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First Match, 1834 La Bourdonnais-Macdonnell Matches
Researched by Nick Pope

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 Bourdonnais½½½100111111½11111010101116
 McDonnell½½½011000000½0000010101005

The first Match, consisting of Twenty-one Games, between these distinguished competitors, was played in June and July, 1834; and of this, the following was the opening Game.

In the Match of Twenty-one Game, begun in June, 1834, between Mons. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

The first game played between these great players was a fine, stubbornly-contested Q.'s Pawn Opening, sound and sterling, and resulted in a draw.

Date: 1834.06.27
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.1 (1)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C21] Center Game
1.e4 e5 2.d4
Ledger: This move constitutes the opening, known as the "Centre Gambit." Although not as powerful as the classical move of 2.Nf3, it may occasionally be adopted for variety's sake.
2...exd4 3.Nf3
Palamède: C'est une espèce de gambit du P de la D. Ce début n'est pas très-bon pour les blancs. {This is a kind of Queen's Pawn gambit. The opening is not very good for White.}
3...c5
CPC: This move is not so good as 3...Bb4+.
Studies: 3...Bb4+.
Ledger: 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 the 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
Ledger: White may also move here 4.c3. In that case Black's reply would be 4...d5, a move strangely enough overlooked by the leading authorities, who make the second player commit the obvious error of capturing pawn with pawn.
4...Nc6 5.c3 Qf6
Palamède: Coup de défense très-bon. {A very good defensive move.}
Ledger: 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.
6.0-0 d6 7.cxd4 cxd4 8.Ng5
Ledger: The objection to this course is that it enables Black to retain his pawn, whereas 8.Bb5, White would immediately have regained it, and remained with a somewhat superior position.
8...Nh6 9.f4 Be7 10.e5
CPC: Black's pieces are now grievously embarrassed, but his opponent's next move serves, in some degree, to liberate them.
10...Qg6
Palamède: Les noirs auraient fait une faute grave en prenant le P avec leur P; les blancs auraient eu une forte attaque. {Black would have made a serious mistake by taking 10...dxe5; White would have had a strong attack.}
11.exd6 Qxd6 12.Na3 0-0 13.Bd3 Bf5
Palamède: Ici l'attaque des blancs cesse; ils ont un P de moins et ils remettent difficilement cette partie. {This stops White's attack; he is down a pawn and it will be difficult to save the game.}
14.Nc4 Qg6 15.Nf3 Bxd3 16.Nce5 Bc2
Ledger: Black, relying 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 16...Nxe5 and then played 17...Qf5, his superiority in force and position would, we think, have enabled him to score the game.
17.Nxg6 Bxd1 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 19.Rxd1 Nhf5
CPC: The four or five preceding moves are cleverly played on both sides; we think, however, the skirmish has not improved the aspect of White's game. The second player's pieces have full scope for action, and he still retains the advantage of an extra pawn.
20.g4
CPC: It may be serviceable to the young player, to remark, that, had White instead of this move, taken 20.Nxd4, he would have lost a piece by his adversary playing 20...Rad8.
20...Ne3 21.Bxe3 dxe3 22.Rd7
CPC: de la Bourdonnais would have obtained a better game, we think, by playing 22.Rd3. In the above game there is nothing calling for particular comment; it is well and steadily played throughout, and reflects credit upon Mr. McDonnell from the coolness and precision displayed in his first "joust" with so distinguished an opponent.
22...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
Palamède: Les blancs ont le P de moins la bonne position occupée par leur R leur permet de remettre las partie. {White is down a pawn but the good position occupied by his king enables him to save the game.}
39...h5 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.Kf5 Nc7 42.b3 Ke8 43.a4 bxa4 44.bxa4 Nd5 45.Kg5 Ne7 46.Nb8
Studies: 46.Nxe7 draw.
Ledger: White, as an examination of the position will satisfy the student, might equally have drawn by 46.Nxe7.
46...a5 47.Na6 Ng6 48.Kxh5
Studies: 48.Kxg6 h4 49.Nc5 h3 50.Nd3 h2 51.Nf2 Ke7 52.Kf5 Kd6 53.Ke4 Kc5 draw.
Ledger: Here again a different course would have brought about the same result. The knight might have been captured and "a draw" secured.
48...Nf4+ 49.Kg5 Ne6+ 50.Kf5 Kd7 51.Ke5 Nd8 ½-½

In the Match of Twenty-one Games, begun in June, 1834, between Mons. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 2nd was opened very similar to Game 1st and, like it, resulted in a draw, after a hard struggle; bit Macdonnell missed an opportunity of winning easily (see diagram), and the more the pity, as his play was, on the whole, very fine.

Date: 1834.06.28
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.2 (2)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C44] Scotch Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Qf6
CPC: A favourite move of Mr. M'Donnell's in defending this opening. It is more advisable perhaps to check with 4...Bb4+ first; if the attacking player then moves 5.c3, Q's Pawn 5...dxc3, and upon 6.0-0 (the customary move) the Queen may be played 6...Qf6.
Ledger: As was remarked in a note to the first contest, this was M'Donnell's 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 occurrence until within a few years; but it is less commendable than either of the moves which we have just mentioned.
5.c3
Ledger: A feasible move at this juncture, although decried by the leading authorities, who agree in recommending 5.0-0, as a preliminary step to the advance of this pawn.
5...d3
Palamède: Ce coup parait à la première vue mauvais; c'est le coup juste, car, en prenant le P avec le P, on ferait sortie une pièce aux blancs et on leur donnerait une forte attaque. {This appears bad at first glance; it is a sound move, since, taking 5...dxc3, would free White and give him a strong attack.}
CPC: This is better than 5...dxc3 now, since doing so would bring the adverse b-knight into full play.
Ledger: M'Donnell here selects the best move. It effectually prevents the formation of centre pawns by his adversary, and in a measure restrains 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, as in that case Black could have captured 7...Bxd4, but with 7.0-0, having a very strong attacking game.
6.Qxd3 d6 7.0-0 Qg6 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Nbd2 h5
Ledger: White's piece are all in the field, while his opponent's 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 entrenched position. M'Donnell's fondness for attack too often betrayed him into those rash onslaughts, which, with even players, generally recoil against their originator. We should have played 9...Nh6, and then ...0-0.
10.Rfe1 Bh3 11.Nh4 Bxh4
Ledger: 11...Qg4 would have given rise to some interesting variations.
12.Qxh3 Bf6 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.f4 Nge7 16.fxe5 Qg4 17.Qxg4 hxg4 18.Nb3 Ng6 19.e6
Palamède: Pour prendre l'attaque. {To allow the attack.}
19...f5 20.Rad1 Nce5 21.Bd3 Rh5 22.Bc2 Ke7 23.Nd4 Kf6 24.Rf1 Ne7 25.b4
Ledger: 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.
25...Rah8
Palamède: L'attaque des blancs a cessé, les noirs commencent à attaquer à leur tour. {White's attack stops, Black begins his attack in turn.}
26.Ne2 Rxh2 27.Ng3 g6
CPC: He might have done well, probably, if, instead of this move, he had checked with 27...Nf3+, having in view the capture 28...Rxc2 if his adversary took 28.gxf3.
Studies: 27...Nf3+ 28.gxf3 Rxc2 29.fxg4 etc.
Ledger: If 27...Nf3+ 28.gxf3 Rxc2 29.fxg4 Rhh2 30.Ne4+ Kxe6 (30...Kg6 31.gxf5+ Nxf5 (if) 32.Rxf5 Kxf5 33.e7 Rh8 34.Rd8 and White wins.) 31.Nf2 Rh6 (best) 32.Rfe1+ 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.
28.Bb3 Kg5 29.Rde1 Nd3 30.Re3 Nf4
CPC: It will occur to the student that Mr. M'Donnell, instead of playing thus, might have advanced 30...f4 with great advantage; but upon a careful examination of the position, which is a very interesting one, he will discover that the opponent, by 31.Ne4+, instead of taking 31.Rxd3, would have relieved himself from the danger threatened.
31.Rf2 R2h7 32.Rd2 Nh5 33.Nxh5 Rxh5 34.Kf2 f4 35.Re5+ Nf5 36.e7
Palamède: Les blancs sont forcés d'avancer leur P, et plus tard ils le perdent. Un P desuni est presque toujours forcé. Les noirs ne jouant pas aussi bien la fin de cette partie que le commencement, les blancs parviennent à faire une remise. {White is forced to advance the pawn, and later lose it. An isolated pawn is almost always a disjointed force. Black did not play the ending as strong as the opening, White is able to make a draw.}
36...Re8 37.Rd7 Rh7 38.Rxc7
Pope: Greenwood incorrectly identifies this rook as the "Q. R."
38...Rhxe7
Pope: Lewis gives "R. takes P."; Greenwood gives "K. R. takes P."; Palamède gives "La T du R prend le P"; CPC gives "K. R. takes P."; Ledger gives "K. R. takes P."; Oxford gives "Rexe7".
39.Rcxe7
Pope: Lewis gives "R. takes R."; Greenwood gives "K. R. takes R." (indicating 39.Rexe7); Palamède gives "La T prend la T"; CPC gives "K. R. takes R."; Studies gives "K R x R"; Ledger gives "K. R. takes R."; Oxford gives "Rcxe7".
39...Rxe7 40.Rxe7 Nxe7 41.a4 Kf5 42.a5 Ke5 43.Bd1 g3+ 44.Kf3 Nd5
Ledger: Black might now have won with easy by 44...Nf5. Suppose 44...Nf5:
A) 45.Bc2 Nh4+ 46.Ke2 (46.Kg4 f3 47.Kxg3 fxg2 48.Kf2 Nf3 49.Kxg2 Ne1+ again gaining the Bishop.) 46...f3+ 47.gxf3 g2 48.Kf2 Nxf3 49.Kxg2 Ne1+ winning the bishop. If, instead of 47.gxf3 White play 47.Kf1, Black wins immediately by 47...Nxg2, or 47...fxg2+.
B) 45.Be2 Nh4+ (Black could equally win by 45...Ne6, followed by advancing the g-pawn.) 46.Kg4 Nxg2 47.Bf3 Ne1 48.Bxb7 g2 49.Bxg2 Nxg2 and Black wins.
C) 45.Ke2 Ne3 46.B-moves Nxg2 and wins.
45.Bc2 g5 46.b5 Nxc3
Ledger: Here again Black unaccountably overlooks the road to victory. He ought to have proceeded as follows: 46...g4+ 47.Ke2 Nxc3+ or 47...Ne3, winning easily.
47.b6 axb6 48.axb6
CPM: Black to move and win.
48...Nb5
CPC: Mr. M'Donnell here overlooked an obvious opportunity of winning the game: had he played 48...Nd5, the victory was his.
Studies: 48...Nd5 (wins) 49.Be4 Nxb6 50.Bxb7 Nc4 wins
Ledger: The whole of this end-game is a 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 Kd4 52.Bf3 Ke5 53.Be2 Kf6 54.Bf3 Nf2+
Lewis: This move prevents Black from winning the game.
Palamède: Cet échec est mauvais et permet aux blancs de remettre la partie. Les noirs auraient dû depuis long-temps prendre le P du C de la D, ce qui leur était facile, en perdant à leur tour le même P; puis, en plaçant leur C à la 6 c. du R., et manœuvrant avec leur R, ils auraient gagné. {This check is bad and helps White draw the game. Black should have taken the b-pawn long ago, losing in turn his b-pawn, then controlling g6 and maneuvering with the king he would have won.}
55.Kh5 g4 56.Bxb7 Ke7 57.Bc8 Kd6 58.Bxg4 Kc6 59.Kg5 Nd3 60.Be2 ½-½
Oxford Encyclopedia of Chess Games, Levy & O'Connell, Oxford University Press 1981, p38-39 (cites La Stratégie 1874)

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 3rd—the exact counterpart of No. 2. Parts of this game are splendid conceptions of Macdonnell, and again he misses an easy win at move 44 (see diagram). At this point he appears to have two ways of winning; the one he chooses wins a clear piece in three moves, but in consequence of Black's unlucky position, La Bourdonnais, by sacrificing a Rook for a Bishop, forces a draw; so, at times, there is what might be called luck even at Chess.

