); 47 R—Kt7ch, K—B3; 48 B—Kt5ch wins more rapidly.