MacDonnell - la Bourdonnais
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This game was one of a long series of games played between
these two players.
Many of the seeds of modern chess was played here for the very first time!
Study of these games is essential for any real student of the game.
Chernev writes:
"So much tribute is paid to the brilliance of LaBourdonnais in the
celebrated matches he played with MacDonnell, that we are apt to forget
that the latter was more than just a straight man. Give him a chance and he
could be the life of the partie."
[See {The}
"1000 Best Short Games of Chess,"
by Irving Chernev.
{Game # 562, page # 281.)].
An extremely brilliant game by MacDonnell. Very well played.
(By the then probably the # 2 player in the World.)
1. e4
e5; 2.
f4
exf4;
{Diagram?}
A King's
Gambit Accepted ... very common at that time.
3. Nf3
g5; 4.
Bc4
g4; 5.
Nc3!?, {Diagram?}
While this is OK, it might be slightly
better to castle.
We now have a form of the "Muzio Gambit."
[ 5.0-0!
].
5...gxf3; 6.
0-0!?, {Diagram?}
It might have been better
to take on f3 first.
White has definite compensation for the piece. He has developed several pieces
and and castled, while Black has nothing developed. Black also has weakened his
King position and opened up several key lines that could be used against him.
[ 6.Qxf3!? Unclear. ].
6...c6; 7.
Qxf3
Qf6; 8.e5!,
{Diagram?}
White must open lines, before
Black has a chance to consolidate.
[ 8.d3!?, "~" ].
8...Qxe5;
{Diagram?}
Black only needs a couple of tempo to safeguard his King.
White should not give him those tempo.
With his next move, White exposes the Black King even more.
9. Bxf7+!
{Diagram?}
Forget the material now!
(The only thing that counts now is the attack!!)
[ 9.d3!? ].
9...Kxf7;
{Diagram?}
This is forced.
[ 9...Kd8?!; 10.Kh1
Nh6;
11.Bh5, {White has
comp.} ].
10. d4!
Qxd4+; 11.
Be3! {Diagram?}
A nice interposition, taking advantage of the fact that Black cannot capture,
due to the pin the f-file.
[ 11.Kh1!?, "~" ].
11...Qg7;
{Diagram?}
Black is on the run.
[ Not 11...Qxe3+??; 12.Qxe3; ("+/-")
Maybe Black could have tried: 11...Qe5!?
].
12. Bxf4
Nf6; 13.
Ne4
Be7; 14.
Bg5
Rg8; 15.
Qh5+
Qg6;
{Diagram?}
This looks forced.
[
Chernev gives the variation:
15...Kf8?; 16.Bh6,
("+/-") He also gives:
15...Ke6?!;
16.Nxf6
Qxg5;
(White also wins after: 16...Bxf6;
17.Rxf6+
Qxf6;
18.Bxf6
Kxf6; 19.Rf1+)
17.Rae1+
Kd6; 18.Ne4+
Kc7;
19.Nxg5, "(+/-") ].
16. Nd6+
Ke6?; (Maybe - '??') {Diagram?}
Although Chernev does not notice it - or (at least) remark upon it -
this may be (and probably is) a mistake.
[
Chernev gives the variations:
16...Kg7; 17.Bh6+
Kh8;
(17...Qxh6??; 18.Nf5+)
18.Nf7+, and White should win.
("+/=" or "+/"); He also gives:
16...Bxd6;
17.Rxf6+
Kg7;
18.Rxg6+
hxg6; 19.Qh6+
Kf7;
20.Qh7+
Rg7; 21.Rf1+,
and White is winning easily.
Chernev does not give
the very natural move:
16...Kf8!; 17.Bh6+
Rg7;
18.Qxg6
hxg6; 19.Nxc8~, {Unclear.}
and it is not even clear
if White can win. ].
17. Rae1+
Kxd6; 18.Bf4#,
1-0 {Diagram?}
A very, very nice win by MacDonnell. (Very pretty and brilliant,
against
perhaps the [then] World's Number # 1 player.)
But it is slightly marred by the fact that Black did not find the best defense.
1 - 0
(I annotated this game a few years ago
for publication in another state's magazine.
It was never published, but I bring it here now for your enjoyment!)
This game is the full
length version of the game as it exists in my database.
(I have not shortened it for publication.)
If you would like a copy of that game to study, please contact
me.
Click HERE to return to my GeoCities "Home Page."
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Copyright A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby, 1983-2005.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2006. All rights reserved.
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