Date: 1834.06.30
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.3 (3)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C44] Scotch Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Qf6 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 d3 7.Qxd3 Qg6 8.Bf4 Be7 9.Nbd2 Nh6
Ledger: The position previous to Black's ninth move is the same as in the preceding contest; in commenting upon that game we indicated the line of play here adopted by M'Donnell as the best at his command.
10.Rae1 0-0 11.Nd4 Ne5 12.Bxe5 dxe5 13.N4f3 Bd6 14.h3
Ledger: The advance of this pawn was intended by White to answer the two-fold purpose of guarding g4 and placing at the command of the king an additional square which it might be desirable to occupy at a later stage of the game. The move was evidently made in the belief that Black could not capture the pawn without submitting to the loss of a piece.
14...Kh8
CPC: An interesting variation arises from this position; suppose Black, instead of 14...Kh8, played thus: 14...Bxh3 then White, as his best, 15.Nh4 Qg5, threatening d-knight 16.Ndf3 Qg4 If 17.Kh2, then 17...Nf5. White may, however, play 17.Kh1 Black should, in that case, advance 17...g5; and, if White took 18.Nxg5, his adversary, by first taking 18...Bxg2+, and afterwards capturing 19...Qxg5, would have a fine game.
Ledger: With the intention of throwing forward the f-pawn. Curiously enough, the apparently fatal step of 14...Bxh3, was the correct play at this juncture, and would have resulted in a decided advantage to Black. Suppose 14...Bxh3 15.Nh4 Qg5 16.Ndf3 (If 16.Qxh3, Black would capture 16...Qxd2 and remain with a clear pawn.) 16...Qg4 17.Kh2 (17.Kh1 Be7 Black might first play with still greater advantage 17...Rad8. Whatever course now White chooses to adopt, Black must remain with a pawn more; if 18.Nxe5 Bxg2+ 19.Nxg2 Qh5+ 20.Kg1 Qxe5 and Black out to win) 17...Be7:
A) 18.Nxe5 Qxh4 19.gxh3 (19.Qxh3 Qf4+ 20.Qg3 Qxe5 21.Qxe5 Ng4+ 22.K-moves Nxe5 winning easily.) 19...Bd6 20.f4 Bxe5 21.fxe5 Ng4+ 22.Kg2 Nxe5 and Black must win.
B) 18.gxh3 18...Qf4+ 19.K-moves Bxh4 with the advantage of a pawn.
The first volume of the Chess Player's Chronicle gives the following variations which are also correct: 14...Bxh3 15.Nh4 Qg5 16.Ndf3 Qg4 17.Kh2 (17.Kh1 g5 18.Nxg5 Bxg2+ 19.Nxg2 Qxg5 with the advantage of a pawn.) 17...Nf5 and Black must preserve the pawn gained.
15.Nh4 Qh5 16.Qg3 f5 17.Nxf5 Nxf5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Rf6
Studies: 20...Rf4.
21.Rh4 Qf5 22.Qe3 Qd7 23.Bd3 g6 24.Be4 Raf8 25.Qg3 Qg7 26.b4
Ledger: White's efforts, for the next four or five moves, are directed to prevent Black from occupying with his bishops the diagonal of the white f-pawn, while Black is equally earnest in his endeavors to obtain possession of it.
26...a5 27.a3 axb4 28.axb4 c5 29.Rb1 cxb4 30.cxb4 Bc7 31.Kh1 Rb6
CPC: We think the f-pawn might have been taken safely.
Ledger: 31...Rxf2, looks more promising, but we doubt whether Black by that mode of play could obtain more than a drawn game. 31...Rxf2 32.Qxg6 (best) (The move of 32.Bxg6, would evidently be bad, as Black would check with 32...Rf1+ and then advance the e-pawn.) 32...Rf1+ 33.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 34.Kh2 Qxg6 35.Bxg6 e4+ 36.g3, etc. Black can now draw easily enough by 36...Bxg3+ followed by 37...Rg1+, but we can discover no course leading to a more favorable result. We think, therefore, that M'Donnell, having rather the better game, acted wisely in rejecting the move of 31...Rxf2. The play selected instead, is the commencement of a highly ingenious combination, by which he gained a fine attack.
32.b5 Bd8 33.Rg4 g5 34.Bf3 h5 35.Re4 g4 36.hxg4
Ledger: It would surely have been more prudent to retreat 36.Be2 By taking the pawn he opened his king to an attack which ought to have legitimately resulted in a victory for Black.
36...hxg4 37.Qxg4 Rh6+ 38.Kg1 Qh7 39.g3 Rg8 40.Qc8 Bb6 41.Qc3 Rxg3+
CPC: The last few moves are admirably played by M'Donnell.
42.Kf1 Bd4 43.Qc8+ Rg8 44.Qc4
CPM: Black to move and win.
44...Rh1+
Lewis: If instead of this move he had played 44...Rh2, he would have won the game.
Studies: 44...Rh2 wins.
Ledger: As previous commentators have truly remarked, Black might now have easily won by 44...Rh2.
45.Ke2 Rxb1 46.Rxd4 Rb2+
Lewis: If he had taken 46...exd4, White would have had a perpetual check.
CPC: Had he taken 46...exd4, White would have drawn the game by "perpetual check."
Ledger: It is quite evident that if 46...exd4, White could have drawn by perpetual check.
47.Rd2 Rxd2+ 48.Kxd2 Rd8+ 49.Ke2 Qh6 50.Qc3 Qg7 51.Be4 Kg8 52.Qb3+ Kf8 53.Qf3+ Qf7 54.Bxb7 Qxf3+ 55.Kxf3 ½-½
Le Palamède, 1837, pp194-195

Selection Of Games Played In The Westminster Chess Club.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 4th.—This Macdonnell loses. His good genius appears entirely to have deserted him, or his wilfulness carried away his judgment, for a worse specimen of his play it is difficult to find. Many of his moves are purposeless, and reckless of time and position. He Castles under direct attack, and never develops his game. His Queen's pieces never enter the field at all, and he tries to make as many useless moves with his King as possible—see moves 14, 16, 17, and 24; and for bad and worthless moves, see his 15th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 29th; and every move, from his 14th to the end of the game, could be improved; yet at move 26 he could have won a Pawn, and diverted the attack, and have left himself with perhaps a won game (see diagram); and at move 29 he allows La Bourdonnais to win the game with a pretty and very elegant mate, in four moves. The "Chess Player's Chronicle," in its notes upon this game, says:—"This game is remarkable for Black's feebleness and apparent deficiency of motion, while his opponent's is characterised by a force and brilliancy which is irresistible." Where the brilliancy which is irresistible is to be found in this game it is difficult to say, for at the last move but one at Black's command, we see that he could have won a Pawn, and most probably this would have carried the game.

Date: 1834.07.01
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.4 (4)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C53] Italian
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 d6
Ledger: The recognized 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 it enables White to establish center pawns.
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6 7.d5
Ledger: This move, a favorite one with Labourdonnais at this stage of the Giuoco Piano, is inferior, in our opinion, to 7.Nc3. The advance of the d-pawn is premature, and, if properly met by Black should lead to a perfectly even game.
7...Ne5
CPC: We prefer, in this position, playing 7...Nce7, rather than 7...Ne5 or 7...Na5.
Studies: 7...Nce7.
Ledger: The correct play is 7...Nce7.
8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Bg5 0-0
Ledger: This allows White, by playing 11.Qf3, 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
Bell's: Finely imagined, for, if 14...Bxg4, you play 15.Rg1.
Palamède: Les blancs poussent ce P 2 c. pour empêcher les noirs de pousser le premier P du F du R et de dédoubler ainsi leur P, les noirs ne pouvant prendre le P poussé sans perdre la pièce. {White pushes 14.g4 to prevent Black from pushing 14...f5 and thus undouble his pawns, Black cannot take 14...Bxg4 without losing the piece.}
CPC: Having obtained an opening, De la Bourdonnais prosecutes the attack with great spirit.
14...Kg7 15.Ne2 Rh8
CPC: Losing, it appears to us, both time and position.
16.Rg1 Kf8 17.Rg2 Ke7 18.0-0-0 h5
Ledger: 18...Bd7, with the view of playing 19...Rag8, would have been far preferable.
19.g5 f5 20.Nc3 Bc5 21.g6 Bd6 22.gxf7 Kxf7 23.f4
Palamède: Coup bien joué qui donne l'attaque aux blancs. {Well played move that gives White the attack.}
CPC: The vigour and determination of White's play, throughout this game, is admirable.
23...exf4 24.Rdg1 Kf8 25.Rg6 f3
Palamède: Coup assez faible dans une position dangereuse. {A rather weak move in a dangerous position.}
26.exf5
26...Be5
CPC: None but a very young player need be told that, if Black had taken 26...Bxf5, he would have lost a piece by 27.Rf6+.
Ledger: In this game M'Donnell does not seem to have played with that self-reliance which characterized the three preceding contests. 26...Bd7 would surely have been more advisable; the move made throws the game away at once.
CPM: If Black had played 26...Bxh2, he would have driven White's g1-rook from the g-file, destroying White's attack, and would then most likely have won the game by the advance of his h-pawn. For if White now plays 27.Rf1, or 27.Rh1, then Black checks with 27...Bf4+, and advances the h-pawn on the next move. We would recommend this position for the examination of the student to play out from this point.
27.d6 cxd6 28.Rg8+ Rxg8 29.Rxg8+ Ke7 30.Nd5+ Kd7
Bell's: Black need not have run into the mate by 30...Kd7, but if he had moved 30...Kf7, he was equally lost; and, therefore, acted wisely to finish the matter at once. The attack is played in good style by White throughout the game, while Black so pertinaciously persists in not bringing out his queen's bishop and rook, that one would almost suspect he had made a vow chivalrously to fight without them.
31.Bb5# 1-0
CPC: The good genius of M'Donnell seems, on this occasion, to have deserted him; his play, in many parts of the Game, is remarkable, from its feebleness and apparent deficiency of motive, while his opponent's is characterized by a force and brilliancy which are irresistible.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Macdonnell in this game shows his opponent and the Chess world a touch of his quality. His opponent's play cannot be called otherwise than about his best, for not a move can be found fault with; the play on the Q.'s side is certainly something marvellous, and for subtle meaning can hardly be surpassed, and the fertility of resource shown by La Bourdonnais is beyond all praise; but the masterly play of Macdonnell outlasts it all, and his energy storms his opponent's stronghold in splendid style. And the whole annals of Chess maybe searched in vain for a finer specimen of Chess play. Query—Out of these games can the equal be found? Well might La Bourdonnais exclaim, after such a sample, that "Macdonnell is the strongest player I have ever encountered!"

Date: 1834.07.02
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.5 (5)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [B21] Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.f4
CPC: This opening has long been a favourite among the great players of the Café de la Regence, and some years since underwent a rigid analysis by MM. Des Chappelles [sic] and Mouret, who were of the opinion that any other than the move here adopted gave an advantage to the second player.
Ledger: If there is anything to be regretted in connection with the combats between these illustrious players, it is the pertinacity with which M'Donnell persisted in adopting, in two of the debuts which most frequently occur, a line of play radically bad. Against such an adversary as Labourdonnais the disastrous effects of M'Donnell's early moves in nearly all of the Sicilian Games and Queen's Gambits could not be overcome even by the very 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 towards 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 occurring between the great Prussian masters, afforded but comparatively 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 substitute for the false taste which has so long prevailed a more elevated standard of excellence.
2...e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e5 Nc6 5.c3 f6
CPM: This move was introduced by La Bourdonnais, and will be found very powerful, unless answered correctly.
6.Na3 Nh6 7.Nc2
CPM: This retreat of the knight is not to be commended, although it does not so much matter, as by Black mot exchanging the c-pawn at move 9, White's game is not much exposed.
CPM (Löwenthal): We received the paper, "Glimpses of the Genius of Caissa," etc., from a zealous friend and contributor, a staunch supporter of Chess, and one who takes particular interest in the immortal games played between La Bourdonnais and Macdonnell; nevertheless, we do not mean to endorse all his opinions, not should we like to be made responsible for the above, and the following comments of his on the game in the match between those great players. It strikes us that in this position White had no better move than 7.Nc2, nay, that it was a forced one under the circumstances.
7...Be7 8.d4 0-0
CPC: One of the most important moves for the defence, according to the authorities mentioned in the preceding note, that of ...Qb6, was omitted by De la Bourdonnais on the present occasion. In the games subsequently played by him with this opening, he rarely failed to make it, and as rarely failed to win.
9.Bd3 c4 10.Be2 Bd7 11.0-0 b5
Ledger: Although Black has a very good game at this stage, we do not approve of the manner in which he has thus far conducted the opening. In advancing the queen's 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
CPM: In the present position this knight is really of some use, whereas, in all the other games (we are speaking now of only the first match of 25 games) White would almost be better without it, so ruinous is it to him by its eccentric movements.
12...a5 13.Kh1 fxe5 14.fxe5 Nf5
Ledger: 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 dark-square 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
CPM: La Bourdonnais resembles Morphy, in so far that when a piece is attacked, rather than lose a move, either by retreating or advancing it, they instantly exchange pieces. Black's 15th move is a dashing attempt on the part of Macdonnell, who appears to be hankering for attack, if possible, in every conceivable way. The boldness of this move, and Black's 20th, is very commendable for its daring and its soundness.
16.Bxe3 Be8
CPM: Every move of Black in this game is pregnant with meaning. Watch the intended movements of this bishop.
17.Qd2 Bg6 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5 Qd7 20.h4
CPC: We commend the boldness and enterprise exhibited in the advance of these men. It is too much the custom of English players to permit their King to remain entrenched behind three passive Pawns until the enemy compels them to displace him.
20...b4
Palamède: Les noirs blancs perdent cette partie en suivant une attaque de flanc qui ne les mène à rien. Les blancs dirigent, pendant ce temps, une attaque sur le R et finissent par avoir une position formidable. {Black loses this game following a flank attack that leads to nothing. White directs, meanwhile, an attack on the king and ends up having a wonderful position.}
21.Kh2 bxc3 22.bxc3 a4
CPM: Again mark the advance of these queen's wing pawns, and the ultimate movements of Black's knight, which, although it is not moved for the next seven moves no doubt La Bourdonnais had matured it in his mind to reserve for the beautiful final combination.
23.h5
CPM: This and the next move are forcibly driven home.
23...Be4 24.h6 g6 25.Bf6
CPM: This bishop getting into Black's quarters proves a thorn in the flesh to the end of the game.
25...Rab8 26.Bg7 Qe7
CPM: Threatening mate.
27.Kg3
CPC: by playing 27.Rf6, White would have taken a still stronger position.
27...Rxf1 28.Rxf1 a3
CPC: A forlorn attempt to divert the attack of his opponent on the King's side.
29.Rf6 Na5
CPM: The evolutions of this cavalier are admirable, and are a great feature in Black's play.
Ledger: 29...Rb2, would evidently have been bad. Suppose 29...Rb2 30.Qf4 Rb8 31.Bxc4 and White must win.
30.Bd1 Nb3 31.Qf2
Palamède: Si les blancs avaient voulu gagner la pièce, les noirs auraient eu deux P passes fort dangereux. {If White had wanted to win the piece, Black would have had two very dangerous passed pawns.}
CPC: Capturing this Knight would have perilled the advantage he had already obtained.
CPM: Capturing the knight would be bad play.
31...Nc1 32.Ba4
CPM: this move of the bishop compels Black to prepare for an extra defence to his e-pawn.
CPM (Löwenthal): Because White threatens to play Bd7? Our correspondent seems to have overlooked that White on his 34th move is compelled to retreat that bishop to c2.
32...Nd3
CPC: The fertility of resource which De la Bourdonnais displayed in situation of difficulty like the present, was admirable.
33.Qf1
Palamède: Pour conserver sa position. {To maintain the position.}
33...g5
CPM: Cleverly conceived is this and Black's next move.
34.Bc2 Nc5
Palamède: Assez mauvais coup; le C à la 5 u du F du R était mieux joué. {Rather bad move; 34...Nf4 was better play.}
35.dxc5
CPM: Most likely an unexpected retort, which eventually carries the day.
35...Bxc2 36.c6
CPM: This pawn is master of the situation.
36...Ba4 37.c7 Re8
38.Qc1
CPM: Much better than 38.Rf8+, as, after the exchanges, the bishops running on different colours would make the game difficult for White to win.
CPC: The finished player will readily understand the superiority of this mode of play to the move obvious one of 38.Rf8+, etc. To the student of Chess, however, for whose instruction these notes are chiefly intended, it may be advisable to show why the line of play which ninety-nine young players out of every hundred would recommend in this situation is erroneous. Suppose that White, instead of the move recorded, had played 38.Rf8+ Rxf8 39.Qxf8+ Qxf8 40.Bxf8 Black would not then have taken 40...Kxf8, but, by playing 40...Bd7, might have occasioned his opponent much trouble to prevent him "drawing" the game.
38...Qxc7 39.Qxg5 Bc2 40.Bf8+ Bg6 41.Bxa3 Qd7 42.Bd6 d4 43.Qf4 Qc8 44.Qxd4 Qc6 45.Qa7 1-0
Ledger: The latter portion of the game is capitally played by M'Donnell.
CPM: And Macdonnell wins.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 6th.—A Giuoco Piano, opened by La Bourdonnais. Black early courts difficulties, but at move 24 he gets an even game, and the attack and counter attack are both very fine for the next five moves; after this, Black carries the game in fine style. Altogether, this is again a fine specimen of Chess play.

