The second game of the match, at the odds of the Queen's Knight. Thompson having announced that he would meet the odds only with the Sicilian or the French, Morphy opens 1. P. to K. B's 4th to throw him on his own resources, and conducts a sharp attack to a quick win.

1. 1.f4 The receiver of the odds having declared his intention, from the commencement of the match, to persist throughout in playing either the Sicilian or the French Opening, White, in order to throw him upon his own resources, resorts to the move in the text.
2. 10…d4 Well played, with the object of shutting off the adverse Q's B.
3. 13.c4 This Pawn is advanced both in order to prevent Kt. to Kt's 4th, followed by Kt. to B's 6th on the part of the adversary, and to tempt Black to open, by P. to Q. Kt's 4th, a premature attack on the Queen's side; an attack which White foresees he will be able directly to turn against his opponent.
4. 20…Qb8 An examination of the position will satisfy the reader that this was Black's only move. It is quite clear that had he captured the B. with Kt., White would have won immediately by 21. Q. to K. Kt's 7th (ch.), &c.
5. 26.Qf2 This play, evidently unforeseen by the opponent, not only frustrates Black's design, but is, at the same time, a strong attacking move.
6. 26…Qb8 It is plain that he could not have captured the Rook without loss of his Queen, but 26. B. to Q's 3rd strikes us as greatly preferable to the move actually played. We again commend the position to the careful examination of the student.
7. 27.Qd4+ 27. K. to K's 2nd would have prolonged the contest, but in that case White would equally have won by 28. B. to K's 5th.
8. 31.Be5 And Black resigned. White might have mated at the 29th move by Q. takes B.