[Event "London m 11"]
[Site "London m 11"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "1834.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "C33"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 {This gambit,
although mentioned by the earlier writers, was neither well
analysed nor much practiced until about the period of these
matches. M'Donnell has the honor of having first elaborated
the attack, and Labourdonnais' in the course of these games,
discoverd and employed the defences which, until very lately,
were generally regarded as the best} Qh4+ 4. Kf1 g5 5. Nc3 Bg7
6. d4 {M'Donnell here invented an ingenious variation,
beginning with 6.g3.} d6 7. Be2 {The moves 7.Nf3, or 7.e5, are
the strongest at this juncture. The move in the text is weak.}
Nc6 8. e5 Nge7 9. Nb5 O-O 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. Nf3 Qh6 12. exd6
Nf5 13. c3 {Under the circumstances, the most advisable move
on the board. Had he attempted to save the exchange, the
superiority of Black's game would have soon become still more
marked. } Ng3+ 14. hxg3 Qxh1+ 15. Kf2 fxg3+ 16. Kxg3 Qxd1
17. Bxd1 h6 18. b3 b5 19. Be3 f5 20. d5 f4+ 21. Kh2 fxe3
22. dxc6 g4 23. Nd4 Be5+ 24. Kg1 Bxd6 25. Ncxb5 Bc5 26. b4 Bb6
27. Nd6 Bxd4 28. cxd4 Rxb4 29. Nxc8 Rxc8 30. d5 Kf7 31. Bb3
Ke7 32. Kf1 Re4 33. Ke2 Rf8 34. Kd3 Re5 35. Re1 Kd6 36. Rxe3
Rxe3+ 37. Kxe3 h5 38. Ke4 h4 39. Bd1 h3 40. gxh3 gxh3 41. Bf3
h2 42. Bg2 Rf1 {The game throughout is played with the second
player's usual ability.} 0-1

[Event "London m 18"]
[Site "London m 18"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "1834.??.??"]
[Round "18"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "C33"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 g5
5. Nc3 Bg7 6. d4 Nc6 7. e5 Nge7 8. Nf3 Qh5 9. Ne4 h6 10. Nf6+
Bxf6 11. exf6 d5 12. Bd3 Nf5 13. Qe1+ Kd8 14. Ne5 Nfxd4
{Apprehensive of 15.Be2. The following shows that 14...Ng3+
with a view of winning the exchange, would have lost Black the
game - 15.Kg1 Nxh1 16.Nxc6+ Kd7 (best) and White mates in
three moves. Black's proper move was 14...Re8, which would
have given him an evident advantage.} 15. c3 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 Nc6
17. Qxd5+ Ke8 18. Bb5 Be6 19. Bxc6+ Kf8 20. Qc5+ Kg8 21. Bf3
Qg6 22. Qd4 c5 23. Qe5 {The last two moves with the Queen are
not good. He ought to have played 22.Qf2 or 22.b3.} Re8
24. Be2 {This is clearly fatal. Almost all the commentators
recommended here 24.Qxc5, but in that case Black might have
obtained an almost winning attack by 24...g4, etc. The correct
course was to play 24.Kf2, after which, White, with ordinary
care ought to have won without much trouble. If Black then
check at c2, White would have interposed the Queen. If, again,
24...Bd7 the reply would be 25.Qd6. And, if 24...g4, White
would play 25.Be4.} f3 25. Kf2 fxe2 26. Be3 b6 27. h4 {This
again, was far from being well played, but did not affect the
ultimate result.} Bd7 28. Qd5 Qxf6+ 29. Kxe2 Bg4+ 30. Kd2 Rd8
0-1

[Event "London m 22"]
[Site "London m 22"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "1834.??.??"]
[Round "22"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "C33"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 g5
5. Nc3 Bg7 6. d4 d6 7. Nd5 {7.Nf3 or 7.e5 is the correct
play.} Kd8 8. Be2 {A weak move, which we cannot commend.} Nc6
9. e5 Nge7 10. Nc3 Nf5 11. Nf3 Qh6 12. Ne4 f6 13. exf6 Bxf6
14. g4 {White, on account of the feeble manner in which he
conducted the opening, has anything but a good game at this
stage. This move only serves to enhance his difficulties.}
Nfxd4 15. Kg2 Bxg4 16. h4 Bxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Nxf3 18. Qxf3 Ne5
19. Qb3 Qg6 20. Qxb7 Rc8 21. Bd2 gxh4+ 22. Kf1 Rg8 23. Nxd6
{Well played, but the exposed condition of White's king is
such that no play could avert ultimate defeat.} cxd6 24. Ba5+
Ke8 25. Qxc8+ Kf7 26. Qb7+ Be7 27. Qd5+ Kf8 28. Rd1 f3 29. Rd2
h3 30. Qa8+ Kf7 31. Qd5+ Kf8 32. Qa8+ Kg7 33.Qxa7 Qg2+ {The
decisive couop, and one which Black evidently contemplated,
when, at his twenty-ninth move, he played ...h3. } 34. Rxg2+
fxg2+ 35. Kg1 Nf3+ 36. Kf2 gxh1=Q 37. Qxe7+ Kh6 38. Qxd6+ Kh5
39. Qd5+ Rg5 40. Qf7+ Kg4 41. Qc4+ Nd4 {Again excellently
played. A glance at the board will show that this was the only
method of avoiding perpetual check.} 42. Qxd4+ Kh5 43. Bb6
Qh2+ {43...Qg1+ would have brought about a more speedy
termination. } 44. Ke1 Re5+ 45. Kd1 Qe2+ 46. Kc1 Qe1+ 47. Qd1+
Qxd1+ 48. Kxd1 h2 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "26"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "C52"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {The
game before us is the first in which that most beautiful of
openings, the "Evans Gambit", ocurrs between these two
distinguished players. M'donnell had for some time been
familiar with the attack, having analyzed this debut with its
originator, Captain Evans. Labourdonnais, on the other hand,
was comparitavely unacquainted with this new style of play,
and although unfortunate in the first encounter deserves great
credit for the skill and patience with which he elaborated the
defence in subsequent games.} Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 {Our readers are
all aware that there has long existed a difference of opinion
among good players as to the relative advantages of 5...Ba5
and ...Bc5. The latter move, in our opinion affords a more
satisfactory defence than any at the second player's choice.}
6. O-O {This was considered White's best play until after the
death of both these illustrious chess athletes. Later analysis
has proved 6.d4 followed by 7.O-O, etc, to be the strongest
line of attack at this juncture. } d6 {6...Nf6 is the correct
move. If, in reply, White advanced 7.d4, Black replies with
...O-O, and will preserve a safe and well developed game. }
7. d4 Bb6 {Black should have captured pawn with pawn before
retreating the bishop to b6. } 8. dxe5 Bg4 9. Bb5 Bxf3
10. Qxf3 dxe5 11. Qg3 Qf6 12. Bg5 Qe6 13. Na3 Nf6 14. Bxf6
gxf6 {To have retaken with queen would have been better
play. Suppose 14...Qxf6 15.Nc4 O-O 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Nxe5 Qe6
(best) The game is quite even. Had Black, in this variation,
captured the king's pawn with queen on his last move, he must
have lost the exchange as White would have moved 18.Nd7. }
15. Rad1 Bc5 16. Qg7 Ke7 {A mistake which costs the
exchange. He should have moved the attacked rook to f8. }
17. Bc4 Rag8 18. Qxg8 Rxg8 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Nc2 Rg4 21. Rfe1
f5 22. exf5 exf5 23. Ne3 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Ke6 25. Rh3 Rg7
26. Rh6+ Ke7 27. Rb1 Nd8 28. f3 b6 29. Rd1 Nf7 {Had the knight
been played to e6, White would equally have won by 30.Rd5. }
30. Rc6 Rg8 31. Rxc7+ Kf6 32. Rxa7 Rc8 33. Rdd7 Ng5 34. Rdc7
1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "30"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 {3.Nf3 is now
generally preferred at this point, and leads to an interesting
game. Black's reply is 3...Nxe4 or ...Nc6. If the former be
adopted, 4.Nc3 on White's part, a move first brought in vogue
by Mr Boden, undoubtedly the strongest English player of the
present, affors a scope for positions of peculiar
interest. Should Black decline the capture of the king's pawn,