Date: 1834.07.03
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.6 (6)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C53] Italian
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 d6
Ledger: For comments on the opening move, see the fourth game of the series.
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb6 7.d5 Nce7 8.e5 Bg4
CPC: We should rather have taken 8...dxe5, and then played 9...Qd6.
9.Bb5+
Ledger: 9.Qa4+ would have been much stronger and would have given rise to some variations of interest. Suppose 9.Qa4+
A) 9...Bd7 10.Qb3 and White, threatening 11.e6, etc., has the better game.
B) 9...c6 10.dxc6 Nxc6 (or 10...bxc6) 11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Qxg4 with the better position.
C) 9...Qd7 10.Bb5 c6 11.e6 and must win.
D) 9...Kf8. This is Black's correct play. We see no better reply for White than 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 12.e6, Black might answer 12...Ne5, having an excellent game.
9...Kf8
CPC: Better surely to have interposed either bishop or pawn. Moving the king at an early period of the game, unless for the purpose of castling, is generally attended with untoward consequences, and should rarely be ventured on by inexperienced players.
Ledger: Black might have played 9...c6 with safety.
10.e6 fxe6 11.dxe6 Nf6 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 c6 14.Bd3 Qc8 15.Bf5
Ledger: 15.Qe2 strikes us as a better method of protecting the pawn.
15...Ke8
Ledger: Black should have captured 15...Nxf5 at once, and then continued 16...Ke7, winning the advanced e-pawn.
16.0-0 Rf8 17.Qd3 Nxf5 18.Qxf5 Ke7 19.Bg5
Ledger: 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 preserve3d 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...Qxe6 20.Qxh7 Qf7 21.Nc3 Kd7 22.Qf5+ Kc7 23.Bf4 Rad8 24.Qc2
CPC: Threatening 25.Nb5+.
Ledger: 24.Rad1 would surely have been much stronger.
24...Kb8 25.a4 Nh5 26.Bg5 Rde8 27.a5 Bc5 28.Na4 Bd4 29.Qd2
CPC: An ill-considered move. Instead of this, we think he should have brought 29.Rad1.
Ledger: This is not a good move, but in every event Black has a greatly superior position.
29...Ng3
CPC: Very well played. This move is sufficient to decide the game in favour of M'Donnell.
30.Rfd1
CPC: By examining the position, our young chess-playing readers will readily perceive that if De la Bourdonnais had taken the proffered bishop he must have lost his queen.
30...Bxf2+ 31.Kh2 Ne4 32.Qc1 Bg3+ 33.Kg1 Qf2+ 34.Kh1 Be5
CPC: It appears to us that Black might have achieved the victory sooner by playing 34...Rh8.
Studies: 34...Rh8.
Ledger: 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
CPC: Mr. M'Donnell would have terminated the game more scientifically by moving 40...Rf1, and thus forcing checkmate in five moves; ex. gr. 40...Rf1 41.Rxg3 Rxg1+ 42.Kh2 (his best move) 42...Rh1+ 43.Kxh1 Bxg3 and 44...Re1#.
Studies: 40...Rf1 41.Rxg3 Rxg1+ 42.Kxg1, mate in 2.
Ledger: It is curious that M'Donnell should here have overlooked the following forced mate, given by previous commentators: 40...Rf1 41.Rxg3 (best) 41...Rxg1+ 42.Kxg1 Bxg3 and mates next move.
41.Nb6 Rf1 42.Nd7+ Kc7
Ledger: Had Black taken the pawn, White would have drawn the game as follows: 42...Kxb7 43.Rxa7+ Kc8 44.Nb6+ Kb8 (if 44...Kd8 45.Rd7#) 45.Nd7+ drawing by perpetual check.
43.b8Q+ Rxb8 0-1

Select Games Of Chess, By The First Players Of The Day.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 7th is a good specimen of how Macdonnell conducts his ruinous K. P. one games, but a very bad specimen of his play. His 11th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, and 26th moves are wretched, and many of them lose both time and material.

Date: 1834.07.04
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.7 (7)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [B21] Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.f4 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.c3 d5 5.e5 f6 6.Be2 Be7 7.Na3 Qb6
Ledger: In this and the subsequent games at the same opening, Labroudonnais 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
CPC: It would have been better play, we think, to have interposed 13.Bd2.
Studies: 13.Bd2.
Ledger: The interposition of the bishop would have been much better.
13...0-0 14.Rf1
Ledger: This was probably hastily played, and should have resulted in the loss of a pawn. More correct would have been 14.Kg3.
14...fxe5 15.fxe5
Ledger: Some instructive variations, resulting, however, in every instance, in Black's favor, would have sprung from 15.Nxe5. Suppose 15.Nxe5 Qxd4+:
A) 16.Kg3 (it is evident that the white king can only choose between this move and 16.Ke2) 16...Rad8 and Black must win. For if 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qxd4 Nf5+ 19.Kh3 Nxd4 with the advantage of a piece.
B) 16.Ke2 (after this move, it will at first sight appear that Black must now submit to some loss, as his 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 opponent's design, but actually increases the superiority of his game) 16...Bb5 17.Bxb5 (it is quite clear that if White does not capture the bishop, Black remains with a vastly better position) 17...Qe4+ 18.Be3 Bc5, etc., and Black must win.
15...Nf5
Bell's: The second player is at liberty to take 15...Qxd4+.
CPC: Instead of this move, De la B. might have taken 15...Qxd4+.
Studies: 15...Qxd4+.
Ledger: 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
Bell's: More rash than wise, as poor Richard hath it.
Ledger: This considerably weakens White's game on the king's side; to it may be ascribed the loss of the contest.
18...Rf7 19.a4 Rcf8 20.Be3 Be7 21.Qe2 Qb3
Bell's: A move worthy of Philidor himself—quiet, but deeply embarrassing.
22.Bg5 Bb4
CPC: This mode of play was preferable to that of taking 22...Rxf3, which would have resulted simply in an exchange of pieces.
Ledger: Black would have gained nothing by 22...Rxf3, as White, in that case, would have replied with 23.Bxe7.
23.Kg2
Bell's: Bad style of play.
Ledger: Fatal, but the first player's situation, in any case, is anything but enviable.
23...Rxf3
Bell's: A strong, well-planned attack.
CPC: Very well played.
24.Rxf3 Rxf3 25.Rc1
Bell's: If 25.Qxf3, he takes 25...Qxb2+, and wins rook. He remains, therefore, the winner, at present, of a minor piece, which decides the game between good players.
CPC: It is obvious that if White had taken 25.Qxf3, his antagonist, by taking 25...Qxb2+, would have gained a rook and pawn in return for it.
25...Rf8 26.Rc7
CPC: This injudicious move affords the enemy an opportunity of imprisoning the rook.
26...Bc6 27.Be3 Qc4 28.Qd1 Ba5 29.Re7 Bxa4 0-1
Bell's: The first player gave in. His adversary threatens, if queen is played away, 30...Qe2+. There is but little about this game, take it in the whole, to render if very interesting.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 8th is the one selected for the second illustration, showing how badly Macdonnell could and did play the Queen's Gambit.

Date: 1834.07.05
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.8 (8)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [D20] Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4
CPC: The merits of the Queen's Gambit are not, we think, sufficiently appreciated by the players of this country. It appears to us an opening full of interest and variety, and possessing the great advantage over Gambits on the king's side, of being perfectly safe for the attacking party.
CPM: The editor of the "Chess Player's Chronicle" highly praised recommended (see notes to these games, vol. I., II., and III.) the playing of the Queen's Gambit and K. P. one games, and no doubt did much to introduce by words, and also by action, that dull state of chess which immediately succeeded the publishing of these games in the Chronicle, until the advent of Morphy, and which culminated at the great Chess Congress of 1851; and Morphy deserves the highest praise for the way he scattered to the wins the fallacies of the close games.
2...dxc4 3.Nc3 f5
Ledger: Weak; the correct play is 3...e5, which leads to an even game. As was observed in a note to one of the preceding 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
Palamède: Le P du gambit de la D ne peut être défendu. {The Queen's Gambit pawn cannot be defended.}
5...c6
Ledger: Feebly played again. He should have brought out his f8-bishop at once.
6.Nf3 Bd6 7.e4
CPM: Very few modern first-rates would open their games in this very open manner.
7...b5
Palamède: Attaque qui n'aboutit à rien et fait perdre des temps. {Attack that came to nothing and wastes time.}
CPM: Certainly hurrying the attack, and cannot be called a good move.
8.Bb3 a5
CPC: 8...b4 would have been better play, because, had the knight then moved, Black could have won the e-pawn.
Ledger: 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.
CPM: An error of Black. Why not advance 8...b4, as he apparently first intended? And White seems by his last move to court the oncoming of Black's b-pawn, for what reason it seems difficult to find out; for if 8...b4 9.e5 (or lose a pawn) 9...bxc3 10.exd6 cxb2 11.Bxb2 Nf6. If 12.Ba3 Ne4 and Black has now won a pawn; and that in this position is nearly equivalent to the game. If White plays for 12.Ne5, then Black plays 12.Nd5 and the pawn falls in a few moves.
CPM (Löwenthal): We beg to differ. If 8...b4, White's best answer is not, as our esteemed contributor submits, 9.e5, but simply 9.Ne2. If then Black takes 9...fxe4, White by playing 10.Ng5, not only recovers the pawn, but gets a much superior position in the bargain. We, for our part, opine the French player acted wisely in thus "courting" the onward march of the hostile pawns.
9.exf5
CPM: White takes advantage very quickly of his opponent's remissness, and, by taking the pawn, opens the diagonal for his b3-bishop.
9...exf5 10.0-0 a4
CPM: Of what use is such a move? Actually driving White to give himself a very bad game, besides losing moves. Surely, 10...Nf6 would have been far better before this move.
11.Bxg8 Rxg8
CPM: Already were there ever such (except Macdonnell's) an opened game? And what chance can there possibly be against the recognized first player of the age, with such a position? And his next three moves are puerile and weak in the extreme.
12.Bg5
Palamède: Ici l'attaque des blancs devient très-forte. {Here White's attack becomes very strong.}
12...Qc7
CPM: Not as good as 12...Qb6.
13.Qe2+ Kf8
Ledger: Why throw a move away by not moving 13...Kf7 at once?
14.Rfe1 Kf7
CPM: Why take two moves to do this? Surely 14...Bd7 would have been better.
15.Rac1
CPC: Threatening to take 16.Nxb5.
15...Qb7
CPM: Now, the badness of Black's 12th move is apparent.
16.d5 h6
CPC: This move seems ill calculated to diminish the embarrassment of Black's position.
CPM: A miserably poor move for Black to make in this position, losing two pawns. 16...Bd7, and then 17...Re8 would, or might have even now, parried the attacks; but this is Macdonnell in his poorest phase, and only the Macdonnell that La Bourdonnais could conquer easily.
17.dxc6 Qa6
CPM: Were there ever so many lost moves as Black makes in this game?
18.Nxb5
CPC: Well played.
CPM: Very cleverly played. Black's game is already past redemption. Look at Black's queen's wing pieces! And take a lesson, you tyros.
18..hxg5 19.Nxd6+ Kg6
CPM: Another lost move, but now it matters not.
20.Ne5+ Kf6 21.Qh5 g6
CPM: White can force mate in eight moves, viz.:—22.Ne8+ Rxe8 23.Qxg6+ Ke7 24.Nd7+ Kd8 25.c7+ Kxd7 26.cxb8N+ Rxb8 27.Qxe8+ Kd6 28.Red1+, and mates next move.
22.Qh7 Be6
CPM: White can mate in six moves, viz.:—23.Ng4+ fxg4 24.Ne4+ Ke5 25.Qc7+ Kf5 26.Rc5+ Bd5 27.Qf7+ Ke5 28.Qf6#
23.Nxg6
Studies: 23.Ng4+ fxg4 24.Ne4+ Kf5 25.Rc5+ Bd5, mates in 2.
23...Nxc6
Palamède: Les noirs ne pouvaient pas prendre ce C sans être mat. {Black could not take the knight without being mated.}
CPC: Had Black taken 23...Rxg6, the other knight would have checkmated him next move.
CPM: Checkmate next move, if Black takes 23...Rxg6.
24.Rxc6 Qd3
CPC: If 24...Qxc6, White would have given mate in three moves, ex. gr.—24...Qxc6 25.Rxe6+ Kxe6 26.Qe7+ Kd5 27.Qe5#.
Ledger: If 24...Qxc6 25.Rxe6+ Kxe6 26.Qe7+ Kd5 27.Qe5#.
25.Qe7+
CPC: An unnecessary prolongation of the contest, which might have been terminated more scientifically in two moves, thus:—25.Qf7+ Bxf7 26.Ne8# or 25.Rxe6+ Kxe6 26.Qf7#.
Studies: Could mate in 2.
Ledger: White could have mated in two moves by two different lines of play, thus: 25.Rxe6+ Kxe6 26.Qf7#, or, more prettily, 25.Qf7+ Bxf7 26.Ne8#.
25...Kxg6 26.Rxe6+ Kh5 27.Qh7+ Kg4 28.Rc4+ f4 29.h3+ Qxh3 30.Qxh3# 1-0

