Philip W. Sergeant, Morphy’s Games of Chess (1916)
Game 63 of 136
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Site
Paris
Date
1858.09.23
Round
6
White
Black
Harrwitz, Daniel
Result
1-0
Game 46 in Philip W. Sergeant’s Morphy’s Games of Chess (1916), printed pages 98–100. Commentary from this edition; named earlier annotators remain credited in the notes. Sixth game of the 1858 Harrwitz match. The source says the time was not recorded.
- 4…Nf6 Inferior to both Kt—QB3 and B—Q2. Nevertheless it is not hopelessly bad, especially when White continues as in the present game.
- 5.e5 Steinitz does not approve of this, and gives 5 Kt—B3, Kt—B3; 6 B—QKt5, B—Q2; 7 B×Kt, B×B; 8 B—K3, B—K2; 9 Castles, Castles; 10 Q—B4, Q—B1 as the best play on both sides (M.C.I., 148).
- 5…dxe5 Here is Harrwitz’s real mistake. 5..Q—K2, and if 6 B—K3, Kt—Kt5; 7 P×P, Q×P was correct (M.C.I., 149).
- 8…Bd6 Why not B—QKt5? It would obviate the evil choice which Black has next move of developing White or getting an isolated Pawn on the Q file.
- 11…Ke7 Kt—Kt5 is better.
- 19…Rb8 R—R2 is even less promising.
- 24.Kb3 P—QKt4 was better, because, as the game went, Black could have checked with Knight on move 25, driving White’s King to R3. Morphy lost time over the King’s excursion.
- 33.Bxe6 Black throws away excellent drawing chances by this, while White now handles the end-game with great skill.
- 48.Qf3 If 48..P—R7, 49 Q—Kt3ch, K—R8; 50 Q—B2, mating next move.