and moves 3...Nc6, the opening is resolved into the "Two
Knights Game". White's rejoinder being 4.Ng5, or better,
perhaps, 4.d4.} exd4 4. e5 Qe7 {A bad move, resulting in loss
of time and position. 4...d4, Black's accepted play, would
have given him the better opening. } 5. Qe2 Ng8
{Compulsory. Had Black now played 5...d5, he would have
evidently have lost a piece, as White would have captured
knight with pawn, and on Black's exchanging queens, (his best
move), would have retaken with the bishop. } 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. c3
d6 8. cxd4 Bg4 9. Bb5 d5 10. Nc3 Qe6 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3
O-O-O 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 {Surely, 13...bxc6, would have been far
better. The uncovering of his king was a matter of small
consequence compared to the loss of his valuable f-pawn and
the "passing" of his adversar's advanced center pawn. The loss
of the game may be ascribed to the heedless move here made by
Labourdonnais. } 14. Qxf7 Bb4 15. Bd2 Ne7 16. O-O Rdf8 17. Qh5
Nf5 18. a3 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 g6 20. Qd1 h5 21. Rc1 Qe6 22. Qe1 h4
23. f4 Rfg8 24. Rf3 Kb8 25. Qd2 Rh7 26. Qd3 Rhg7 27. Bd2
{Preventing the threatened advance of the g-pawn. } a6 28. b4
Qb6 29. Bc3 {This bishop was well posted, and should not have
been withdrawn from the diagonal it occupied. 29.Rc5 as
suggested by Mr. Walker, would have done White better
service. } Ng3 30. a4 Ne4 31. b5 g5 {Black now gains an
opening on the adverse king, but his attack fails, and the
stength of White's passed center pawns becomes irresistable.}
32. f5 g4 33. hxg4 Rxg4 34. Rc2 h3 {Labourdonnais management
of the latter part of this game is very ingenious, but the
crushing force of M'Donnell's pawns tells heavily throughout
the termination. } 35. Rxh3 Rg3 36. Rxg3 Rxg3 37. a5 {Very
well played. } Qh6 {37...Rxd3 would have won a piece, but
could not have saved the game. Suppose, 37...Rxd3 38.axb6 Nxc3
39.Rxc3 Rxc3 40.f6 and will queen one of his pawns. Or
37...Rd3 38.axb6 Rxc3 39.Rxc3 Nxc3 40.e6 (best) Ne4 41.e7 Nf6
42.g4 Kc8 43.bxa6 (best) bxa6 (best) (The line of play
beginning with White's 43rd move, is the only road to
victory. Should he move 43.g5, Black would draw by 43...cxb6,
and on White's capturing the knight, moving ...Kd7. We
recommend this study to the student's attention; it will amply
replay perusal) 44.b7+ Kxb7 (Here again, should White
incautiously advance his pawn to g5, Black would secure a
drawn battle by taking ...cxb6, and moving his king to d7 on
White's capturing his knight.) 45.g5 Ne8 (The advance of the
knight's pawn now forces the game, the Black king having been
removed one square by the sacrifice of the b-pawn.) 45.f6
winning. White might also have won by 40.f6, but not as
prettily. These variations contain a number of others which we
must omit, after commending them to the patient study of
amateurs. [37...Rxd3 38.axb6 A) 38...Rxc3 39.Rxc3 Nxc3 40.e6
Ne4 41.e7 Nf6 42.g4 Kc8 43.bxa6 (43.g5 cxb6 44.gxf6 Kd7)
43...bxa6 44.b7+ (44.g5 cxb6 45.gxf6 Kd7) 44...Kxb7 45.g5 Ne8
46.f6; B) 38...Nxc3 39.Rxc3 Rxc3 40.f6] } 38. Bd2 Qh3 39. Qf1
Rg8 40. f6 Qh5 41. f7 Rf8 42. e6 Ng3 43. Qf3 Qh1+ 44. Kf2 Ne4+
45. Ke2 Qb1 46. e7 Qxb5+ 47. Qd3 Ng3+ 48. Kd1 {This game is
finely played throughout by M'Donnell. His play in these
matches, unfortunately, does not appear to have been as
uniformly sustained as that of his great competitor. } 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "9"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e6 2. f4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. c3
f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Nf7 8. d4 Qb6 9. Ne3 {Premature. He
should have moved 9.Bd3. The great fault to be found with
Mcdonnell's play in all these Sicilian and French openings, as
also in the Queen's Gambits, is loss of time, which, against
such a powerful antagonist as Labourdonnais, could ill be
afforded by any player. } cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb4+ 11. Kf2 fxe5
12. fxe5 O-O 13. Kg3 Qc7 14. h4 Nfxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Kh3
Nxf3 17. gxf3 d4 18. Ng4 h5 19. Nf2 Qe5 20. Bd3 Bd6 21. Ne4
Bc7 22. Kg2 Bd7 23. f4 Qf5 24. Ng5 Bc6+ 25. Kg1 Qg4+ 26. Qxg4
hxg4 27. Rh2 Bd5 28. h5 {The obvious move of 28.Rf2, was the
coupe juste and would have left the advantage with White. }
Rxf4 29. Bxf4 Bxf4 30. Ne4 Be3+ 31. Kg2 Rf8 32. Rf1 Rf5
33. Rhh1 {Here, again, we are at a loss to understand how
White could be guilty of such a glaring mistake. Had he played
instead, 33.Rh4, the game must have been won without any
trouble.} Re5 34. Kg3 Bxe4 35. Bxe4 Rxe4 36. Rh4 e5 37. Rxg4
Bf4+ 38. Kf3 Re3+ 39. Kf2 d3 40. Rfg1 Re2+ 41. Kf3 Bh6 42. Re4
Rxb2 43. Rxe5 Rxa2 44. Kg4 d2 45. Rd5 Rc2 46. Rg3 b5 47. Rgd3
Rc1 48. Kf5 Kh7 49. Rxd2 Bxd2 50. Rxd2 a5 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "7"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d5 5. e5
f6 6. Be2 Be7 7. Na3 Qb6 {In this and the subsequent games at
the same opening, Labourdonnais never fails to make this very
necessary move at the proper time. } 8. Nc2 Nh6 9. d4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Bd7 11. Bd3 Nb4 12. Nxb4 Bxb4+ 13. Kf2 {The
interposition of the queen's bishop would have been much
better. } O-O 14. Rf1 {This was probably hastily played, and
should have resulted in the loss of a pawn. More correct would
have been 14.Kg3. } fxe5 15. fxe5 {Some instructive
variations, resulting, however, in every instance, in Black's
favor, would have sprung from 15.Nxe5. Suppose 15.Nxe5 Qxd4+
16.Kg3 (It is evident that the White king can only choose
between this and the move given below) Rad8 and Black must
win. For if 17.Bxh7+ Kxf7 Qxd4 Nf5+ 19.K moves Nxd4 with the
advantage of a piece. Or 16.Ke2 After this move, it will at
first sight appear that Black must now submit to some loss, as
his queen's bishop is attacked by the adverse knight,while
White also threatens to win the queen by 17.Bxh7+. It will be
seen, however, that Black has one move in store which not only
enables him to thwart his opponents designs, but actually
increases the superiority of his game. 16...Bb5 17.Bxb5 (It is
quite clear that if White does not capture the queen's bishop,
Black remains with a vastly superior position) 17...Qe4+
18.Be3 Bc5, etc. and Black must win. } Nf5 {This, like his
adversary's fourteenth move, must have been played without
consideration. 15...Qxd4+ would have given him a winning
advantage at once. } 16. Bxf5 Rxf5 17. Kg1 Rc8 18. g4 {This
considerably weakens White's game on the king's side; to it
may be ascribed the loss of the contest. } Rf7 19. a4 Rcf8
20. Be3 Be7 21. Qe2 Qb3 22. Bg5 Bb4 {Black would have gained
nothing by 22...Rxf3, as White, in that case, would have
replied with 23.Bxe7. } 23. Kg2 {Fatal, but the first players
situation, in any case, is anything but enviable. } Rxf3
24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. Rc1 Rf8 26. Rc7 Bc6 27. Be3 Qc4 28. Qd1 Ba5
29. Re7 Bxa4 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "28"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. c3 d5 5. e5
f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Qb6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 Bd7
11. h4 {For comments on the opening we refer the reader to the