Up to this game La Bourdonnais has won three games to his opponent's two, with three draws. This being about one-third of their first match, as yet, although the winner of three games to two, La Bourdonnais has certainly done nothing to prove his superiority; on the contrary, by close inspection of these eight games we find his opponent the better player, for he certainly ought to have won the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and perhaps the 4th; and those that he loses, viz., the 4th, 7th, and 8th, are games that he throws away, and no third-rate would care to own them; in some of these he may truly be said to have defeated himself, proving only that La Bourdonnais was the more even player, and freer from errors; and this will prove the most predominating feature in their play. Macdonnell wins games worthy to be called Chess, and then wantonly throws away games that few would care to own. La Bourdonnais, on the contrary, plays a most perfect game, showing he was the more practised player, the greater adept and tactician. He does not rise in these games to the soaring genius of Macdonnell, but he more than makes up for this great quality by his care and precision of play, and beauty of his style; in fact, he is an exact counterpart of Morphy, or vice versa. Again, he is more cunning and wily than his antagonist, particularly in the way he conducts the opening of the games. Macdonnell is more chivalrous, reckless, daring, and bold. He thinks nothing of uncovering his King. This, in most cases, is not to obtain any ultimate advantage, but apparently for the excitement of courting difficulties. La Bourdonnais, on the contrary, never does this sort of thing, except an advantage offers, with a fair prospect of success, showing again that he had been trained in a good practical school, and had profited by such training. Macdonnell appears at times to throw all training and discretion overboard, and to plunge into difficulties that he might endeavour to conquer them; and this forcibly shows what we know of Macdonnell in his great strength, that his principal play was to give odds, such as a Knight, &c., throwing away little advantages to acquire, through an inferior opponent, greater gain. Now, this was all very well in its way, but such strokes of enterprise against the most perfect, practical, and finished player in Europe, were indeed very, very different, and the wonder is, not that he lost so many games, but that he could possibly win under some of the disadvantages that he made for himself against such a powerful opponent. He had not passed through that "baptism of fire" that La Bourdonnais had been subjected to. These remarks apply very fitly to their first match of 25 games. Afterwards, when La Bourdonnais had taught him, by bitter experience and defeat, that he must put a limit to his recklessness, we find him gradually gaining, and getting the best of even his great opponent—that is, as to the majority of the games played; for it take way the 11 majority that La Bourdonnais acquired in the first match, we find in all the remaining games, viz., 65, that were contested, that the Frenchman remains with a majority of three only. Looking at this latter result, let us ask, can it be affirmed (as we have seen it) that La Bourdonnais was the far greater player, coupling this latter result with the last 12 games played, wherein the English champion wins 8 to La Bourdonnais' 4? Then we say, view Macdonnell by his after play, and a new light is undoubtedly thrown upon the respective abilities of these two great Chess players; and we will take their games, and they shall bear witness that it is not the Frenchman's inferior play towards the end, but the Briton's more careful play that makes him ride so triumphantly towards the close. We know, also, that in Macdonnell's day it was a novelty to think that any one of this island's birth could possibly cope with anything foreign; and Macdonnell in his day was bespattered with mud, that time can only cleanse and purify. And, take him all in all, when will England have his like again? Alas! "His sun went down while it was yet day!"

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 9th.—K. P. one game; 50 moves.—White in this game gets early into trouble, but manages to get the better of his antagonist; and after the second sacrifice of Black at move 29, he had an easy game to win, but misses his chance, and loses, after being a full Rook ahead! when, by a little ordinary care, he could have won the game easily. (see diagram)

Date: 1834.07.07
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.9 (9)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [C00] French
1.e4 e6 2.f4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c3 f6 6.Na3 Nh6 7.Nc2 Nf7 8.d4 Qb6 9.Ne3
Ledger: Premature. He should have moved 9.Bd3. The great fault to be found with M'Donnell'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.
9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Bb4+ 11.Kf2 fxe5 12.fxe5 0-0 13.Kg3
Bell's: This can never be a good method of answering the King's Pawn One Opening, since it so completely and prematurely uncovers the king, and places him in the van of the battle, who, General-like, should rather occupy the rear.
13...Qc7 14.h4 Nfxe5
Bell's: A very fine bit of play. An equivalent is certain to be gained from the very look of the situation.
CPC: Skilfully played; obtaining, by this sacrifice, an almost irresistible attack.
15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Kh3 Nxf3 17.gxf3 d4
Bell's: Stronger than immediately unmasking light-square bishop.
18.Ng4 h5 19.Nf2 Qe5 20.Bd3 Bd6
Bell's: Offering checkmate on the move.
21.Ne4 Bc7 22.Kg2 Bd7 23.f4 Qf5 24.Ng5 Bc6+ 25.Kg1 Qg4+ 26.Qxg4 hxg4 27.Rh2 Bd5 28.h5
CPC: 28.Rf2 would perhaps have been better.
Studies: 28.Rf2.
Ledger: The obvious move of 28.Rf2, was the coup juste and would have left the advantage with White.
28...Rxf4 29.Bxf4 Bxf4 30.Ne4 Be3+
CPC: Few players would have foregone the immediate advantage obtainable in the exchange 30...Bxh2+.
31.Kg2 Rf8 32.Rf1 Rf5
33.Rhh1
Bell's: This blunder loses the game. This rook should be played to h4, and White would have a winning position. Black has frittered away his attack, and, were it not for the present lucky chance, ought to lose. There is a good deal of luck in chess at times, but it is certain that the best players are the luckiest.
CPC: Had Mr. M'Donnell, at this crisis, played 33.Rh4, we conceive he must have won the game.
Studies: 33.Rh4 wins.
Ledger: 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.
33...Re5
Bell's: By this move a piece is won. If White had played as we suggest, 33.Rh4 on the last move, he could now take 34.Rxg4, and guard knight.
34.Kg3 Bxe4 35.Bxe4 Rxe4 36.Rh4
Bell's: Shutting the stable-door when the steed is stolen.
36...e5 37.Rxg4 Bf4+ 38.Kf3 Re3+ 39.Kf2 d3 40.Rfg1 Re2+ 41.Kf3 Bh6 42.Re4 Rxb2 43.Rxe5 Rxa2 44.Kg4
Bell's: As a last resource in a desperate position, White meditates seating king at g6, in order to offer mate with rook.
44...d2 45.Rd5 Rc2 46.Rg3 b5 47.Rgd3 Rc1 48.Kf5 Kh7
Bell's: Most essential move.
49.Rxd2 Bxd2 50.Rxd2 a5 0-1
Bell's: Black wins by advancing these two pawns, which no counter-play can arrest.
CPC: Parts of this game are finely played by M. de la Bourdonnais; but he appears to us to have risked so much, that ordinary care, on the part of his opponent, must have secured a different result.

Selection Of Games Played In The Westminster Chess Club.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 10th.—Queen's Gambit; 45 moves.—La Bourdonnais proves in this game the badness of Black's defence in this gambit, and shows that the first player can win one of his opponent's pawns very easily through the defence of 3...e5. At move 21 Black misses to win a valuable pawn (see diagram) thus making a drawn game certain, whereas he ultimately loses through the pawn acquired by White at the fourth move.

Date: 1834.07.08
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.10 (10)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [D20] Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 4.dxe5
Ledger: The move generally recognized as the best is 4.Bxc4. This capture of the e-pawn brings about an exchange of queens, and greatly diminishes the interest of the game.
4...Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 Nc6 6.f4 Be6 7.Bd2 Bc5 8.Nf3 h6 9.Nc3 Rd8
Bell's: The queens being off, it would be inferior to play 9....0-0-0.
10.Ke1 Nge7 11.Rc1 Bb4
Bell's: A weak move.
12.Nb5
Bell's: This move is very "apropos." It ensures the winning of a pawn.
12...Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Rd7 14.Bxc4 Bxc4 15.Rxc4 0-0 16.Nf3 Rfd8 17.Ke2 Nd5 18.Nbd4
Ledger: This was probably hastily played, and with the proper reply on the part of Black should have equalized the game.
CPM: Black to move, and draw, by now being able to win a pawn.
18...Nxd4+
CPC: He might have taken 18...Nxf4, thereby winning a pawn and weakening the formidable central phalanx of his antagonist.
Ledger: 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
CPC: Preserving the pawn, which, had he taken 19.Nxd4, he must have lost.
19...c5 20.Rd2 Nb4 21.a3 Rxd2+
CPC: We should have preferred playing 21...Nd3, supporting it with the pawn next move.
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
Bell's: If he take 33...Nxg6, you fork king and knight with 34.f5+, and have an easy won game. Your thirty-third move does you credit.
CPC: If he had taken 33...Nxg6, De la Bourdonnais would have checked with 34.f5+, gaining the adverse knight, and winning the game in a few moves.
Ledger: The game being past redemption, it is quite immaterial what move Black selects. If he now capture 33...Nxg6, White of course wins easily by 34.f5+, etc.
34.f5+ Kd6 35.h4 Kc7 36.Ke5 Nd6 37.f6 a6
Bell's: It is true, he could check, and win a pawn; but, while doing this, you would be making a queen.
38.Ke6 b5 39.axb5 axb5 40.f7 Nxf7 41.Kxf7 Kd6 42.Nf4 c4 43.g5 hxg5 44.hxg5 b4 45.Ne2 1-0
Bell's: This game is not of the most brilliant order, but is played with great care and tact on the part of White. He wins a pawn at an early stage, and never relaxes in the hold this acquisition has given him on his unfortunate opponent. The Queen's Gambit, generally speaking, makes dull games.
Ledger: This is one of the few contests occurring between these players which present but few points of interest. It affords scarcely any opportunity for variations or comments.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 11th—Bishop's Gambit; 42 moves.—The "Chess Player's Chronicle" says that this gambit "is played by La Bourdonnais in a masterly manner." The opening, however, is played in rather a desultory way. Macdonnell plays very ingeniously up to his 27th move, then plays very badly, and loses a pawn; else at this moment, with his Queen's Pawn and minor pieces, he would have stood a great chance to win, but, by this bad play, he releases La Bourdonnais's Rooks, which soon get an opening, and makes winning a certainty. In fact, in this position, we believe Macdonnell had a won game—at least, he could have won the exchange by force. (See diagram.)

