|
|
|
The Skittles Room
|
Morphy’s NY Ledger Column Edited by Mark C. Donlan Many chess players are unaware that Paul Morphy wrote a chess column. From August 6, 1859 until August 4, 1860, Morphy “conducted the Chess Department” in the New York Ledger. There were fifty-two columns, and we have decided that it is time to share the writings of the nineteenth-century American genius with our readers. Please note that the original column used an antiquated form of English descriptive notation. We have taken the liberty of converting all the moves to algebraic notation and adding a diagram or two where appropriate. In addition, Morphy’s annotations were given at the very end of the game, referenced by letter. We have merged them into the game. We hope you enjoy Morphy’s NY Ledger Column... The New York Ledger
Chess Department Twenty-fourth of the series 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4 Bxb4 4.f4
This double gambit is one of McDonnell's many ingenious variations. If correctly opposed it leaves the advantage with the second player. 4...d5 The correct reply, first employed by Labourdonnais in these games. 5.exd5 e4 6.Ne2 Nf6 7.0–0 0–0 8.Nbc3 c6 9.dxc6 Nxc6 10.Kh1 Bg4 11.Qe1 e3
An ingenious move, to which there appears to be no satisfactory answer. 12.dxe3 This loses a piece, but in every case the first player must remain with an inferior position. 12...Bxe2 13.Bxe2 Ne4 14.Bb2 Qa5 15.Bd3 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Nxc3 17.Qh4 f5 18.Rf3 Ne4 19.Rh3 h6 20.Rf1 Qc5 21.Qh5 Qd6 22.g4 Rae8 23.Bc4+ Kh7 24.g5
A better move would have been 24.gxf5. 24...Na5 25.gxh6 Badly played; had he moved 25.Bf7, Black would not have had an easy game. 25...g6 26.Qe2 Nxc4 27.Qxc4 Nd2 28.Qc3 Qc6+ 29.Qxc6 bxc6 30.Rd1 Rd8 0–1 By cheerfulness, half the miseries of life might be assuaged. Comment on this month's column via our Contact Page! |
Purchases from our
|
|
|
|
[ChessCafe
Home Page] [Book
Review] [Columnists] © 2010 BrainGamz, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
|