games previously published in the LEDGER. } fxe5 12. fxe5 O-O
13. Kg3 {White here declines to exchange his queen's bishop
for Black's king's knight, and considering the winning
position he very soon obtains, we must pronounce this line of
play adopted instead, to have been the correct one. } Nf5+
14. Kh3 Be7 15. Bd3 Qd8 16. g4 {Very well played.} Nxh4 {An
injudicious capture, courted by his adversary, and which ought
to have resulted in Black's defeat. 16...Nh6 would have been
preferable, though still leaving the advantage with the first
player. } 17. Nxh4 Bxh4 18. g5 Bxg5 19. Qh5 {White has now
acquired a winning position. } Bh6 {If 19...h6 20.Rg1 (best)
Bxc1 21.Rxg7+ Kxg7 22.Qg6+ Kh8 23.Qh7 mate. Black may, of
course, vary his 19th move but it will be found that in no
case, can defeat be averted. } 20. Bxh6 {M'Donnell does not
here select the best move. 20.Rg1 was the coupe just, and must
have speedily forced the game. Suppose 20.Rg1 Kh8 (best)
21.Rxg7 Kxg7 (21...Rf3+ 22.Kg2 (best) Rxd3 23.Qxh6, winning
easily) Mates in four moves.} gxh6 21. Rag1+ Kh8 22. Qxh6
{White should have continued thus 22.Bxh7 Qe7 (best) 23.Bd3,
and win} Qe7 23. Rg3 {Again , 23.Bxh7 was the correct
play. 23.Bxh7 Qxh7 (23...Rf3+ 24.Kg2 winning) 24.Qxh7+ Kxh7
25.Rg3, and wins at once. } Rg8 24. Qf6+ {M'donnell might even
now have captured the rook's pawn with bishop, though not with
the same effect as on the preceeding moves. The check here
given was one of the worst moves at his disposal; it enables
Black at once to relieve himself from all embarrassment by an
exchange of queens. } Qxf6 25. exf6 e5+ 26. Kg2 e4 27. Be2
Rxg3+ 28. Kxg3 Rg8+ 29. Kh4 Rg2 30. Rf1 Kg8 {White, the reader
need hardly be told, would immediately queen his advanced
pawn, where his antagonist to capture the bishop. } 31. Bd1
Be6 32. b4 a6 33. a4 Rh2+ 34. Kg5 b5 35. axb5 axb5 36. Bh5
{This is mere desperation; the game is now irretrievably
lost.} Rxc2 37. Ra1 Nd8 38. Ra7 e3 39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. Kh6 Nf7+
41. Bxf7 Bxf7 42. Rg3 Rh2+ 43. Kg5 e2 44. Re3 Bh5 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "16"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy.} c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d5 5. e5
f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Qb6 8. d4 Bd7 9. Ne3 {As has been
remarked in a note to one of the preceding games, this move is
premature. White's true course was to deploy his forces and
Castle as speedily as possible. } cxd4 10. cxd4 {To have
retaken with Knight would hardly have been better. The line of
play adopted by White in the opening is so radically bad, that
no deviation from his usual routine afterwards can improve his
game. } Bb4+ 11. Kf2 O-O 12. Kg3 fxe5 13. fxe5 Rac8 14. h4
Rxf3+ {A sound sacrifice. Black wins a pawn in return for the
sacrifice of the exchange, and obtains a good attacking
position. } 15. gxf3 {The best mode of capturing the Rook. Had
White taken with the Queen instead, Black would still have
farther advanced his game by 15.Qxd4 and so on. } Nxd4 16. Bd3
Rf8 17. f4 Bc5 18. Rf1 {M'Donnell has a difficult game. b4,
which he played on his twenty-fifth move, would have done him
better service at this stage.} Bb5 {An excellent move,
compelling an exchange of Bishops, which materially weakens
White's position and strengthens the attack.} 19. Bxb5 Qxb5
20. Kh3 Ne2 21. Ng2 {We are surprised that M'Donnell should
not have first played a4 forcing the Black Queen to a6, whence
she could not easily have been brought over to the point of
attack on the King's side of the board. } Nf5 22. Kh2 Neg3
23. Rf3 Ne4 24. Qf1 Qe8 {The truth of the last note is now
apparent. Were the Queen now at a6, Black could not so
immediately avail himself of her powerful aid.} 25. b4 Bd4
26. Rb1 Qh5 27. Rbb3 Rc8 28. Be3 Rc2 29. Kg1 Nxe3 30. Rfxe3
Nd2 31. Qd3 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Nf1+ 33. Kh3 Nxe3 34. Nxe3 Qf3+
35. Kh2 Rh1# 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "34"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. c3
f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Qb6 8. d4 Bd7 9. h4 O-O-O 10. a3 Kb8
11. b4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nf5 13. Kf2 h5 14. Bd3 Nh6 {Had Black
captured the d-pawn with the Queen's Knight, White would have
replied 15.Nc2xd4, followed by 16.Be3, winning a piece. }
15. Bd2 Ng4+ 16. Kg3 Rc8 17. Qe2 Be7 18. a4 g5 19. a5 Qc7
20. b5 gxf4+ 21. Kh3 Nxd4 22. Ncxd4 fxe5 23. b6 Qd6 24. Nxe5
{24.Rhb1 has justly been pronounced White's best play at this
juncture. The move is fruitful of interesting variations and
would, we think, have left the advantage with the first
player. } Qxe5 25. Qxe5+ Nxe5 26. Bxf4 Bd6 27. Bb5 Rc3+ 28. g3
Bc8 29. bxa7+ Ka8 30. a6 bxa6 {Black should at once have
retreated his Knight to f7, and must then have won through the
strength of his passed center pawns. } 31. Bxa6 Nf7 32. Bxd6
Nxd6 33. Bxc8 Rhxc8 34. Nxe6 Ne4 35. Rhg1 Nf2+ {35...Rc2 was
the correct play. } 36. Kg2 Ng4 37. Rgb1 Rc2+ 38. Kg1 Ne5
39. Ra3 Rc1+ 40. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 41. Kg2 Rc2+ 42. Kf1 Rc6 43. Nf4
d4 44. Ke2 Rc2+ 45. Kd1 Rc4 46. Nxh5 Ng4 47. Nf4 Ne3+ 48. Ke2
Nf5 49. Nd5 Nxg3+ 50. Kf3 Rc6 51. Kxg3 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "14"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. c3
f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Qb6 8. d4 Bd7 9. Ne3 {Premature; surely
9.9.Be2 or Bd3 would have been better play.} cxd4 10. cxd4
Bb4+ 11. Kf2 O-O 12. Kg3 fxe5 13. fxe5 Be8 14. Kh3 Bh5 15. g4
Bg6 16. Bg2 Be4 17. g5 Nf5 18. Nxf5 Rxf5 19. Be3 Bxf3 20. Bxf3
Nxe5 21. Bg4 Nxg4 22. Qxg4 Raf8 23. Rag1 Bd6 24. Bc1 Rf3+
25. Kh4 R8f4 {The game is capitally played from first to last
by Labourdonnais, but very indifferently by his antagonist. }
0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "12"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 {See
the first note on the tenth game between these players.} exd4
5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bd6 {The correct move; in subsequent games,
however, M'Donnell almost invariably committed the error of
playing the bishop to e7. } 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5
{M'Donnell has been justly censured for his premature adoption
of this move in these contests. There are, undoubtedly, many
cases, in which the g-pawn may be thrown forward with
advantage; the move, however, should be made at the proper
stage of the game. } 10. Bg3 Bg4 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Qd3 Kg7 {This
move enables White to obtain an advantage in position by
13.Ne5. 12...Bxf3 would certainly have been preferable. If, in
reply, White captures 13.Qxf3 he does not appear to possess
any marked advantage; and if 13.Qg6+ Kh8 14.Qxh6+ Nh7 15.gxf3
Nxd4 and Black's game is quite as good as his antagonist's. }
13. Ne5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Nh5 15. Nd5 Nxg3 {We do not like this,
but it would be difficult to select a move of any greater
promise. White has the better game in consequence of Black's
erroneous twelth move.} 16. Qxg3 Bh5 17. f4 Na5 18. b3 Nxc4
19. bxc4 c6 20. Nf6 Qd4+ 21. Kh1 Bg6 22. Rad1 Qxc4 23. f5 Bh7
24. Nd7 Rfd8 25. e6 f6 26. Qc7 Rdc8 27. Qxb7 Qb5 28. Rb1 Qxb7