Date: 1834.07.09
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.11 (11)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [C33] King's Gambit Accepted
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4
CPC: This was a favourite opening of Mr. M'Donnell's; he bestowed much time and labour on its analysis, discovered many skilful methods of diversifying the attack, and was singularly successful in practising them against all opponents, until the arrival of M. De la Bourdonnais, who speedily saw through and baffled the elaborate subtleties of this spirited and ingenious assault.
Ledger: This gambit, although mentioned by the earlier writers, as 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, discovered and employed the defences which, until very lately, were generally regarded as the best.
3...Qh4+ 4.Kf1 g5 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.d4
Studies: 6.g3.
Ledger: M'Donnell here invented an ingenious variation, beginning with 6.g3.
6...d6 7.Be2
Ledger: The moves, 7.Nf3 or 7.e5, are the strongest at this juncture. The move in the text is weak.
7...Nc6 8.e5 Nge7 9.Nb5 0-0 10.Nxc7 Rb8 11.Nf3 Qh6 12.exd6 Nf5 13.c3
Ledger: 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.
13...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
Palamède: Ce coup permet aux noirs de gagnes un pion fort dangereux, et décide la partie en leur faveur. {This move allow Black to win a very dangerous pawn, and decides the game in his favor.}
23.Nd4 Be5+ 24.Kg1 Bxd6 25.Ncxb5 Bc5 26.b4
Palamède: Pour ne pas perdre une pièce. {To avoid losing a piece.}
CPC: 25.Be2 would, we believe, have been better play.
26...Bb6 27.Nd6
CPM: Probably a won position for White, as he can at least win the exchange.
27...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+
Palamède: Les noirs, après cet échange, gagnent facilement la partie, ayant une tour contre un fou et la marche des pions blancs étant arrêtée. {Black, after this exchange, easily wins the game, having a rook against a bishop and having stopped the march of White's pawns.}
37.Kxe3 h5 38.Ke4 h4 39.Bd1 h3 40.gxh3 gxh3 41.Bf3 h2 42.Bg2 Rf1 0-1
CPC: This game is played throughout in masterly style by the second player.
Ledger: The game throughout is played with the second player's usual ability.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Date: 1834.07.10
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.12 (12)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [D20] Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3
CPC: Writers on chess have generally recommended the advance of 3.e4 at this point, and we are indebted to La Bourdonnais for bringing the above move into vogue.
3...e5 4.Bxc4
Ledger: See the first note on the tenth game between these players.
4...exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nf3 Bd6
Ledger: The correct move; in subsequent games, however, M'Donnell almost invariably committed the error of playing 6...Be7.
7.0-0 0-0 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5
Ledger: 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.
CPM: Very risky against so great a player. 9...Bg4 would have been better and sounder.
10.Bg3 Bg4 11.Nc3 Nc6
CPM: A better line of play here would have been 11...Bxg3 12.hxg3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nc6 (or 13...c6). White's next move prevents Black doing this.
12.Qd3
CPC: Threatening a dangerous check at g6.
12...Kg7
Ledger: 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 very 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
CPM: White has not acquired the better position.
13...Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nh5 15.Nd5 Nxg3
Palamède: Mal joué; les noirs amènent la D leur adversaire dans une bonne position pour l'attaque. {Bad play; Black leads the opponent's queen to a good position for attack.}
Ledger: 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 twelfth move.
CPM: This move, and the next two, must be considered as the moves that lost Black the game. 15...Ne7 was far better. Observe, also, that Black could not, on his last move, have taken the white queen without loss.
16.Qxg3 Bh5
CPM: This loses valuable time. 16...Be6 would have retorted the attack, and have gained instead of losing time.
CPM (Löwenthal): 16...Be6 would have been replied to with 17.Rad1, and, so far from improving his game, would have made matters worse. It is obvious that Macdonnell retreated 16...Bh5 with the view of preventing the hostile a-rook being brought into play.
17.f4
17...Na5
CPM: This move may at first sight appear well played. At this point there is some fine play, worthy of consideration, as 17...Ne7, or 17...Nb4, compelling an exchange favourable to Black, and lastly, 17...Nd4. In the latter case the game can be continued like this—18.Nf6 Be2 19.fxg5 h5 all favourable to Black. Observe, also, that the move of 17...Nd4 is very fine, for Black threatens to win a piece on the next move, by advancing 18...b5, etc., besides leaving him a good game, play as White would. (see diagram).
18.b3 Nxc4 19.bxc4 c6 20.Nf6 Qd4+ 21.Kh1 Bg6 22.Rad1
CPC: The concluding moves of this game are admirably played by the first player, and will amply repay the student of chess for his labour in examining them.
22...Qxc4
Palamède: Mauvais coup qui détermine la perte de la partie; prendre le P attaquant la D était préferable. {Bad move that determines the loss of the game; taking the pawn and attacking the queen was preferable.}
23.f5
CPM: A very high style of play from this to the end of the game. The moves are really beautiful, and deserve thorough examination.
23...Bh7 24.Nd7 Rfd8 25.e6 f6 26.Qc7 Rdc8 27.Qxb7 Qb5 28.Rb1
Palamède: Coup très-bien joué. {Well played move.}
CPM: Again very fine and accurate play, leaving Black without resource.
28...Qxb7 29.Rxb7 Kh8 30.Nxf6 Bg8 31.Rd1 Rd8 32.Rdd7 Rxd7 33.Rxd7 g4
CPC: Sic in orig.!
34.Kg1 a5 35.e7 1-0
CPM: It is well to note here and compare how near, in many cases, Morphy's style resembles, in its finish and accuracy, that of his great prototype, La Bourdonnais.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 13th—K. P. one opening; 81 moves.—Opened similar to No. 7—that is, very bad on Macdonnell's part, who loses a Pawn at the early stage of move 13! Yet in the end, by patience and skill, reduces the game to a draw.

At this point we have arrived at about half the number of the games played in their first match, and the score records La Bourdonnais has won Nos. 4*, 7, 8, 9*, 10†, 11, and 12†; Macdonnell, Nos. 5 and 6; draws, Nos. 1, 2*, 3*, and 13. This looks a great majority for the Frenchman, but upon referring to our analysis we find that Macdonnell could have won easily Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 9, and have drawn No. 10 (besides having perhaps at one time a won position in the 11th, and an opportunity to have at least equalised No. 12). The (*) indicates those that Macdonnell could have won, and the (†) those he could have drawn. If we look at their position in this latter sense, they would have stood Macdonnell 6 or 7, La Bourdonnais 3 or 4, and three drawn games. And in comparing their merits it is only fair to keep this in view, because Macdonnell had actually brought several of those games to an easy winning point; and remarks having been written that the great Frenchman did not, in the latter part of the matches, play up to the standard of the games won by him in their first match (considered, no doubt, consequent upon his great majority), it behoves the analyst to closely inspect and see whether that report is correct, and founded upon fact. We incline to the idea that Macdonnell was rather nerveless after the first half-dozen games, for his play at this point is so bad, and so much worse than usual, that it can hardly be considered a fair criterion of his skil; and again, he frightfully blunders when the games are within his grasp, proving the data that we started with, that upon close examination Macdonnell would be found, if critically analysed in these grand matches, quite the equal of La Bourdonnais, and his great minority here was caused more by his blunders than by his opponent's greater play. And it perfectly bewilders the student and analyst to understand how to reconcile the Macdonnell in Games No. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, with the Macdonnell that marshalled the men in games No. 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, the latter part of 11, and some parts of game 12. Macdonnell in these 13 games, and Lowenthal in his match of 14 games with Morphy, resemble each other in a wonderful degree, although the difference is vastly in favour of Macdonnell's games, which, with all their faults, contain a life revivifying energy, that even after very many frivolous and useless moves yet contained the seeds of success, and the play springing from them in every position is infinitely more beautiful and various. Even Queen's Gambits and K. P. one games, that with others are mostly dull and uninteresting, in their hands, from the beginning to the end, sparkle with brilliants of the first water, and abound in enterprising, beautiful, and interesting situations.

Date: 1834.07.11
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.13 (13)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [B21] Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.f4
Ledger: M'Donnell, as usual, in these close games plays the opening moves weakly. With characteristic obstinacy h persists throughout in advancing this pawn rather than the d-pawn.
2...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
CPC: 11.Qd2 would, we think, have been safer play, although Black, in that case, by playing 11...Nf5, instead of exchanging queens, might have obtained a fine attacking position.
11...0-0 12.a3 Qb6 13.Kg3
13...Nxd4
CPC: Cleverly played.
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
Lewis: 70...Nf3+ would give Black more chance of winning.
CPC: Had De la Bourdonnais checked with 70...Nf3+, it would have been extremely difficult for his opponent to save the game.
Ledger: 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 ½-½
CPC: This game exhibits to advantage the skill and patience of these distinguished "opposites," and affords abundant scope for the exercise of our young players' analytical acumen.
Ledger: Of this contest little can be said, except that the whole latter portion is conducted with great care by both players, affording no opportunity for variations or extended comments.

Greenwood states that the game was not preserved, however it had been published prior to his statement in Bell's Life in London, 1835.05.31, by George Walker. Lewis also maintained a record of this game and supplied a copy to the Chess Player's Chronicle in 1841.

The Fourteenth game is not preserved, it was not a good game.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE CHESS PLAYER'S CHRONICLE."

Sir,—In W. G. Walker's Book, entitled "A Selection of Games at Chess, actually played in London, by the late Alexander M'Donnell, Esq.," it is stated that the 14th Game of the Match between Mr. M'Donnell and M. De la Bourdonnais was not preserved.

I send you a copy of it herewith, having myself taken it down at the time it was played.

I take this opportunity of correcting an error of Mr. Walker's, which occurs in the Preface to the above work. He there states that he gave fifty of these games to me, which I afterwards published in a small volume. Had this been true, those who know me will readily believe that I should willingly have acknowledged the gift; but the fact is, that I took all these games down myself, at the time they were played, or immediately after, and am not indebted to Mr. Walker for even one of them. The players themselves occasionally supplied me with moves, and readily permitted me to publish the games.

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,    
W. Lewis.
12, Chatham-place, Blackfriars,
    August 2nd, 1841.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 14th.—K. P. one opening; 25 moves.—Opened very similar to games No. 7, 9, 13, and 16 (see the latter game and diagram). After White's 13th move, Black can have no possible chance in a position of such peril. The editor of the "Chess Player's Chronicle," vol. 1, p. 231, says:—"In this position White, by steady play, is secure of victory," and this game proves it to a certainty! Thus have we five games in this match, at the K. P. one opening, that at the 13th move are lost for Black; this alone was enough for White to acquire in the first match a great majority; consequently, Macdonnell's defeat can be easily accounted for without his being the weaker player, and generally where the openings are equal Macdonnell more frequently manages to out manœuvre the Frenchman in the after-play—proving, perhaps, that La Bourdonnais was the better judge of position, although if we make some allowance for Macdonnell's obstinacy in these K. P. one openings, it certainly was not so great as it might otherwise appear.

Date: 1834.07.12
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.14 (14)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [B21] Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.f4 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.c3 d5 5.e5 f6 6.Na3 Nh6 7.Nc2 Qb6 8.d4 Bd7 9.Ne3
Ledger: Premature; surely 9.Be2 or 9.Bd3 would have been better play.
9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Bb4+ 11.Kf2 0-0 12.Kg3 fxe5 13.fxe5
13...Be8 14.Kh3 Bh5 15.g4 Bg6
CPC: In this position, White, by steady play, is secure of victory; and M. De la Bourdonnais acted prudently, therefore, in not exchanging his rook for the adverse knight—a course of play which must have led to many intricate and difficult situations.
16.Bg2 Be4 17.g5 Nf5 18.Nxf5 Rxf5 19.Be3 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Nxe5
Bell's: This was skilfully managed, and worthy of the renowned player conducting the Black pieces.
21.Bg4 Nxg4 22.Qxg4 Raf8 23.Rag1
Bell's: White's game is so hopeless, that it matters little what he now plays; but if necessary to move one of the rooks to this square, it would surely look more like chess to move the other rook than thus to pin it up in the corner.
23...Bd6 24.Bc1 Rf3+ 25.Kh4 R3f4 0-1
Bell's: White was in this game fairly out-played. The attack is wrested from him after three or four moves, and turned on him in a manner which, as he met it, proved to be resistless.
Ledger: The game is capitally played from first to last by Labourdonnais, but very indifferently by his antagonist.

Selection Of Games Played In The Westminster Chess Club.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 15th.—Queen's Gambit, illustrated:—

Date: 1834.07.14
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.15 (15)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [D20] Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5 4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Be7
CPM: Not so good as 6...Bd6.
7.Nf3 0-0 8.h3
CPM: This move is generally necessary in this form of the Queen's Gambit.
8...c6 9.Be3 Bf5 10.g4
CPM: This move would have been condemned as perilous if La Bourdonnais had not been successful. From this point to the end of the game White's play is deserving of careful attention.
10...Bg6 11.Ne5
CPM: A favourite and puissant move in White's hands.
11...Nbd7 12.Nxg6
CPM: This move and the next are attempts to break into Black's position, and assail his king in front.
12...hxg6 13.h4 Nb6 14.Bb3 Nfd5
15.h5
Ledger: White pursues the attack with vigor and determination.
CPM: The assault is nervously followed up.
15...Nxe3
CPM: Perhaps this move and Black's next were not beneficial to his game, although it is very difficult to find fault with Macdonnell's play in this game.
16.fxe3 Bh4+
Ledger: 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
CPM: Every move of White in this game is superb; examine the threatening attitude of this attack.
18...Bg5
CPM: This move appears to give Black time to advance his h-pawn on the next, as he threatens to win the d-pawn next move with a check, and Black has, else, no good move on the board.
19.Raf1
CPM: A truly splendid move in all its bearings; and the nerve with which White abandons his d-pawn is admirable, and chess indeed. If White had taken the precaution to here have moved his king, Black could have then advanced his h-pawn with a good defence, and would have stood a great chance to win the game.
19...Qxd4+
CPM: There is nothing better for Black, yet this is not so good as it looks, White having a won game play as Black may.
20.Kc2 Qf6
CPM: Nothing better.
21.Rxh5
CPM: Again admirable, threatening 22.Qh3 the next move.
21...Qg6+
CPM: 21...Qxf3 availeth not. Black's game is so surrounded by the shoals and quicksands of shipwreck that escape is impossible.
22.e4 Nd5 23.Rfh1 Bh6 24.g5 f5
CPM: A poor move, but Black's game is past rescue.
25.Nxd5 cxd5 26.Bxd5+ Kh7 27.Rxh6+ gxh6 28.Rxh6+ Qxh6 29.gxh6 1-0
Bell's: Throughout this game we have not found a single peg to hang a note on. White's play is above praise, while Black's defence is beneath blame.
CPC: There is nothing in the present game requiring particular comment; the latter portion of it is cleverly played by De la Bourdonnais.
CPM: This game is, we think, a perfect specimen of successful play; the assault is direct and enduring, and the way in which La Bourdonnais follows up the attack and storms the stronghold of his opponent is indeed excellent; it may not be quite so showy as some others that he won, but for truth and precision of play it would be difficult to find an equal specimen. And the play of his opponent at no one stage can be found fault, thereby greatly enhancing the honour of the winner.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 16th.—Sicilian opening, illustrated:—
[...]
By the above beautifully played little game La Bourdonnais demonstrates beyond a doubt that the defence chosen by Macdonnell was a complete failure. And Black adopted this defence in five games of this first match of 25 games, viz., Nos. 7, 9, 13, 14, and 16, thereby losing 4, and luckily drawing the other. So here we have four games lost by Macdonnell that no skill ought to have saved, and yet Macdonnell was all but victorious, and ought to have won two of them in the midst of a great deal of bad play on his part! again proving that La Bourdonnais was not his superior in play, even starting from a position won by its nature, as these five K. P. one games can testify.*

* This is not strictly accurate, as the 16th game was not a French, but a Sicilian opening; although we admit that games 14 and 16 are very similar, and that after Black's fifth move in the latter the position is actually the same as usually occurs in the K. P. one game. This may be owing to the fact, that the French and Sicilian openings are very much like each other, both bearing the common features, and leading to analogous positions. Our esteemed correspondent has sent us also, by the way of illustration, the last thirteen moves of game 14, to compare them with the position after White's 13th move in the 16th game; but as those moves are not in strict consonance with our diagram, where they profess to start from, we were unhappily, obliged to omit them.—[Ed. Ch. Pl. Magazine.]

