Barnes against Morphy — a casual Ruy Lopez from the London 1858 offhand series. From an up-hill defence Morphy conducts the close most skilfully and forces the mate.

1. 3…Nf6 P. to Q. R's 3rd, and then Kt. to K. B's 3rd, is a more advisable defence, and, indeed, forms the most satisfactory foil to the "Ruy" which has yet been promulgated.
2. 10.Nc3 P. to K. B's 4th would have been a more attacking move.
3. 11…f6 We have already more than once noticed in Mr. Morphy's game, that after castling, he takes the earliest opportunity of advancing the K. B's P. Such a mode of play is correct in principle, as it frees the K's R., and, in the hands of a master, is usually productive of decided advantages.
4. 13…Rg6 The Rook is now strongly placed.
5. 19.Ne4 Threatening to win a piece by Q. to Q. B's 4th.
6. 29…Re8 From this point to the close Mr. Morphy conducts his game most skilfully.
7. 31…Rxg6 Black's pieces are so advantageously placed that the sacrifice of the Rook is perfectly sound.
8. 37…a5 Our readers should study this move closely; it may seem insignificant, but it is in fact a most important link in the chain of combination, and brings the game to a speedy and successful conclusion.
9. 40…a4 And wins. This prevents the Rook from being played to Q. Kt's 3rd, which would have given White a chance of saving the mate; for Black would play K. to Kt's 6th, and then R. to K. R's 7th or Q. to R's 8th (ch.), and mate follows at once.