29. Rxb7 Kh8 30. Nxf6 Bg8 31. Rd1 Rd8 32. Rdd7 Rxd7 33. Rxd7
g4 34. Kg1 a5 35. e7 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "31"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4
5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 {See, for remarks on this opening, the
Queen's Gambits previosly published by the LEDGER. } 7. Nf3
O-O 8. Be3 c6 9. h3 Nbd7 10. Bb3 Nb6 11. O-O Nfd5 12. Qe2 Kh8
13. Rae1 Bd6 14. Bc2 f5 15. Ne5 f4 {M'Donnell's favorite
advance of his f-pawn in these games.} 16. Qh5 Nf6 17. Ng6+
Kg8 18. Bb3+ Nbd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 {He should evidently have been
mated on the next move, had he captured his adversary's
queen. } 20. Bxd5+ Nxd5 21. Qxd5+ Rf7 22. Ne5 Be6 23. Qxe6
Bxe5 24. dxe5 fxe3 25. Rxe3 {The series of moves, beginning
with the sixteenth, has been capitally played by
Labourdonnais, and the result is a clear gain of two
pawns. All interest in the game is now at an end, victory
being a mere question of time. } Qe8 26. Qxe8+ Rxe8 27. f4 Rc7
28. Rf2 Kf7 29. g4 Rc5 30. Rfe2 a5 31. Kf2 b5 32. Kf3 b4
33. a3 Rb8 34. axb4 Rxb4 35. Rc3 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "10"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. dxe5 {The
move generally recognized as the best is 4.Bxc4. This capture
of the King's pawn brins about an exchange of Queens, and
greatly diminishes the interest of the game} Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 Nc6
6. f4 Be6 7. Bd2 Bc5 8. Nf3 h6 9. Nc3 Rd8 10. Ke1 Nge7 11. Rc1
Bb4 12. Nb5 Bxd2+ 13. Nxd2 Rd7 14. Bxc4 Bxc4 15. Rxc4 O-O
16. Nf3 Rfd8 17. Ke2 Nd5 18. Nbd4 {This was probably hastily
played , and with the proper reply on the part of Black should
have equalized the game. } Nxd4+ {Curiously enough Black
overlooks the opportunity afforded by his adversary's last
move. He ought now to have proceeded as follows: 18...Nxf4+
19.exf4 Nxd4+ 20.Nxd4 Rxd4 and the game is quite even.}
19. Rxd4 c5 20. Rd2 Nb4 21. a3 Rxd2+ 22. Nxd2 Nc6 23. Nc4 b6
24. Rd1 Rxd1 25. Kxd1 Kf8 26. Ke2 Ke7 27. Kd3 Ke6 28. Ke4 Ne7
29. g4 g6 30. a4 f5+ 31. exf6 Kxf6 32. Ne5 Ke6 33. Nxg6 Nc8
{The game being past redemption , it is quite immaterial what
move Black selects. If he now captures knight with knight,
White of course wins easily by 34f5+, etc.} 34. f5+ Kd6 35. h4
Kc7 36. Ke5 Nd6 37. f6 a6 38. Ke6 b5 39. axb5 axb5 40. f7 Nxf7
41. Kxf7 Kd6 42. Nf4 c4 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5 b4 45. Ne2 {This
is one of the few contests ocurring between these players
which present but few points of interest. It affords scarcely
any opportunity for variations or comments.} 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "17"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. d4 {Notes by Paul Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4
exd4 5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 {See notes on previous games at
the same opening. } 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Be3 c6 {M'Donnell should
rather had played ...Bg4, and then have brought out his
Queen's Knight. } 9. h3 Nbd7 10. Bb3 Nb6 11. O-O Nfd5
{M'Donnell has now obtained his favorite position in the
Queen's Gambit. It is far from being a commendable one. }
12. a4 a5 13. Ne5 Be6 14. Bc2 f5 {14...f6, with a view of
dislodging the Knight, would have resulted in the same
position; suppose 14...f6 15.Qh5 f5 (best) 17.Qe2 and we
arrive at the position occurring after White's fifteenth move
in the text. } 15. Qe2 f4 16. Bd2 Qe8 17. Rae1 Bf7 {Fearing
the loss of a pawn by 18.Nxc6, etc, Black's proper course was
to retreat the Bishop to d7. } 18. Qe4 g6 19. Bxf4 Nxf4
20. Qxf4 Bc4 {Black foresaw this move when he played 17...Bf7,
but he evidently did not foresee that he could not capture
without immediately losing the game. } 21. Qh6 Bxf1 22. Bxg6
hxg6 23. Nxg6 Nc8 {Black has a lost game, but he might have
considerably prolonged the contest by 23...Bf6. Let us suppose
23...Bf6 24.Rxe8 (best) Rf8xe8 25.Kxf1 Bxd4 and although Black
must ultimately lose, owing to White's passed Pawns on the
King's side, his position is more tenable than that attainable
by any other line of play. } 24. Qh8+ Kf7 25. Qh7+ Kf6 26. Nf4
Bd3 27. Re6+ Kg5 28. Qh6+ Kf5 29. g4# {A contest admirably
managed by Labourdonnais.} 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 f5 {Weak; The
correct play is ...e5, which leads to an even game. As was
observed in a note to one of the preceeding games, M'Donnell's
radically unsound defences to the Queen's Gambit greatly
detract from the merit of these contests, so beautifully
conducted throughout by his antagonist. } 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c6
{Feebly played again. He should have brought out his king's
bishop at once.} 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. e4 b5 8. Bb3 a5 {All this is
deplorably weak. M'Donnell's conduct of this game would have
been unworthy of a player to whom he could have given the odds
of a piece. } 9. exf5 exf5 10. O-O a4 11. Bxg8 Rxg8 12. Bg5
Qc7 13. Qe2+ Kf8 {Why throw a move away by not moving the King
to f7 at once? } 14. Rfe1 Kf7 15. Rac1 Qb7 16. d5 h6 17. dxc6
Qa6 18. Nxb5 hxg5 19. Nxd6+ Kg6 20. Ne5+ Kf6 21. Qh5 g6
22. Qh7 Be6 23. Nxg6 Nxc6 24. Rxc6 Qd3 25. Qe7+ {White could
have mated in two moves by two different lines of play, thus:
25.Rxe6+ Kxe6 26.Qf7 mate or more prettily 25.Qf7+ Bxf7 26.Ne8
mate. } Kxg6 26. Rxe6+ Kh5 27. Qh7+ Kg4 28. Rc4+ f4 29. h3+
Qxh3 30. Qxh3# 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "23"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "72"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. Bf4 {This move, has , we think,
been unjustly censured, as with the best after-play on both
sides, the second player does not appear to obtain the
slightest advantage. } c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 Bxf3
6. Bxf3 e6 7. c4 Nf6 8. Nc3 cxd4 9. exd4 dxc4 {Black only
gains the pawn temporarily, as White is enabled presently to
recover it by first capturing Knight with Bishop, and then
moving Qa4. } 10. O-O Be7 {Had Black here moved 10...Nd5, the
following would have been the probable continuation: 11.Bxd5
exd5 12.Nb5 Rc8 13.Re1+ Be7 (best) 14.Nd6+ winning the
exchange. } 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qa4 O-O 13. Qxc4 Rc8 14. a3 Bd6
{Nd5, at once strikes us as better play. } 15. Bg3 Bxg3
16. fxg3 Nd5 17. Rae1 Qg5 18. Ne4 Qe7 19. b4 a5 20. Nc5 axb4
21. axb4 Rb8 22. Na6 Rb6 23. b5 Qa3 {The correct move,
ensuring the immediate gain of a pawn. 23.cxb5 would have
given Black no advantage. Suppose 23...cxb5 24.Qxd5 exd5 (If
24...Rxa6 25.Qxb5. and the game is even) 25.Rxe7 Rxa6 26.Rd7
and White must now win d-pawn, after which his game will be
fully as good as his antagonist's. } 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. Nxc5
Rxb5 26. Nd7 Rc8 27. Ne5 Rb7 28. Rc1 Rbc7 29. Rc5 f6 30. Nc4
Kf8 31. Ra1 Ke7 32. Ra6 Nb4 33. Ra4 Rb8 34. Na5 Nd3 35. Kf1
Nxc5 36. dxc5 Rb5 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "29"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C53"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "108"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 {We
have, in a note to one of the preceeding contests, taken
occasion to remind the student that 4...Nf6, is here the