Date: 1834.07.15
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.16 (16)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [B21] Sicilian
1.e4 c5
CPC: The republication of these games will have the effect, we trust, of bringing this admirable defence into more general vogue.
2.f4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.c3 d5 5.e5 f6
CPM: This move, it is said, was introduced by La Bourdonnais, and is undoubtedly good.
6.Na3 Nh6 7.Nc2
CPM: This sortie of the knight has been objected to, we think, without just cause; it is the after-play of this knight that deserves reprehension.
7...Qb6 8.d4 Bd7 9.Ne3
CPC: 9.Bd3 would have been better play.
Ledger: 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.
CPM: Here the knight makes a move that is certainly greatly to be condemned, and this in conjunction with the next gives White a lost game, although so very early.
9...cxd4 10.cxd4
CPC: We should have preferred taking 10.Nxd4. The line of play persisted in by Mr. M'Donnell, at the present stage of this particular opening, is evidently most disadvantageous.
Ledger: To have retaken 10.Nxd4 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.
10...Bb4+ 11.Kf2
Palamède: Pour ne pas perdre un pion. {To not lose the pawn.}
11...0-0 12.Kg3
CPM: Compulsory, or lose a pawn.
12...Rac8
Pope: The following note has been placed after the same move, but published out of sequence, in the Chess Player's Magazine.
CPM: We have now arrived a position where the game is lost for Black; and after our notes we append the position, from which it will be seen his game is hopeless. It is true Black with the inspiration of genius varies all these openings, but the moves of 9.Ne3, and 10.cxd4, are chronic defects in White's play that no ultimate skill could cure, and so convinced must White now have been of this that he does not again carry the knight to e3, before the exchange of pawns in any of the following games.
13.h4 fxe5 14.fxe5
14...Rxf3+
Palamède: Ce sacrifice décide la partie en faveur des noirs; il est difficile, au premier abord, à bien concevoir. Les noirs ont pensé, en le faisant, qu'ils gagnaient d'abord un pion, puis qu'ils auraient la facilité d'entrer leurs pièces dans le jeu de leur adversaire, ce qui est fort avantageux, et d'avoir ainsi plusiers temps d'avance et une forte attaque. {This sacrifice decides the game in favor of Black; although, at first, it is difficult to conceive. Black thought, in so doing so, to first gain a pawn, then he would have the facility to bring his pieces into play against his opponent, which is very advantageous, and thus gain several moves and a strong attack.}
Ledger: A sound sacrifice. Black wins a pawn in return for the sacrifice of the exchange, and obtains a good attacking position.
CPM: Certainly White's position enables Black to take any amount of liberties.
15.gxf3
Ledger: The best mode of capturing the rook. Had White taken 15.Qxf3, Black would have still farther advanced his game by 15...Qxd4, and so on.
15...Nxd4 16.Bd3 Rf8 17.f4 Bc5 18.Rf1
Ledger: M'Donnell has a difficult game. 18.b4, which he played on this twenty-fifth move, would have done him better service at this stage.
18...Bb5
CPC: A good move.
Ledger: An excellent move, compelling an exchange of bishops, which materially weakens White's position and strengthens the attack.
CPM: A clever move.
19.Bxb5 Qxb5 20.Kh3 Ne2 21.Ng2
Ledger: We are surprised that M'Donnell should not have first played 21.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.
21...Nf5 22.Kh2
CPM: In this game White loses too many moves—this making the fourth time the king has moved.
22...Neg3 23.Rf3 Ne4
CPM: Black plays his knights very beautifully.
24.Qf1
CPM: 24.Qd3 would be better, followed, if Black's queen retreats, by 25.Be3, and then 26.Rh1 or 26.Rg1. (see diagram)
24...Qe8
Palamède: Les noirs auraient perdu toute leur attaque en échangeant les reines; ils jouent beaucoup mieux en plaçant leur reine à la case du roi. Elle peut, au coup suivant, se placer de manière à former une attaque sur le roi de son adversaire. {Black would have lost the attack by exchanging queens; it is much better play to put the queen on e8. It may, on the next move, be played to form an attack on the opponent's king.}
Ledger: 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
Palamède: Les blancs sacrifient ce pion pour dégager leur jeu. {White sacrifices a pawn to free his game.}
CPM: White loses time again here, and that, too, when time to him is of great consequence.
25...Bd4 26.Rb1 Qh5
CPM: Black has an attack now that is very formidable.
27.Rbb3
CPM: Why not 27.Bb2, driving Black from the attack and developing his own game?
27...Rc8
Palamède: Il est toujours avantageux de s'emparer, avec ses tours, des ouvertures. Ce coup est bien joué dans le jeu de l'adversaire. {It is always advantageos to seize, with your rooks, open files. This is a well played move against the opponent's position.}
CPC: Well played.
CPM: Cleverly conceived.
28.Be3
CPM: A very poor resource in this position, and particularly so after Black's last move, which intimated as plainly as possible that he intended to go to f2 on his next move, which if allowed to be planted there is of such vital importance to Black that it leaves White without any defence. Surely White's play is as poor as La Bourdonnais' is good. Black conducts the end of this game in very fine style.
28...Rc2
Palamède: Les noirs ne craignant aucune attaque de la part des blancs, peuvent entrer toutes leurs pièces dans le jeu de l'adversaire. {Black fearing no attack from White, gets all his pieces into his opponent's position.}
29.Kg1 Nxe3 30.Rfxe3
Palamède: L'on ne peut pas prendre la cavalier sans risquer d'être mat. {The knight cannot be taken without risk of mate}.
30...Nd2 31.Qd3 Rc1+ 32.Kh2 Nf1+ 33.Kh3 Nxe3 34.Nxe3
Ledger: This whole game, so far as the second player is concerned, is a fine specimen of chess skill.
34...Qf3+ 0-1
CPC: The concluding moves of this game are capitally played by De la Bourdonnais.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game No. 17.—Queen's Gambit, illustrated:—

Date: 1834.07.16
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.17 (17)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [D20] Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5
CPM: The classical move. We, however, doubt its correctness. (see the 10th game between these players.)
4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Be7
CPC: 6...Bd6 would have been better play.
Studies: 6...Bd6.
Ledger: See notes on previous games at the same opening.
7.Nf3 0-0 8.Be3 c6 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Bb3 Nb6 11.0-0 Nfd5
Ledger: M'Donnell has now obtained his favorite position in the Queen's Gambit. It is far from being a commendable one. At his eighth move he should rather have played 8...Bg4, and then have brought out his b-knight.
12.a4 a5 13.Ne5 Be6 14.Bc2 f5
Ledger: 14...f6, with a view of dislodging the knight, would have resulted in the same position; suppose 14...f6 15.Qh5 f5 (best) 16.Qe2 and we arrive at the position occurring after White's fifteenth move in the text.
CPM: This move of Macdonnell's, and still further advancing of the pawn on the next move, lost him, besides this, also games 31, 33, 37, and 39.
15.Qe2
CPM: A good rejoinder, showing the weakness of Black's last move.
15...f4
CPM: A very bad move every way. After this, Black has a very difficult game to play.
16.Bd2 Qe8 17.Rae1
CPM: White's game is in fine array, and very threatening.
17...Bf7
Ledger: Fearing the loss of a pawn by 18.Nxc6, etc., Black's proper course was 17...Bd7.
18.Qe4 g6 19.Bxf4 Nxf4 20.Qxf4
CPC: The subsequent moves show the clearness and accuracy of La Bourdonnais' calculation, in thus giving up "the exchange."
20...Bc4
Ledger: 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
CPM: The last three moves of White form a beautiful combination, and are very accurate play.
21...Bxf1
Ledger: After this move Black's game is indefensible. He should have returned with 21...Bf7. White, however, has gained a clear pawn, and, in any event, has by far the better game.
CPM: Reckless to a degree, and a very extraordinary move for a player of Black's calibre to be guilty of making, as White's two next moves are so very palpable, and give him an easy victory.
22.Bxg6 hxg6 23.Nxg6 Nc8
Ledger: Black has a lost game, but he might have considerably prolonged the contest by 23...Bf6. Let us suppose 23...Bf6 24.Rxe8 (best) 24...Rxe8 25.Kxf1 Bxd4 and although Black must ultimately lose, owing to White's passed pawns on the queen's side, his position is more tenable than that attainable by any other line of play.
24.Qh8+ Kf7 25.Qh7+ Kf6 26.Nf4
CPC: A bold and decisive coup de repos.
CPM: Correct and decisive; again we have the beautiful and accurate finish of La Bourdonnais. This game was the subject of M. Mery's poem, Une Revanche de Waterloo.
26...Bd3 27.Re6+ Kg5 28.Qh6+ Kf5 29.Re5# 1-0
Ledger: A contest admirably managed by Labourdonnais.

Selection Of Games Played In The Westminster Chess Club.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game No. 18.—Bishop's Gambit; 30 moves.—Another game thrown away by Macdonnell, who, after playing very well and ingeniously up to the 24th move, when he is a clear piece ahead (see diagram), and had brought his game to the winning point, here makes an egregious blunder, and loses the game offhand. Macdonnell was particularly unfortunate with his Bishop's Gambits; this one he certainly ought to have added to his winnings. This game makes the eleventh that La Bourdonnais has won in succession, and, in contract to this, of the remaining seventy that they played he got only a majority of four!

In taking a bird's-eye view of these eleven games, it is well to examine how they were won—or, rather, how Macdonnell managed to lose them. The first thing that will arrest the analyst's or the student's attention is that they are, in the main, played considerably beneath Macdonnell's average force, and are marred with errors and bad play on his part that are difficult to account for, particularly as he was a more laboured and careful played than his antagonist, whereas the evidence of these games appear to attest quite the contrary. Games 7, 8, 11, and 16, are badly played by Macdonnell; 10 he ought to have drawn; 9 and 18 he at one stage had a piece ahead, and consequently ought to have won easily; 12, 15, and 17 are fairly won by La Bourdonnais, although, in 12, Macdonnell could, as we have shown, have got the better game. In Game 14 there was no chance for Macdonnell, by the way he conducted the opening. The same remarks apply to 7, 9, 13, and 16, as it can be demonstrated that they were past recover at the 13th move, and Macdonnell was consequently playing at such an immense disadvantage, that victory was hardly possible; and when La Bourdonnais once got the upper hand, his play was magnificent and beautiful indeed for its finished accuracy and elegance. These eleven games, and La Bourdonnais' majority, were undoubtedly gained more by precision than the superior strength of his play. Reference to the Games themselves will prove this.

Date: 1834.07.17
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.18 (18)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [C33] King's Gambit Accepted
1.e4 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
14...Nfxd4
Bell's: It would be bad play to check with 14...Ng3+, as White might move 15.Kg1, and if he took 15...Nxh1, would take 16.Nxc6+.
CPC: Had White checked 14...Ng3+ and taken 15...Nxh1, he would have been mated in five moves.
Ledger: Apprehensive of 15.Be2. The following shows that 14...Ng3+ with a view of winning the exchange, would have lost Black the game: 14...Ng3+ 15.Kg1 Nxh1 16.Nxc6+ Kd7. 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
CPC: This portion of the game is played by Mr. M'Donnell with great judgment.
Studies: 18.Bxf4.
18...Be6 19.Bxc6+ Kf8 20.Qc5+ Kg8 21.Bf3 Qg6 22.Qd4
Ledger: He ought to have played 22.Qf2, or 22.b3.
22...c5 23.Qe5
Bell's: Bad; should rather take 23.Qxc5.
Ledger: The last two moves with the queen are not good.
23...Re8
Bell's: Threatening to win queen by 24...Bc4+.
24.Be2
Bell's: It would have been just possible to find a worse move than this.
CPC: Badly played. It would have been better play to have taken 24.Qxc5.
Studies: 24.Qxc5.
Ledger: This is clearly fatal. Almost all the commentators recommend 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, 24...Qc2+, White would have interposed the queen. If, again, 24...Bd7, the reply would be 25.Qd6. And, finally, if 24...g4, White would play 25.Be4.
24...f3
Bell's: Most scientific, winning the bishop at least.
25.Kf2
CPC: It is obvious that Black would have lost his queen had he ventured to take this pawn.
25...fxe2 26.Be3 b6 27.h4
Ledger: This, again, was far from being well played, but did not affect the ultimate result.
27...Bd7 28.Qd5 Qxf6+ 29.Kxe2 Bg4+ 30.Kd2 Rd8 0-1
Bell's: At one time we thought White would win. He played some moves with great tact, but then stumbled, and fell, never to rise again. How difficult is it in chess to carry out a fine attack without swerving to the right or left.

