Alexander McDonnell vs Louis Charles Mahe De La Bourdonnais - London 1834.??.??

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Alexander McDonnell vs Louis Charles Mahe De La Bourdonnais
London London round 7 1834.??.??
Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit 0-1

[Event "La Bourdonnais - McDonnell 1st Casual Match"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "1834.??.??"]
[EventDate "1834.00.01"]
[Round "7"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander McDonnell"]
[Black "Louis Charles Mahe De 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

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Updated: 3 February, 2022
Created: 3 February, 2022