correct reply. 4...d6 enables the first player to obtain the
better game through the establishment of his pawns in the
center. } 5. d3 {5.d4, was the coupe just, and properly
followed up, would have given him a slightly superior
position. } Nf6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a6 8. b5 Ne7 9. h3 Ng6 10. Qe2
Be6 11. Na3 O-O 12. g4 {The style of play adopted by
Labourdonnais in the game before us, can not be commended. It
is by far too bold and wreckless to be ventured upon with an
adversary of equal force, and as in this instance, generally
results in defeat. } d5 13. Ba2 dxe4 14. dxe4 Bxa2 15. Rxa2
Nd7 16. Nc4 Re8 17. h4 Nc5 18. Rd2 Qc8 19. Rd5 Nxa4 20. h5 Nf4
{Well played; Black must now win the exchange. To have taken
the c-pawn with the other knight would have been bad
play. Suppose 20...Nxc3 21.Qd3 Nxd5 22.hxg6 Nf6 (best)
23.gxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qb3 and must win. } 21. Bxf4 Nxc3 22. Qd3
Nxd5 23. Qxd5 exf4 24. Ng5 Re7 25. h6 g6 26. Nxb6 cxb6 27. Qd4
Qf8 28. Qf6 Rd7 29. Ke2 Rad8 30. e5 Rd2+ 31. Kf1 Rxf2+ {Very
well played; this sacrifice forces the game. } 32. Kxf2 Qc5+
33. Kg2 Rd2+ 34. Kh3 Qe3+ 35. Nf3 {If 36.Kh4, Black mates with
...Qg3} Qxf3+ 36. Kh4 Qxh1+ 37. Kg5 Kf8 {The following line of
play, indicated by another commentator, would have been far
more expeditious: 37...Qxh6+ 38.Kxh6 Rh2+ 39.Kg5 h6+ 40.Kxf4
Rf2+ 41.K moves Rxf6 42.exf6 a5 winning. } 38. Qh8+ Ke7
39. Qf6+ Ke8 40. Qh8+ Kd7 41. e6+ fxe6 42. Qg7+ Kd6 43. Qf8+
Kc7 44. Qxf4+ Rd6 45. Qf7+ Kc8 46. Qg8+ Rd8 47. Qxh7 Qd5+
48. Kh4 Qh1+ 49. Kg5 Rd5+ 50. Kf6 Qf3+ 51. Kxe6 Qe4+ 52. Kf6
Qe5+ 53. Kf7 Rd7+ 54. Kf8 Qf6+ 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C53"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 {For
comments on the opening moves, see the fourth game of the
series} 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. d5 Nce7 8. e5 Bg4 9. Bb5+
{Qa4+ would have been much stronger and would have given rise
to some variations of interest. Suppose 9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Qb3 and
White, threatening 11.e6, etc, has the better game. If 9...c6
10.dxc6 Nxc6 (or bxc6) 11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Qxg4 with the better
position. If 9...Qd7 10.Bb5 c6 11.e6 and must win. If 9...Kf8
10.Qb3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Ng6 and Black's game is quite as good as
his antagonist's. He has a strong and safe position, and will
have no difficulty in bringing his pieces into play. If White
should move 13.e6 (???) , Black might answer with ...Ne5,
having an excellent game.} Kf8 {Black might have played 9.c3
with safety. } 10. e6 fxe6 11. dxe6 Nf6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3
c6 14. Bd3 Qc8 15. Bf5 {15.Qe2 strikes us as a better method
of protecting the pawn.} Ke8 {Black should have captured the
king's bishop with knight at once, and then continued
16...Ke7, winning the advanced king's pawn. } 16. O-O Rf8
17. Qd3 Nxf5 18. Qxf5 Ke7 { White, by needlessly giving up the
pawn and thus enabling Black to free his pieces, obtains an
inferior game. He might have played 19.Re1 and preserved his
advantage. He appears to have feared in reply 19...Nd5. The
subjoined variation shows that the move apprehended would have
resulted in White's favor: 19.Re1 Nd5 20.Bg5+ Ke8 21.Qxh7
Bxf2+ 22.Kh2 and White ought to win. } 19. Bg5 Qxe6 20. Qxh7
Qf7 21. Nc3 Kd7 22. Qf5+ Kc7 23. Bf4 Rad8 24. Qc2 {24.Rad1
would surely have been much stronger. } Kb8 25. a4 Nh5 26. Bg5
Rde8 27. a5 Bc5 28. Na4 Bd4 29. Qd2 {This is not a good move,
but in every event Black has a greatly superior position. }
Ng3 30. Rfd1 Bxf2+ 31. Kh2 Ne4 32. Qc1 Bg3+ 33. Kg1 Qf2+
34. Kh1 Be5 {M'Donnell certain of victory and seeing a good
move, did not give himself the trouble of looking for a
better. Otherwise he would have observed that 34...Rh8 would
have forced the game at once. } 35. Rd3 Ng3+ 36. Rxg3 Qxg3
37. Qg1 Qxg5 38. a6 Qg3 39. axb7 Rf2 40. Ra3 Qf4 {It is
curious that M'Donnell should here have overlooked the
following forced mate, given by previous commentators:
40...Rf1 41.Rxg3 Rxg1+ 42.Kxg1 Bxg3 and mates next move. }
41. Nb6 Rf1 42. Nd7+ Kc7 {Had Black taken the pawn Black would
have drawn the game as follows: 42...Kxb7 43.Rxa7+ Kc8 44.Nb6+
Kb8 (If 44...Kd8 45.Ra8 mate) 45.Nd7+ drawing by perpetual
check. } 43. b8=Q+ Rxb8 44. Nxb8 Bd4 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "4"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C53"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 {The
required move of 4...Nf6 is undoubtedly the best at Black's
command at this juncture; the objection to the course pursued
in the text is that enables White to establish center pawns. }
5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. d5 {This move, a favorite one with
Labourdonnais at this stage of the Giuco Piano, is inferior,
in our opinion, to 7.Nc3. The advance of the queen's pawn is
premature, and, if properly met by Black, should lead to a
perfectly even game. } Ne5 {The correct play is 7.Nce7}
8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. Nc3 Nf6 10. Bg5 O-O {This allows White by
playing his queen to f3, to double the Black pawns upon the
f-file, and to gain an opening upon the adverse king; but
however Black had played, white would still have had a
slightly superior game. } 11. Qf3 Qd6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qxf6
gxf6 14. g4 Kg7 15. Ne2 Rh8 16. Rg1 Kf8 17. Rg2 Ke7 18. O-O-O
h5 {18...Bd7, with the view of playing the queen's rook to g8,
would have been far preferable. } 19. g5 f5 20. Nc3 Bc5 21. g6
Bd6 22. gxf7 Kxf7 23. f4 exf4 24. Rdg1 Kf8 25. Rg6 f3 26. exf5
Be5 {In this game M'Donnell does not seem to have played with
the self reliance which characterized the three preceding
contests. 25...Bd7 would surely have been more advisable; the
move made throws the game away at once. } 27. d6 cxd6 28. Rg8+
Rxg8 29. Rxg8+ Ke7 30. Nd5+ Kd7 31. Bb5# 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "116"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Qf6
{As we remarked in a note to the first contest, this was
M'Donnells favorite defence to the Scotch Gambit. Later
analysis has shown it to be inferior to the now universally
accepted moves of 4...Bc5, or 4...Nf6. Another line of play
springing from 4...Bb4+ was of frequent ocurrence until within
a few years; but it is less commendable than either of the
moves which we have just mentioned. } 5. c3 {A feasble move at
this juncture, although decried by the leading authorities,
who agree in recommending 5.O-O, as a preliminary step to the
advance of this pawn. } d3 {M'Donnell here selects the best
move. It effectually prevents the formation of center pawns by
his adversary, and in a measure retains the action of the
White pieces on the Queen's side. If 5...dxc3 6.Nxc3 Bb4 7.Bd2
Nge7 8.Nb5 and White's superiority is more marked than in the
game as actually played. Again if 5...Bc5 6.e5 Qg6 (Black
evidently could not have played 6...Nxe5, as White would have
won a piece by 7.Qe2 followed by 8.cxd4) 7.cxd4 with a fine
game. Had Black in this latter variation played 6...Qe7, White
would have replied not with 7.cxd4 but with 7.O-O, having a
very strong attacking game.} 6. Qxd3 d6 7. O-O Qg6 8. Bf4 Be7
9. Nbd2 h5 {White's pieces are all in the field, while the
