Anderssen, Adolf VS Morphy, Paul 1858.12.24

Annotations

The sixth game. Outplayed in the regular openings, Anderssen here resorted to the bizarre 1. P. to Q. R's 3rd; it made no difference to Morphy, who obtained an excellent game early and won.

1. 1.a3 Our readers will possibly be surprised to see so practised a veteran as Herr Anderssen having recourse to a debut so unusual and bizarre; but it may be explained by the fact of his having found himself outplayed in openings of a regular character, with which he felt himself to be well acquainted. To Mr. Morphy it seems to make no difference, nor should we expect it would to one so well versed in the principle of the game as he is.
2. 5…Be6 Herr Anderssen, in adopting the move of P. to Q. R's 3rd, had it no doubt partly in view to produce a position in accordance with that of the Sicilian opening, and to prevent the Knight at this juncture from being brought to Q. Kt's 5th.
3. 10…f5 Thus early Black has obtained an excellent game.
4. 18.Qa2 With the intention of attacking the Queen with the Rook at Kt's 5th, for the Rook could not then be captured, as the loss of the Queen would immediately follow.
5. 18…c6 P. to Kt's 4th of course could not have been played, for the reason given in the previous note.
6. 22…Kf7 In order that he might place the Rook on the vacated square.
7. 26…Qd7 If the Pawn had been taken, White might with great advantage have played Q. to R's 5th (ch.).
8. 34.Rh3 If Kt. to K's 5th, the reply would have been Q. to Q. Kt's 4th, followed by B. takes R.
9. 34…Qa4 A good move, as it hampers White's game exceedingly.
10. 35…Rc5 Necessary to prevent White from playing Q. to Q's 5th, and then Q. to K's 6th.
11. 40.Rxe3 White might have drawn the game by Q. to K. B's 6th.

J. Löwenthal, Morphy's Games of Chess (1860) · Public domain · source