Morphy - Löwenthal
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 Be6?!
Löwenthal is the first to vary, but in Morphy's Games of Chess he comments: "Comparatively weak; bringing out the king's bishop is much better."
By no means does 5...Be6?! lose by force, but the point is that it is not clear at this early stage that Black's light-square bishop belongs on e6. Most popular today is maintaining symmetry with 5...Bd6.
6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nc3
Morphy has played the first seven moves that he always played against the French (with one exception, which we will come to later).
7...c6 8.Ne5
Löwenthal: "Gaining a good position."
8...Qb6
8...Bxe5?! was subsequently played in two other quite-high-profile 19th century games, but it is very doubtful if Black should give up his good bishop like this. However, Black will come to play ...Bxe5 in this game anyway.
9.Be3!? Nbd7
Grabbing a pawn with 9...Qxb2!? looks risky, especially against an attacking player such as Morphy.
10.f4!?
Löwenthal: "In Mr Morphy's hands, this move always seems productive of immediate advantage."
Morphy continues to offer his b pawn, confident he will get plenty of compensation.
10...Bxe5!?
This comes to be Komodo9's top choice, at least for some time, but Stockfish10 is not a fan. White is now clearly better.
11.fxe5 Ng4
As Löwenthal points out, 11...Nxe5?? loses to 12.Na4.
12.Qd2 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 Qxb2!?
The engines prefer White whether Black plays the text or 13...0-0.
14.Ne2 Qa3 15.Nf4 Qe7
Castling long is suggested by the engines, but White's king certainly looks safer.
16.Rab1 0-0-0
16...0-0?! 17.Rxb7 was hardly an option, but Black's king's position on the queenside looks draughty.
17.Be2!?
Giving the queen and knight quick access to the queenside.
17...Nb6 18.Qb3 Rd7
Moving the king into the line-of-fire by 18...Kb8!? was apparently better, although the engines reckon White has full compensation for his pawn-minus.
19.Nd3!?
The engines at first call this a mistake, because of Löwenthal's reply, but Morphy has a surprise in store.
19...Nc4
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| How can White successfully meet Black's threat to fork at d2? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
20.Nc5!
Löwenthal: "Exceedingly well-played."
20...Rc7?
Löwenthal: "Had Black played 20...Nd2, White's answer would have been 21.Qa4 with a menaced checkmate."
But the engines reckon 21...Kb8 is a complete answer. Instead they give 21.Qg3 Nxf1 (21...Rg8? 22.Nxb7 Nxb1 23.Rxb1, with a very strong attack for White) 22.Bxf1 b6 23.Nxd7 Kxd7 24.Qxg7, when White has got his material back and has the better pieces.
21.Qa4
Löwenthal: "Mr Morphy subsequently observed that taking the knight with the bishop, before playing this move, would have been much stronger as then Black could not have advanced ...b6."
21...b6
The engines want Black to give up the exchange with 21...Kb8!?, but after 22.Bxc4 dxc4 23.Na6+ Ka8 24.Nxc7+ Qxc7 25.Qb4, White is much better.
22.Bxc4 bxc5
Löwenthal: "If the bishop had been captured, White might have replied with 23.Rxb6!, a winning move."
23.Ba6+ Kd7 24.Bb7 Rd8?
Löwenthal: "A blunder, of which Mr Morphy at once takes full advantage."
The engines give best play as 24...Qh4 25.c3 Rd8 26.Qa5 cxd4 27.Qc5 Ke8 28.Bxc6+, with Black losing too much material to have any real chance.
25.Bxc6+! 1-0
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