opponents forces are comparatively undeveloped. Under these
circumstances it strikes us that Black loses time by this
premature attempt to form an attack upon the White king's
entranched position. M'Donnells fondness for attack too often
betrayed him into those rash onslaughts, which, with even
players, generally recoil against the originator. We should
have played 9...Nh6 and then have castled. } 10. Rfe1 Bh3
11. Nh4 Bxh4 {11...Qg4 would have given rise to some
interesting var} 12. Qxh3 Bf6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. f4
Nge7 16. fxe5 Qg4 17. Qxg4 hxg4 18. Nb3 Ng6 19. e6 f5 20. Rad1
Nge5 21. Bd3 Rh5 22. Bc2 Ke7 23. Nd4 Kf6 24. Rf1 Ne7 25. b4
{Had it been White's intention to maintain his Knight at d4,
this move would have been plausible enough, but as the Knight
was immediately retreated to e2 and g3, 25.b4 was clearly a
loss of time. He should have played 25.Ne2 at once. } Rah8
26. Ne2 Rxh2 27. Ng3 g6 {If 27...Nf3+ 28.gxf3 Rxc2 29.fxg4
Rhh2 30.Ne4+ Kxe6 (If 30...Kg6 31.gxf5+ Nxf5 32.Rxf5 Kxf5
33.e7 Rh8 34.Rd8 and White wins.) 31.Nf2 Rh6 (best) 32.Re1+
Kf7 33.Rd7 Re6 34.Rxe6 Kxe6 35.Rxc7 and the result would seem
to prove that Black adopted the safest course by playing 27.g6
[27...Nf3+ 28.gxf3 Rxc2 29.fxg4 Rhh2 30.Ne4+ Kxe6 31.Nf2 Rh6
32.Rfe1+ Kf7 33.Rd7 Re6 34.Rxe6 Kxe6 35.Rxc7] } 28. Bb3 Kg5
29. Rde1 Nd3 30. Re3 Nf4 31. Rf2 R2h7 32. Rd2 Nh5 33. Nxh5
Rxh5 34. Kf2 f4 35. Re5+ Nf5 36. e7 Re8 37. Rd7 Rh7 38. Rxc7
Rhxe7 39. Rcxe7 Rxe7 40. Rxe7 Nxe7 41. a4 Kf5 42. a5 Ke5
43. Bd1 g3+ 44. Kf3 Nd5 {Black might now have won with ease by
44...Nf5. Suppose 44...Nf5 45.Ke2 Ne3 46.B moves Nxg2 and
wins. Or 44...Nf5 45.Bc2 Nh4+ 46.Ke2 (If 46.Kg4 f3 47.Kxg3
fxg2 48.Kf2 Nf3 49.Kxg2 Ne1+ ) f3+ 47.gxf3 (47.Kf1 Nxg2 or
fxg2+) g2 48.Kf2 Nxf3 49.Kxg2 Ne1+. Or 44...Nf5 45.Be2 Nh4+
(Black could easily win by 45...Ne3 followed by advancing the
g-pawn) 46.Kg4 Nxg2 47.Bf3 Ne1 48.Bxb7 b2 49.Bxg2 Nxg2 and
Black wins. } 45. Bc2 g5 46. b5 Nxc3 {Here again Black
unaccountably overlooks the road to victory. He ought to have
proceeded as follows: 46...g4+ 47.Ke2 Nc3+ (or 47...Ne3)
winning easily.} 47. b6 axb6 48. axb6 Nb5 {The whole of this
end-game is remarkable proof of the fact that the very best of
players seem at times to be struck with a singular
blindness. The simple move of 48...Nd5 would evidently have at
once decided the contest in Black's favor. } 49. Kg4 Nd6
50. Bd3 Ne4 51. Be2 Kd5 52. Bf3 Ke5 53. Be2 Kf6 54. Bf3 Nf2+
55. Kh5 g4 56.Bxb7 Ke7 57.Bc8 Kd6 58.Bxg4 Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "21"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C23"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 {For notes on the
opening see the nineteenth game between the same players. }
Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. c3 Ne7 {Premature and a loss of time. Black
should have played 5...d6 or 5...O-O. } 6. f4 exf4 {It is
seldom advisable to capture this pawn in the Lopez Gambit.}
7. d4 Bb6 8. Bxf4 d6 {This pawn should have been played to d5
to break up the advanced center pawns. } 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Be3
O-O 11. h3 Re8 12. Nd2 Qe7 13. O-O-O c5 14. Kb1 cxd4 15. cxd4
a5 16. Ngf3 Bd7 17. g4 h6 18. Rdg1 a4 19. g5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 a3
21. b3 Bc6 22. Rg4 Ba5 23. h4 Bxd2 24. Nxd2 Ra5 25. h5 Rxg5
{An examination of the position will satisfy the reader that
the retreat of the Knight would have subjected Black to an
attack which would soon have proved irresistible. By thus
sacrificing the exchange, Black in turn assumes the opposite,
the only course which gave promise of a favorable result. }
26. Rxg5 Nf4 27. Qf3 Nxd3 28. d5 {If 28.Qxd3, then follows on
the part of Black, 28...Nxe4, with a won game. } Nxd5 29. Rhg1
{Well played. The game which has now become critical for both
parties is, by both, conducted with skill and judgement. Had
White now played any other move than the one adopted he must
have speedily lost. Suppose first 29.Rxd5 Bxd5 30.Qxd3 Bxe4
31.Nxe4 Qxe4 and Black having five pawns to three, now compels
an exchange of queens, and must win. Or 29.Rxd5 Bxd5 30.exd5
Qe3 31.Qxe3 (best) Rxe3 again winning through his superiority
in pawns. And secondly if 29.Qxd3 Qxg5 30.exd5 Qxd5 and Black
wins. And thirdly, if 29.exd5 Qxg5 30.Qxd3 (best) Qxd5 and we
have the same position as in the last variation. } Nc3+
30. Ka1 {If 30.Kc2 Qxg5 31.Rxg5 (best) Ne1+ 32.Kxc3 Nxf3
33.Nxf3 Rxe4 and Black must win. } Bxe4 31. Rxg7+ Kh8 32. Qg3
Bg6 { This move should have cost Black the game. Black's
proper course was to play 32...Qf6, a move not only productive
of many highly interesting variations, but one which would
have ensured the game. Let us suppose 32...Qf6 33.Rg8+ Kh7
34.Qg7+ ( 34.Rg7+ Kh6 35.Qe3+ Nf4 and Black will win) Qxg7
35.R1xg7+ (35.R8xg7+ Kh6 36.Rxf7 (36.Nxe4 Rxe4 37.Rg8 Re1+
38.Rxe1 Nxe1 and Black again wins.) White may here and
afterwards move differently, but it will be found that, in
every case, Black's superiority in force and position must
secure him the game ...Nb4 37.Rf6+ Kxh5 38.Rc1 (must) Nc2+ and
Black wins) 35...Kh6 36.Rxe8 Nb4 and White cannot prolong the
contest beyond a few moves.. [32...Qf6 33.Rg8+ Kh7 34.Qg7+
(34.Rg7+ Kh6 35.Qe3+ Nf4) 34...Qxg7 A) 35.R8xg7+ Kh6 36.Rxf7
(36.Nxe4 Rxe4 37.Rg8 Re1+ 38.Rxe1 Nxe1) 36...Nb4 37.Rf6+ Kxh5
38.Rc1 Nc2+; B) 35.R1xg7+ 35...Kh6 36.Rxe8 Nb4] } 33. hxg6
Qe1+ 34. Rxe1 {White as suggested by the Chessplayer's
Chronicle (Vo.II.p.361) might now have won in the following
manner. 34.Nb1 Qxg3 35.Rh7+ Kg8 36.gxf7+ Kxh7 37.Rh1+ Kg7
38.fxe8=Q and White easily scores the game. } Rxe1+ 35. Qxe1
Nxe1 36. Rh7+ Kg8 37. gxf7+ Kxh7 38. f8=N+ Kh6 39. Nb1 Nc2#
0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "19"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C23"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "108"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 {White, by this
move initiates the opening known as the Lopez Gambit- a debut
rarely practiced at the present day. Its legitimate result
should be an even game. } d6 {Besides the move here adopted
Black may also play 3...Nf6 3...Nc6 3...Qe7. If he choose the
first, and White reply with 4.f4, Black may capture the
proffered pawn, not only with safety, but with advantage. We
subjoin one or two variations 3...Nf6 4.f4 exf4 5.e5 O-O 6.Nf3
d5 and Black has undoubtedly the better game. If White now
takes 7.exf6, Black moves ...Re8 and must win. And if White
retreat 7.Bb3, Black's answer is ...Nc6. And finally if White
play 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Nxd4 dxc4 9.Qxc4 Qd5 and Black has the
advantage. Or 3...Nf6 4.f4 exf4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.c3 (If 6.e5 Black
castles) O-O 7.d4 d5 and play as White may, we think that
Black must obtain a superior position. } 4. d3 {4.f4 is now
the correct move. } Nf6 5. h3 Nc6 6. c3 Ne7 7. Bb3 Ng6 8. g3
c6 9. f4 exf4 10. gxf4 Bxg1 11. Rxg1 Bxh3 12. f5 Ne5 13. Rg3
Bg4 14. Qg2 h5 15. d4 Ned7 16. Bg5 Qb6 17. Nd2 O-O {It surely
would have been safer to have castled with Queen Rook.}
18. Bf4 {18.Nc4 followed by 19.Bf4 as suggested by another
commentator (Chessplayer's Chronicle, vol. 1st, p.327) would
have been bad play. Suppose 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Bf4 Nxe4 and Black