Selection Of Games Played In The Westminster Chess Club.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Seventh Illustration:—Macdonnell and La Bourdonnais.

Game 19th.—King's Bishop's Opening, 54 moves:—

Date: 1834.07.18
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.19 (19)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C23] Bishop's Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qe2
Ledger: White, by this move, initiates the opening known as the Lopez Gambit—a debut rarely practised at the present day. Its legitimate result should be an even game.
3...d6
Ledger: Besides the move here adopted Black may also play 3...Nf6, 3...Nc6, or 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:
A) 5.e5 0-0 6.Nf3 d5 and Black has undoubtedly the better game. If White now takes 7.exf6, Black moves 7...Re8 and must win. And if White retreat 7.Bb3, Black's answer is 7...Nc6. And finally if White play 7.d4 Bxd4 8.Nxd4 dxc4 9.Qxc4 Qd5 and Black has the advantage.
B) 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.c3 (if 6.e5 0-0) 6...0-0 7.d4 d5 and play as White may, we think that Black must obtain a superior position.
4.d3
Ledger: 4.f4 is now the correct move.
4...Nf6 5.h3 Nc6 6.c3 Ne7 7.Bb3 Ng6
CPM: In these old-fashioned openings Macdonnell appears to be more at home. They played in all eight of these openings. Macdonnell won five, lost two, and one was drawn; and of the two he lost, and in the draw, he at once period had a won game!
8.g3 c6 9.f4
Palamède: Les blancs perdent ici un P dans l'espoir d'ouvrir une attaque sur le côté gauche de leur adversaire; ils se trompent et compromettent leur partie. {White here gives up a pawn in the hope of gaining an attack down the opponent's left side opponent; he is wrong and compromises his game.}
9...exf4 10.gxf4 Bxg1 11.Rxg1 Bxh3
Bell's: Black has won a pawn—an advantage which, if carefully sustained, ought to give him the game.
CPM: A daring move.
12.f5 Ne5 13.Rg3
CPM: The only safe move.
13...Bg4 14.Qg2 h5 15.d4
Bell's: You seem to have some attack, but it is chiefly of that sort termed "false attack."
15...Ned7 16.Bg5 Qb6 17.Nd2 0-0
Ledger: It would surely have been safer to have castled 17...0-0-0.
18.Bf4
CPC: We should have preferred playing 18.Nc4; and, in that case, if 18...Qc7, to preserve the pawn, White, by 19.Bf4, would have obtained a stronger position.
Ledger: 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 20.Qxe4, Black's reply is 20...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.
18...d5 19.e5 Rfe8 20.Be3
Palamède: Ce coup est mal joué de la part des blancs; la T à la 3 c. du R était préférable. {This move is bad play on the part of White; 20.Re3 was preferable.}
Ledger: This is not a good move. 20.Kf1 instead, would have given White a fine game. For suppose 20.Kf1 Nh7 (checking 20...Qb5+ would be useless, as White would move 21.Kg1, and the position would not be materially altered) 21.Rxg4 hxg4 22.Qxg4 White now has a winning position. The attack must, in a few moves, become irresistible.
20...h4
Bell's: The calculation on which this is founded is deeply scientific, and replete with instruction.
Ledger: Well played.
CPM: Ingenious, and a very finely-conceived combination.
21.Rxg4 Nxg4 22.Qxg4 Nxe5 23.dxe5
CPC: 23.Qe2 would, perhaps, have been better play.
Ledger: 23.Qe2 has been properly suggested as a better move at this point.
23...Qxe3+ 24.Kd1 Rxe5
Palamède: L'on voit ici combien le sacrifice fait par les noirs est bon; ils ont perdu une pièce, mais ils ont un échange et trois pions, ce qui est plus que la valeur. {We see here how good the sacrifice made by Black is; he lost a piece, but he has the exchange and three pawns, which is worth more.}
25.Kc2 Qg3 26.Qd4 Qe3
CPM: Black possessed great knowledge of the position in thus endeavouring to exchange the queens.
27.Qxh4 Qh6 28.Qxh6 gxh6 29.Rf1 f6 30.c4 Kf7 31.cxd5 cxd5
32.Kd3
CPC: He might have played 32.Ne4, with safety and advantage.
Ledger: 32.Ne4, with a view of bringing the knight into better play, would have been a good move.
CPM: We cannot see what advantage 32.Ne4 would have given White.
32....Rg8
CPM: This move (as well as Black's 34th and 35th) is judicious and correct.
33.Rf4 Ke7 34.Nf3 Rg3 35.Kd4 Kd6
Bell's: Admirably played. This move is chess, and nothing but chess.
36.Bd1 b5 37.b4 a6 38.a4 h5 39.axb5 axb5 40.Bc2 Re2 41.Bd3 Rb2 42.Ke3
Ledger: 42.Kc3 would have lost a piece, as Black would have played 42...Rf2.
42...Rg4 43.Nd4 Rxf4 44.Kxf4 Rxb4 45.Ke3 Kc5 46.Ne6+ Kc6 47.Nf4 Rxf4
Bell's: Reducing the game to a certainty open to mathematical demonstration. Simple as it seems, no one but a first-rate player would have thus taken 47...Rxf4. The bishop and king cannot stop all the black pawns.
Palamède: Sacrifice très-bien fait et qui détermine la partie en faveur des noirs. {Very good sacrifice which decides the game in favor of Black.}
CPC: A good move.
CPM: A daring move to make, but, nevertheless, finely-played, and wins the game very decisively.
48.Kxf4 Kc5 49.Be2 h4 50.Kg4
CPM: 50.Bd1 is of no avail, White's game being lost. Macdonnell must have been possessed or rare nerve, by the way he conducted this game, and that, too, after losing eleven games in succession.
50...b4 51.Kxh4 Kd4 52.Kg3 b3 53.Bd1 b2 54.Bc2 Ke3 0-1
Bell's: White here resigned the game. The contest is one of great skill on both sides. Black works his way through an embarrassing position, and having gained a slight advantage in the onset, holds his own with a coolness to be envied of all chess-players. On the other hand, White makes desperate efforts to retrieve the game, and wields his weapon in a manner which marks the hero. Victory, in similar cases, is not the less honourable for the defeat's being unmixed with disgrace.
CPC: Parts of this game are finely played by Mr. M'Donnell.

The following is the Thirty-first Game in Mr. Lewis's forthcoming volume of Games played between La Bourdonnais and Mr. Donnel [sic]
London Morning Post, 1834.10.14, p3
London Evening Standard, 1834.10.14, p3

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 20th.—Bishop's Gambit; 20 moves.—White plays ingeniously at his 7th, 8th, and 9th moves, and by so doing wins the exchange, but puts his Queen so entirely out of play that all chance in the game has gone; and again we have the La Bourdonnais' play in all its beauty and directness.

Date: 1834.07.19
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.20 (20)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [C33] King's Gambit Accepted
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 d6
Ledger: This move, although not a bad one, is inferior to 4...g5.
5.d4
Ledger: The move given by the books as White's stronger reply to 4...d6, is 5.Qf3, which enables him to recover the gambit pawn immediately.
5...Bg4 6.Qd3 Nc6 7.Bxf7+
Lewis: This move is not so good as it appears, on account of the subsequent bad position of the queen.
Palamède: Ce coup n'est pas aussi bon qu'il le paraît au premier abord, à cause de la mauvaise position de la D. {This move is not as good as it first appears, because of the misplacement of the queen.}
CPC: An ingenious move, but certainly not a judicious one, because White, in order to obtain an equivalent for the bishop sacrificed, was compelled to play his queen too far from the point of action. Had he contented himself by taking 7.Bxf4, the game would have been about even.
Ledger: Although this wins at least a pawn, it is far from being good play. The removal of the White queen to a remote part of the board, and the attack which Black is enabled immediately to commence, more than compensates him for the loss incurred.
7...Kxf7 8.Qb3+ Kg6 9.Qxb7
9...Nxd4
CPC: Well played.
Ledger: Correct.
10.Qxa8 Nf6
CPC: This precautionary move was essential to prevent 11.Qe8+.
Ledger: Bringing another piece into play and preventing 11.Qe8+.
11.Na3 f3 12.g3 Bh3+ 13.Ke1
Ledger: Evidently best. Had the king been played 13.Kf2 Black would have won at once by 13...Ng4+ and then with 14...f2+, etc.
13...Qg4 14.Be3 d5
Palamède: Menaçant de prendre la D. {Threatening to take the queen.}
CPC: Threatening to win the queen by 15...Bb4+.
Ledger: The attack is capitally sustained throughout. By this move Black not only threatens to win the queen by 15...Bb4+, but is enabled presently to acquire a winning position by capturing e-pawn with queen.
15.Qxa7 Nc6 16.Qxc7
Ledger: If 16.Qa4 the game would have proceeded as follows: 16.Qa4 d4 17.Bf4 (best) 17...Bb4+ 18.c3 dxc3 and Black wins at once.
16...d4 17.Bd2
Palamède: Le F à la 2e case du F du R était meilleur. {17.Bf2 was better.}
CPC: Taking 17.Qxc6 would have been less disastrous than the present move.
Ledger: White's game is irredeemably lost. If he now capture 17.Qxc6, Black takes 17...dxe3, winning immediately. And if he move as in the variation just given, Black plays 17...Bb4+, etc.
17...Qxe4+ 18.Kd1 f2 19.Nxh3 Qf3+ 20.Kc1 Qxh1+ 0-1
CPC: This game is remarkably well played by M. de la Bourdonnais.
London Morning Post, 1834.10.14, p3
London Evening Standard, 1834.10.14, p3

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

The writer of Glimpses of the Genius of Caissa apparently overlooked the fact that Lewis did publish the following game, making his diatribe rather amusing.

Game 21st.—Bishop's Opening—Illustrated.
[...]
We cannot but imagine that these games have been well scrutinized in a La Bourdonnais' point of view, for most of his flaws that have been pointed out are so difficult that it is not very wonderful that in actual play they were overlooked, and, in the present case, even wrongly, to the British player's detriment; nor can or should it be forgotten that Mr. Lewis, in a selection of 50 games, actually published a greater number in proportion to the advantage of the Frenchman than his play yielded, viz., out of the 50 he only published 14 that Macdonnell won, whereas a fair proportion would have been 18. Now, if the games La Bourdonnais won were superior to those he lost, we could understand this lowering of our brave amateur, but as the reverse is the actual fact, what ought we to think of this paltry attempt to lower the powers of this great, brave, and chivalrous Briton (and one who rendered in play stronger odds than even the great La Bourdonnais), and that by one who instructed him and called him Friend! This last illustration of their games is one that was omitted in the selected fifty, although the Editor gave Nos. 8, 11, 12, 16, 17, 20, 22, 24, and 25, as games won by La Bourdonnais in the first match, and most of these are inferior in power and play to this one.

