Paul Morphy vs Daniel Harrwitz (1858)

-- Stockfish 19

-- Engine disabled.

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 d6

3. d4 exd4

4. Qxd4 Nc6

5. Bb5 Bd7

6. Bxc6 Bxc6

7. Bg5 f6

8. Bh4 Nh6

9. Nc3 Qd7

10. O-O Be7

11. Rad1 O-O

12. Qc4+ Rf7

13. Nd4 Ng4

14. h3 Ne5

15. Qe2 g5

16. Bg3 Rg7

17. Nf5 Rg6

18. f4 gxf4

19. Rxf4 Kh8

20. Rh4 Bf8

21. Bxe5 fxe5

22. Rf1 Qe6

23. Nb5 Qg8

24. Rf2 a6

25. Nxc7 Rc8

26. Nd5 Bxd5

27. exd5 Rc7

28. c4 Be7

29. Rh5 Qe8

30. c5 Rxc5

31. Rxh7+ Kxh7

32. Qh5+ Kg8

33. Nxe7+ Kg7

34. Nf5+ Kg8

35. Nxd6

1-0

7.Bg5 This move was first adopted by Lowenthal against Harrwitz, and Morphy subsequently favored it for the attack almost invariably.
7…f6 In another game between the same players Harrwitz played here 7....Kt—B3 which is by far superior to the move in the text. 7....B—K2 is also much preferable. Compare Table 3, Cols. 13, 14 and 15. The move in the text shuts up Black's B and leaves a hole in his centre.
8.Bh4 Not as good as B—K3 which keeps the B in communication with both wings and besides gains a move for the purpose of advancing P—KB4 later on as Black cannot attack him by P—KKt4.
9…Qd7 The Q is only in the way of the B at this post. Much better is B—K2 reserving the retreat of B—Q2 eventually.
12…Rf7 Very weak. K—R sq. followed by Kt—B2 or vice versa were by far better, especially as he intended to enter with his Kt at K4 later on and the way chosen for his Kt viz.: via Kt5, subjects him to attack and loss of time.
13.Nd4 The correct move and much stronger than 13 P—K5 on account of 13....Q—B4; 14 P—K6, 14 KR—B sq.; 15 KR—K sq., 15 BxKt; 16 PxB, 16 P—B3+.
15…g5 Weak and creating another hole at the tender point of KB4 where White's Kt later on obtains command of the position with his Kt.
16…Rg7 Decidedly bad policy if only on the ground that it allows the opponent to fix his Kt at a good post with gain of time. The R is of no use on the Kt file and White is quite safe in allowing it to be broken open. Much better was Q—K sq. with the view of retreating B—Q2.
18…gxf4 Showing fine strategical genius. In spite of the preparations of the opponent on the King's side, White proceeds with his own attack, well foreseeing that the adversary can do no harm on the open KKt file.
22…Qe6 R—K sq. was preferable as it might eventually enable him to advance P—Q4.
23.Nb5 Useless, as Black might have answered 23....Q—Q2 which would compel the Kt to go back again whence he came.
23…Qg8 An error of judgment that costs a P and moreover practically cuts off his Q from the other wing where she is really wanted.
24.Rf2 High class play. This waiting move secures him the advantage, whereas after 24 KtxBP, 24 R—B sq.; Black evidently recovers the P.
24…a6 Probably a miscalculation but even after the only other alternative 24....BxKt; 25 QxB, 25 QR—Kt sq. (or 25....P—Kt3; 26 Q—Q7, etc.); 26 Q—R5 White had much the best of the game.
27…Rc7 He could not play 27....QxP on account of the following continuation pointed out by Lowenthal: 28 RxP ch., 28 KxR; 29 Q—R5 ch., 29 B—R3; 30 KtxB, 30 RxKt!; 31 Q—B5 ch., followed by QxR.
28…Be7 Certainly superior to R—B2 followed by KR—B3.
29…Qe8 With the view of releasing himself by B—Q sq., which he could not attempt at once as White could answer KtxP followed by QxP ch. But he overlooks the opponent's ingenious winning manœuvre. He had still a good fight left for a draw by P—Kt3, for if White played P—QKt4 in reply then Black could again retreat B—B sq. and wait patiently until White's Q side attack exhausted itself as his own K side was secure enough.
30.c5 A very beautiful initiation of a brilliant finale.
31.Rxh7+ White now forces the game with a few masterstrokes.

[Event "Match Morphy-Harrwitz +5-2=1"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1858.09.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morphy, Paul"]
[Black "Harrwitz, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bh4 Nh6 9.
Nc3 Qd7 10. O-O Be7 11. Rad1 O-O 12. Qc4+ Rf7 13. Nd4 Ng4 14. h3 Ne5 15. Qe2 g5 16. Bg3
Rg7 17. Nf5 Rg6 18. f4 gxf4 19. Rxf4 Kh8 20. Rh4 Bf8 21. Bxe5 fxe5 22. Rf1 Qe6 23. Nb5 Qg8
24. Rf2 a6 25. Nxc7 Rc8 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 Rc7 28. c4 Be7 29. Rh5 Qe8 30. c5 Rxc5 31.
Rxh7+ Kxh7 32. Qh5+ Kg8 33. Nxe7+ Kg7 34. Nf5+ Kg8 35. Nxd6 1-0