will certainly retain his advantage. Should White capture the
knight, Black's reply is ...Rae8, at once regaining the piece
and remaining with two pawns more than his adversary and a
good position. If White move 20.Re3 Black's proper answer is
20...Ndf6. } d5 19. e5 Rfe8 20. Be3 {This is not a good
move. 20.Kf1 instead, would have given White a fine game. For
suppose 20.Kf1 Nh7 (checking with the queen would be useless,
as White would move 21.Kg1 and the position would not be
materially altered) 21.Rxg4 hxg4 22.Qxg4 White has now a
winning position. The attack must, in a few moves, become
irresistable. } h4 {Well played.} 21. Rxg4 Nxg4 22. Qxg4 Nxe5
23. dxe5 {23.Qe2 has been properly suggested as a better move
at this point. } Qxe3+ 24. Kd1 Rxe5 25. Kc2 Qg3 26. Qd4 Qe3
27. Qxh4 Qh6 28. Qxh6 gxh6 29. Rf1 f6 30. c4 Kf7 31. cxd5 cxd5
32. Kd3 {32.Ne4, with a view of bringing the knight into
better play, would have been a good move. } Rg8 33. Rf4 Ke7
34. Nf3 Rg3 35. Kd4 Kd6 36. Bd1 b5 37. b4 a6 38. a4 h5
39. axb5 axb5 40. Bc2 Re2 41. Bd3 Rb2 42. Ke3 {42.Kc3 would
have lost a piece, as Black would have played 42...Rf2 } Rg4
43. Nd4 Rxf4 44. Kxf4 Rxb4 45. Ke3 Kc5 46. Ne6+ Kc6 47. Nf4
Rxf4 48. Kxf4 Kc5 49. Be2 h4 50. Kg4 b4 51. Kxh4 Kd4 52. Kg3
b3 53. Bd1 b2 54. Bc2 Ke3 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "102"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} e5 2. d4 {This move constitutes the
opening known as the "Center Gambit". Although not as powerful
as the classical move of 2.Nf3, it may occasionally be adopted
for variety's sake.} exd4 3. Nf3 c5 {3.Bb4+ is here
recommended by most authors as the best play at Black's
command. Without being disposed to combat this opinion, we
think that they have unjustly condemned this move in the text,
which, with the best after play on both sides, leads to a game
where the first player,s advantage is by no means as marked as
would be inferred from their criticisms.} 4. Bc4 {White may
also move here 4.c3 a move strangely enough overlooked by the
leading authorities, who make the second player commit the
obvious error of capturing pawn with pawn.} Nc6 5. c3 Qf6
{McDonnell manifested great partiality for this sortie of the
queen in the Scotch gambit. In the above position, it is
probably the best play on the board.} 6. O-O d6 7. cxd4 cxd4
8. Ng5 {The objection to this course is that enables Black to
retain his pawn, whereas by 8.Bb5, White would immediately
have regained it, and remained with a somewhat superior
position.} Nh6 9. f4 Be7 10. e5 Qg6 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Na3 O-O
13. Bd3 Bf5 14. Nc4 Qg6 15. Nf3 Bxd3 16. Nce5 Bc2 {Black,
relaying upon his surplus pawn, plays thus in order to compel
an exchange of queens; but as the progress of the game
sufficiently proves, the result is an amelioration of his
adversary's position, and ultimately a drawn battle. Had he
instead first captured knight with knight and then played his
queen to f5, his superiority in force and position would, we
think, have enabled him to score the } 17. Nxg6 Bxd1 18. Nxe7+
Nxe7 19. Rxd1 Nhf5 20. g4 Ne3 21. Bxe3 dxe3 22. Rd7 Rfe8
23. Re1 Ng6 24. f5 Nf4 25. Rd4 Nh3+ 26. Kg2 Nf2 27. Rc4 Rad8
28. h3 h6 29. Re2 b5 30. Rd4 Rxd4 31. Nxd4 a6 32. Kf3 Nxh3
33. Rxe3 Ng5+ 34. Kf4 Rxe3 35. Kxe3 g6 36. fxg6 fxg6 37. Nc6
Ne6 38. Ke4 Kf7 39. Ke5 h5 40. gxh5 gxh5 41. Kf5 Nc7 42. b3
Ke8 43. a4 bxa4 44. bxa4 Nd5 45. Kg5 Ne7 46. Nb8 {White, as an
examination of the position will satisfy the student, might
equally have drawn by exchanging knights. } a5 47. Na6 Ng6
48. Kxh5 {Here again a different course would have brought
about the same result. The knight might have been captured and
a draw secured. } Nf4+ 49. Kg5 Ne6+ 50. Kf5 Kd7 51. Ke5 Nd8
1/2-1/2

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "27"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "106"]

1. f4 {Notes by Morphy - A very good opening, when an
irregular game is sought. } d5 2. d4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6
5. c4 Bg4 6. cxd5 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Qxd5 8. Qxd5 Nxd5 9. Bb5 cxd4
10. exd4 {He should have first taken knight with bishop in
order to leave his adversary with two isolated pawns on the
queen's } Ndb4 11. Na3 O-O-O 12. Bxc6 Nxc6 13. Be3 Nxd4
14. O-O-O e5 {This was uncalled for; we can see no possible
objection to ...Nc6. } 15. Nc4 {Badly played. The single move
15.fxe5 would have equalized the game} Bc5 16. Bxd4
{Labourdonnais seems bent on compelling his adversary to score
this game. Here, again, he ought evidently to have taken
...fxe5. } exd4 17. Rhe1 f6 18. Re6 Rhe8 19. Rde1 Rxe6
20. Rxe6 Kd7 21. f5 Re8 22. Rxe8 Kxe8 23. Kc2 Kd7 24. Kd3 Kc6
25. Ke4 Kb5 26. Nd2 Kb4 27. Kd3 Bd6 28. Nf3 Be5 29. h4 Kc5
30. Ke4 h5 31. Nd2 b5 32. Nb3+ Kc4 33. Na5+ Kb4 34. Nc6+ Kc4
35. Na5+ Kb4 36. Nc6+ Kc5 37. Na5 b4 38. Nb3+ Kc4 39. Nd2+ Kb5
40. b3 {40.Nb3 would have drawn the game. Labourdonnais was
not himself in this encounter. } a5 41. Kd5 Bf4 42. Nc4 d3
43. Nb2 d2 44. Ke4 Be5 45. Nd1 Bg3 46. Ke3 Be1 47. Ke2 Kc5
48. Ne3 Kd4 49. Nc4 Kc3 50. Kd1 a4 51. Na5 axb3 52. axb3 Bxh4
53. Nc4 Bg5 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "25"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. f4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. d4 {This is not to be
commended. In this opening White ought not prematurely to
advance his queen's pawn, as many positions may arise when it
will become necessary to place it at d3. } c5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3
Nc6 5. c4 cxd4 6. exd4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nf6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. O-O O-O
10. Kh1 a6 11. Be3 b5 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Ne5 Kh8 14. Bc2 Nb4
15. Bb3 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qe2 f6 18. Nf3 Qe8 19. Rae1 Bd6
20. Bd2 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 Bxf4 22. Bxe6 Qh5 23. g4 Qh6 24. d5 Rae8
25. Qg2 Re7 26. Nd4 g6 27. Nc6 Rc7 28. Re4 g5 29. Nd4 Rd8
30. Nf5 Qf8 31. Rd1 Rc5 32. Red4 Be5 33. R4d2 Rc4 34. Ne3 Rc7
35. Qf3 Bf4 36. Rd3 Qd6 {Black must have won at least a pawn,
by 36...Re7 37.Qe4 [37.Bf5 Bxe3 38.Rxe3 Rxd5 39.Rxd5 Bxd5
40.Be4 Rxe4 41.Rxe4 f5 42.gxf5 Qa8 43.Kg1 (43.Re8+ Kg7 44.f6+
Kh6 and Black wins. If White 44.Re7+ Black moves Kf8) Bxe4
44.Qc3+ Kg8 45.Qf6 Qa7+ 46.Kf1 Bd3+ 47.Kg2 Qe3 48.Qd8+ Kg7
and, as White has no perpetual check, Black must win.]}
37. Nf5 Qxe6 38. dxe6 Bxf3+ 39. Kg1 Rxd3 40. Rxd3 Rc8 41. e7
Re8 42. Rxf3 Kg8 43. Ra3 Kf7 44. Rxa6 Rc8 45. b3 Be5 46. h3 b4
47. Kg2 Bf4 48. Kf3 Be5 49. Ke4 Bf4 50. Ra7 Be5 51. Ng7
{Decisive.} Re8 52. Nxe8 Kxe8 53. Kf5 Kf7 54. Rb7 h6 55. a4
1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "32"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d5 5. e5
f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Qb6 8. d4 Bd7 9. h4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nf5 {He
ought rather to have checked with his king's bishop, as in the
other games. } 11. Kf2 h5 12. g3 O-O-O 13. Kg2 Be7 14. a3 Be8
15. b4 Kb8 16. b5 Na5 17. Ne3 Bg6 18. Bd3 Nxe3+ 19. Bxe3 Be4
20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nd2 fxe5 22. fxe5 Qxb5 23. Qf1 Qd3 24. Qxd3
exd3 25. Rhb1 Rc8 26. Kf3 Rc3 27. Rb5 Bd8 28. Ke4 a6 29. Rbb1
Be7 30. a4 {This is a mere loss of time. He should have moved
his rook to b6 at once. } Rd8 31. Rb6 Rc6 32. Rab1 Kc7
33. Rxc6+ Nxc6 34. Rf1 Bb4 35. Rf7+ Rd7 36. Rxd7+ Kxd7 37. Nf3
Be7 38. Kxd3 Nb4+ 39. Ke4 {White's left wing is weaker than
his antagonist's who has two pawns to one on that side of the
board. Under these circumstances it would have been better
play to have moved the king in that direction. 39.Kc4, was the
correct play. } Nd5 40. Bd2 b5 41. axb5 axb5 42. Kd3 Ke8
43. Bg5 Bxg5 44. Nxg5 Kd7 45. Ne4 Kc6 46. Nc5 Nc7 47. Ke4
{47.Ne4 was the proper move and would have rendered Black's
victory very uncertain. } b4 48. Kd3 {48.Nxe6, the move
intended, we suppose, when the king was played to e4, would
have been of no avail. Suppose 48.Nxe6 Nxe6 49.d5+ Kd7
50. dxe6+ Kxe6 51.Kd4 b3 52.Kc3 Kxe5 53.Kxb3 Kf5 and wins. }
Kd5 49. Ne4 Nb5 50. g4 hxg4 51. h5 {If 51.Nf6+ gxf6 52.h5 fxe5
(if 52...b3 53.h6 Nxd4 54.Kc3 (best) Ne2+ 55.Kxb3 Nf4 56.h7
Ng6 57.exf6 Kd6 winning. Should White, play 54.h7, Black
replies ...b2, and will mate in a few moves.) 53.h6 Nd6 54.h7
Nf7 winning. } Nxd4 52. h6 gxh6 53. Nf6+ Kxe5 54. Nxg4+ Kd5
55. Nxh6 0-1

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "33"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4
5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 Nbd7 9. Nc3 Nb6
10. Bb3 c6 11. Be3 Nfd5 {For comments on the opening moves,
see the games at the same debut previously published in the
LEDGER } 12. Qe2 f5 13. Rae1 f4 {A heedless move, that throws
away a clear pawn. 13...Kh8 would have been better play. }
14. Bxf4 Rxf4 15. Qxe7 Qxe7 16. Rxe7 Kf8 17. Re4 Rf6 18. Nxd5
cxd5 19. Re3 Bf5 20. Ne5 h6 21. Rc1 Rd8 22. Rc7 Bc8 23. Rg3
Bd7 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Rxd7 Rxd7 26. Nxd7+ {A short contest,
indifferently played throughout by M'donnell, and presenting
no point of interest. } 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "15"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "La Bourdonnais"]
[Black "Alexander McDonnell"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "57"]

1. d4 {Notes by Morphy} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 e5 4. Bxc4 exd4
5. exd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. h3 c6 9. Be3 Bf5 10. g4
Bg6 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. h4 Nb6 14. Bb3 Nfd5 15. h5
{White pursues the attack with vigor and determination. } Nxe3
16. fxe3 Bh4+ {This check serves only to advance White's
game. 16...g5 would have warded off the attack for some
time. } 17. Kd2 gxh5 18. Qf3 Bg5 19. Raf1 Qxd4+ 20. Kc2 Qf6
21. Rxh5 Qg6+ 22. e4 Nd5 23. Rfh1 Bh6 24. g5 f5 25. Nxd5 cxd5
26. Bxd5+ Kh7 27. Rxh6+ gxh6 28. Rxh6+ Qxh6 29. gxh6 1-0

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "13"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "161"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 {M'Donnell, as usual, in
these close games plays the opening moves weakly. With
characteristic obstinacy he persists throughout in advancing
this pawn rather than the Queen's. } e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. c3 d5
5. e5 f6 6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Qb6 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+
10. Nxb4 Qxb4+ 11. Kf2 O-O 12. a3 Qb6 13. Kg3 Nxd4 14. Nxd4
Qxd4 15. Qxd4 Nf5+ 16. Kh3 Nxd4 17. b4 fxe5 18. fxe5 Nc6
19. Bb2 Rf7 20. Rb1 Bd7 21. Bd3 Raf8 22. Rhf1 a6 23. Kg3 Rxf1
24. Rxf1 Rxf1 25. Bxf1 Ne7 26. Bd3 Be8 27. Kf4 Bg6 28. Be2 Be4
29. g3 Kf7 30. Bd1 h6 31. h4 Nf5 32. h5 Ne7 33. g4 Ke8 34. Bd4
g6 35. hxg6 Nxg6+ 36. Kg3 Bd3 37. Ba4+ Ke7 38. Bd1 Kf7 39. Ba4
Ne7 40. Kh4 b5 41. Bd1 Nc6 42. Bb2 Kg6 43. Kg3 a5 44. bxa5
Nxa5 45. Kf4 Nc4 46. Bc1 Bb1 47. Bb3 Bd3 48. Bd1 Kf7 49. Bb3
d4 50. a4 bxa4 51. Bxa4 Ke7 52. Bb3 Na5 53. Bd1 Bg6 54. Bd2
Nc4 55. Bb4+ Kf7 56. Ba4 d3 57. Bc3 d2 58. Bd1 Kg7 59. Kf3 h5
60. Kf4 h4 61. Bd4 Bb1 62. Kf3 Kg6 63. Ke2 Be4 64. Bf2 h3
65. Bg3 Kg5 66. Bh2 Kxg4 67. Kf2+ Kf5 68. Ke2 Bd5 69. Kd3
Nxe5+ 70. Kxd2 Nc6 {70...Nf3+ would have produced an exchange
of pieces, but would not have won the game, as the remaining
Bishops are of different colors. } 71. Ke3 e5 72. Kf2 Bg2
73. Kg3 Ke4 74. Bg4 Ke3 75. Bxh3 Bxh3 76. Kxh3 e4 77. Kg2 Ke2
78. Bf4 Ne7 79. Bg5 Nf5 80. Bf4 Ne3+ 81. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "5"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "La Bourdonnais"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "92"]

1. e4 {Notes by Morphy} c5 2. f4 {If there is anything to be
regretted in connection with the combats between this
illustrious players, it is the pertinacity with which
M'Donnell persisted in adopting, in two of th debuts which
most frequently occur, a line of play radically bad. Against
such an adversary as Labourdonnais the disastrous affects of
M'donnells early moves in nearly all of the Sicilian Games and
Queen's Gambits could not be overcome even by the best
afterplay. The moves of 2.Nf3, or still better, 2.d4, are
those now generally recognized as the best. The latter move is
indeed so strong that it has gone far toward disabusing the
public mind of that pernicious fondness for the Sicilian
Defence which was displayed during what may be called the
period of close games, extending from about 1843 to some time
after 1851. It was an epoch of uninteresting games and dreary
analytical labors, and with the exception of the contests
ocurring between the great Prussian masters, afforded but
comparitavely few specimens of brilliant play. It should be a
subject of rejoicing with every lover of the game that an age,
in which so much severe labor led to such unprofitable
results, has passed away. There is now a visible tendency to
cultivate a higher style of chess art- to sustitute for the
false taste which has so long prevailed a more elevated
standard of excellence. } e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e5 Nc6 5. c3 f6
6. Na3 Nh6 7. Nc2 Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. Bd3 c4 10. Be2 Bd7 11. O-O
b5 {Although Black has a very good game at this stage, we do
not approve of the manner in which he has so far conducted the
opening. In advancing the queen pawns and in failing to play
the all important move of ...Qb6 at the proper moment, he has
deviated from the plan which his own subsequent contests
demonstrate to be the best. } 12. Ne3 a5 13. Kh1 fxe5 14. fxe5
Nf5 {The necessity of challenging the exchange of knights is
not at all apparent to us. Black's knight is well-placed,
while White's obstructs the movements of his queen's bishop,
and in a measure prevents the development of his
game. 14...Be8 at once, with the intention of posting the
bishop at g6, and thus commanding an important diagonal, would
have been better. } 15. g4 Nxe3 16. Bxe3 Be8 17. Qd2 Bg6
18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Qd7 20. h4 b4 21. Kh2 bxc3 22. bxc3 a4
23. h5 Be4 24. h6 g6 25. Bf6 Rab8 26. Bg7 Qe7 27. Kg3 Rxf1
28. Rxf1 a3 29. Rf6 Na5 {29...Rb2, would evidently have been
bad. Suppose 29...Rb2 30.Qf4 Rb8 31.Bxc4 and White must win. }
30. Bd1 Nb3 31. Qf2 Nc1 32. Ba4 Nd3 33. Qf1 g5 34. Bc2 Nc5
35. dxc5 Bxc2 36. c6 Ba4 37. c7 Re8 38. Qc1 Qxc7 39. Qxg5 Bc2
40. Bf8+ Bg6 41. Bxa3 Qd7 42. Bd6 d4 43. Qf4 Qc8 44. Qxd4 Qd7
45. Qf4 Qc8 46. a4 {The latter portion of the game is
capitally played by M'Donnell.} 1-0