Date: 1834.07.21
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.21 (21)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [C23] Bishop's Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qe2
Ledger: For notes on the opening see the nineteenth game between the same players.
3...Nf6 4.d3 Nc6 5.c3 Ne7
Ledger: Premature and a loss of time. Black should have played 5...d6 or 5...0-0.
6.f4 exf4
CPC: In this opening, which is a variation on that known as the "Lopez Gambit," is is not good play for the second player to take 6...exf4.
Ledger: It is seldom advisable to capture this pawn in the Lopez Gambit.
CPM: Bad, losing two moves, and bettering his adversary's position. 6...d6 was the move.
7.d4 Bb6 8.Bxf4 d6
Ledger: 8...d5 should have been played, in order to break up the advanced centre pawns.
9.Bd3 Ng6 10.Be3 0-0 11.h3 Re8 12.Nd2 Qe7 13.0-0-0 c5
CPM: Up to this point the position may be considered equal, but the fight from this end "is a fight of giants." White wages war on the king's wing, and Black attacks his opponent's king behind the queen's wing entrenchments. These flank movements are very fine—no half measures in this, but war to the knife.
14.Kb1 cxd4 15.cxd4 a5 16.Ngf3 Bd7 17.g4 h6
CPM: Black appears anxious to give White every chance for his attack, and solicits difficulties unnecessarily. 17...Nd5 looks better.
18.Rdg1
Palamède: Chaque joueur dirige une attaque sur le R adverse. {Each player leads an attack on the opponent's king.}
18...a4 19.g5
CPM: White by this evidently gets the start in the attack.
19...hxg5 20.Bxg5 a3 21.b3 Bc6 22.Rg4 Ba5 23.h4 Bxd2 24.Nxd2 Ra5 25.h5 Rxg5
Palamède: Bon sacrifice qui donne l'attaque aux noirs. {Good sacrifice that gives the attack to Black.}
Ledger: 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.
CPM: Black plays here boldly and very cleverly. White on his last move apparently courted this sacrifice, else, perhaps, he would have played 25.Nc4.
26.Rxg5 Nf4 27.Qf3 Nxd3 28.d5
Ledger: If 28.Qxd3, then follows on the part of Black, 28...Nxe4, with a won game.
28...Nxd5 29.Rhg1
CPC: This portion of the game is remarkably well played by both parties.
Ledger: Well played. The game which has now become critical for both parties is, by both, conducted with skill and judgment. Had White now played any other move than the one adopted he must have speedily lost.
Suppose first 29.Rxd5 Bxd5 30.Qxd3 (30.exd5 Qe3 31.Qxe3 Rxe3 again winning through his superiority in pawns) 30...Bxe4 31.Nxe4 Qxe4 and Black, having five pawns to three, now compels an exchange of queens and must win.
And secondly, if 29.Qxd3 Qxg5 30.exd5 Qxd5 and Black wins.
And, thirdly, if 29.exd5 Qxg5 30.Qxd3 (best) 30...Qxd5 and we have the same position as in the last variation.
29...Nc3+ 30.Ka1
Palamède: Le R à la 2 c. du F de la D eût été moins mauvais. La fin de cette partie est admirablement jouée par les noirs. {30.Kc2 would have been better. The end of this game is beautifully played by Black.}
Ledger: If 30.Kc2 Qxg5 31.Rxg5 (best) 31...Ne1+ 32.Kxc3 Nxf3 33.Nxf3 Rxe4 and Black must win.
30...Bxe4 31.Rxg7+ Kh8 32.Qg3
32...Bg6
Ledger: 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:
A) 34.Qg7+ Qxg7 35.R8xg7+ (35.R1xg7+ Kh6 36.Rxe8 Nb4 and White cannot prolong the contest beyond a few moves) 35...Kh6 36.Rxf7 (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; 36.Nxe4 Rxe4 37.Rg8 Re1+ 38.Rxe1 Nxe1 and Black again wins) 36...Nb4 37.Rf6+ Kxh5 38.Rc1 Nc2+ and Black wins.
B) 34.Rg7+ Kh6 35.Qe3+ Nf4 and Black will win.
CPM: If instead of this move Black had played—well, we will leave it to the ingenuity of the curious to find out the move—White's game would have been an utter rout. (see diagram). Black's last eight moves have been finely conceived, and this retreat of the bishop is very ingenious; and it is certainly extraordinarily strange "that the vagaries of impulse wreck his hope" so frequently in these matches.
33.hxg6 Qe1+ 34.Rxe1
CPC: We append an ingenious variation upon this move, by Mr. St-n, showing clearly that, from the present position, White could have won the game:—34.Nb1 Qxg3 35.Rh7+ (if White takes the queen at this point, he cannot save the game) 35...Kg8 36.gxf7+ Kxh7 (best) 37.Rh1+ Kg7 (best) 38.fxe8Q and White wins without difficulty.
Studies: 34.Nb1 (wins) 34...Qxg3 35.Rh7+ Kg8 36.gxf7+ Kxh7 37.Rh1+ K-any 38.fxe8Q, wins.
Ledger: White, as suggested by the Chessplayer's Chronicle (Vol. II. p. 361), might now have won in the following manner 34.Nb1 Qxg3 35.Rh7+ Kg8 36.gxf7+ Kxh7 (best) 37.Rh1+ Kg7 (best) 38.fxe8Q and White easily scores the game.
CPM: Now, with all due deference to Mr. Staunton—which has also been endorsed by Walker, and, we believe, Lewis—this is not so clear. Suppose Black to play 34...Kxg7 instead of 34...Qxg3, as given by Mr. Staunton, we are at a loss to see how White can force the game. He would then have only four moves at his command, namely, 35.Rxe1, 35.Qxe1, 35.Qxd3, or 35.gxf7+. We will take them in the order named.
Firstly—35.Rxe1 Rxe1 36.gxf7+ Kxf7 37.Qf3+ Kg7 (if 37...Ke6 Black would lose) 38.Qg4+ Kh6 39.Qh4+ Kg6 and the game is drawn. If White allowed the black king to cross over to his knight he would most probably lose the game.
Secondly—35.Qxe1 Rxe1 36.Rxe1 Nxe1 37.Nxc3 fxg3 and Black wins.
Thirdly—35.Qxd3 Qxg1 36.Qxc3+ f6 37.Qc4 Re1 and Black mates in four moves.
And Fourthly—35.gxf7+ Qxg3 36.Rxg3+ (or 36.fxe8Q Qxg1 37.Qe7+ Kg6 and here the most that White can expect to do is to draw the game.) 36...Kxf7 37.Rxd3 Nxb1 38.Kxb1 Re1+ 39.Kc2 Re2+ 40.Rd2 (if 40.Kc3, or 40.Kb1, then Black plays 41...Ke6, etc.) 40...Rxd2+ 41.Kxd2 Ke6 42.Kd3 Kd5 and here we have a beautiful and peculiar end-game, which we believe Black can always win.
34...Rxe1+ 35.Qxe1 Nxe1 36.Rh7+ Kg8 37.gxf7+ Kxh7 38.f8Q Nc2# 0-1

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Game 22nd.—Bishop's Gambit; 48 moves.—We select this game for illustration, being a Bishop's Gambit; and this makes the fourth that Macdonnell played in the first match, all of which he lost.

Date: 1834.07.22
Site: ENG London (Westminster Chess Club)
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.22 (22)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [C33] King's Gambit Accepted
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Qh4+ 4.Kf1 g5
CPM: The time-honoured defence to this gambit. We believe, however, the best defence at this point to be 4...d6, followed by 5...Be6, a defence, by-the-bye, that has never yet been given in the books, and one worthy of attention, particularly so as all the old defences have broken down in modern analysis.
5.Nc3 Bg7 6.d4 d6 7.Nd5
Ledger: 7.Nf3 or 7.e5 is the correct play.
7...Kd8 8.Be2
Palamède: Ce fou rentre à cette case pour gêner la retraite de la reine des noirs. {This bishop travels to this square to interfere with the retreat of Black's queen.}
Ledger: A weak move, which we cannot commend.
8...Nc6 9.e5 Nge7 10.Nc3 Nf5 11.Nf3 Qh6 12.Ne4 f6 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.g4
Palamède: Ce coup est mal joué, il découvre le roi et l'expose aux attaques de son adversaire. {This is a bad move; he uncovers his king and exposes him to his opponent's attacks.}
CPC: This is a very exceptionable move. Indeed, the play of White throughout the game is little entitled to praise. His attack is premature and ill-sustained; and when by his more vigorous opponent he is driven to defence, his movements are remarkable only for their timidity and want of purpose.
Ledger: 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.
CPM: Up to this point we consider the game well opened by White. The Chess-Player's Chronicle remarks would be far more applicable to many other games that Macdonnell lost than to this one, and we invite criticism whether the driving is not more on the side of Macdonnell than La Bourdonnais; and all the vigour, with the exception of a weak move or two, is on the part of White up to the 28th move. This game is a perfect epitome of the characteristics of their play—Macdonnell chivalrous, daring, and ingenious; La Bourdonnais practical, wily, and patient, waiting until he has acquired a winning position by his opponent's weakness or indiscretion, and then bearing down with an avalanche of weight and power that carries all before it. Again, Macdonnell may be weak at time, but certainly never timid; take, for example, the very most that these note are appended to and we find indiscreetness, and not timidity, the trait.
14...Nfxd4 15.Kg2
CPM: 15.Nexg5 would have been better. White could also do this on his next move.
15...Bxg4 16.h4 Bxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Nxf3 18.Qxf3 Ne5 19.Qb3 Qg6
Palamède: Les noirs jouent mal le coup; il eût mieux valu défendre le pion de cavalier de la reine. {Black plays the move poorly; it would have been better to defend the b-pawn.}
20.Qxb7 Rc8
CPM: Black's play here should have been 20...Ke7. His motive for cutting off his c-rook is certainly difficult to understand, as being ultimately enabled to plant his c-rook on g8 would have done him powerful service.
21.Bd2 gxh4+ 22.Kf1 Rg8 23.Nxd6
Palamède: Coup de ressource fort bien joué. {A well-played resourceful move.}
CPC: A good move. The sole redeeming point in White's play during the contest.
Ledger: Well played, but the exposed condition of White's king is such that no play could avert ultimate defeat.
CPM: The finest combination in the game, not only winning a pawn and exchange, but draws the game by force.
23...cxd6 24.Ba5+ Ke8 25.Qxc8+ Kf7 26.Qb7+ Be7 27.Qd5+
CPM: White has here a drawn game (see diagram). It is worthy of notice that these great players disdained to draw, if there was any play at all on the board. Contrast this with the play in the late match between Kolisch and Paulsen. What a difference there would have been in White's game, if his king now stood on f2. He could have checked at b3 on his last move, and then have carried a-rook to g1, with a won game.
27...Kf8 28.Rd1
Palamède: Cette tour jouée à la deuxiéme case de sa reine défendra la mat. {To get this rook to d2 to defend against the mate.}
CPM: White disdains to draw.
28...f3 29.Rd2 h3
CPC: The spirit and judgment with which this assault is conducted by the second player are well deserving commendation.
30.Qa8+
CPM: Too late for the perpetual check now, as Black is enabled to play his king behind his queen, which he would not have been able to do before his pawns were at their sixth squares, on account of White playing Qg2.
30...Kf7 31.Qd5+ Kf8 32.Qa8+ Kg7
Palamède: Pour éviter la remise. {To avoid the draw.}
33.Qxa7 Qg2+
Palamède: Coup bien joué qui décide la partie. {Well played move that decides the game.}
Ledger: The decisive coup, and one which Black evidently contemplated, when he played 29...h3.
CPC: Finely played.
CPM: Cleverly played.
34.Rxg2+ fxg2+ 35.Kg1 Nf3+ 36.Kf2
CPM: Here, again, is one of those unaccountable moves, and very Macdonnellesque in these matches, so very weak that it really bewilders (as White must have been) anyone to understand a great player throwing away his games in this fashion. If he had simply played 36.Ke2, he would have had a drawn game again; and, as it is, it is only by the most consummate play that Black wins in the end, after such trifling.
36...gxh1Q 37.Qxe7+ Kh6 38.Qxd6+ Kh5 39.Qd5+ Rg5 40.Qf7+ Kg4 41.Qc4+ Nd4
Palamède: Seul moyen d'éviter la remise. {The only way to avoid the draw.}
CPC: An unlooked for, but a masterly mode of escaping "perpetual check."
Ledger: Again excellently played. A glance at the board will show that this was the only method of avoiding perpetual check.
CPM: A beautiful resource.
42.Qxd4+ Kh5 43.Bb6 Qh2+
Lewis: Black thought he could checkmate, or he would have checked at g1, exchanged queens, and then advanced h-pawn.
Studies: 43...Rg2+ wins.
Ledger: 43...Qg1+ would have brought about a more speedy termination.
CPM: 43...Qg1+ is the simpler way to win, as, after the exchange of the queens, Black advances the h-pawn, as he does six moves further on.
44.Ke1 Re5+ 45.Kd1 Qe2+ 46.Kc1 Qe1+ 47.Qd1+ Qxd1+ 48.Kxd1 h2 0-1

Selection Of Games Played In The Westminster Chess Club.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Date: 1834.07.23
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.23 (23)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [D00] Queen's Pawn Opening
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4
Ledger: 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.
2...c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 Bxf3 6.Bxf3 e6 7.c4
Bell's: Prettily imagined; for if Black take 7...dxc4, you take 8.Bxc6+; and pawns in an Indian file are comparatively valueless.
7...Nf6 8.Nc3 cxd4 9.exd4 dxc4
Bell's: It is now good play to make this capture.
Ledger: Black only gains the pawn temporarily, as White is enabled presently to recover it by first capturing 10.Bxc6+, and then moving 11.Qa4.
10.0-0
10...Be7
Ledger: If Black here moved 10...Nd5, the following would have been the probably continuation: 10...Nd5 11.Bxd5 exd5 12.Nb5 Rc8 13.Re1+ Be7 (best) 14.Nd6+, winning the exchange.
11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.Qa4 0-0 13.Qxc4 Rc8 14.a3 Bd6
Ledger: 14...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
Bell's: If he take 23...cxb5, you take 24.Qxd5; but the worst of it is, that we cannot force our adversary always to play as we would wish.
23...Qa3
Bell's: This move is conceived with great judgment.
Ledger: 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, White would take 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 antagonists.
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
Bell's: The best move; indeed, it forces the game, Black threatening to checkmate with rook.
CPC: Threatening mate. This game is remarkably well played by Mr. M'Donnell.
35.Kf1 Nxc5 36.dxc5 Rb5 0-1
Bell's: White resigned the game, if that may be called a resignation which is far from a voluntary act.

Greenwood gives the game as McDonnell-Bourdonnais on page 168, but the player's names swap columns on page 169. This appears to be nothing more than a typesetting error.

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

Date: 1834.07.24
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.24 (24)
White: McDonnell,A
Black: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Opening: [C23] Bishop's Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.b4
Lewis: This move may often be played with advantage, when the odds of a piece are given.
Palamède: Le sacrifice de ce pion et du pion du F du R le coup suivant constituent le début appelé le double gambit. Ce début est nouveau; nous croyons qu'on ne doit le faire qu'à un joueur peu redoutable. {The sacrifice of this pawn and the f-pawn on the next move is the opening known as the double gambit. This opening is novel; we believe a player must be a little bit daunting to use it.}
3...Bxb4 4.f4
CPC: This opening, known as the "double Gambit," is the invention of Mr. M'Donnell, and may be adopted with advantage by a player when he gives the odds of a knight; but it is far too hazardous to be ventured against so accomplished a master as M. De la Bourdonnais.
Ledger: This double gambit is one of M'Donnell's many ingenious variations. If correctly opposed it leaves the advantage with the second player.
4...d5
Palamède: C'est le coup juste de défense. Il est fort dangereux de prendre le second P. {This is the right move for the defense. It is very dangerous to take the second pawn.}
Ledger: 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
11...e3
Ledger: An ingenious move, to which there appears to be no satisfactory answer.
12.dxe3
Palamède: En prenant ce P, les blancs font une faute qui leur fait perdre une pièce; malgré cette perte, ils créent une attaque fort dangereuse. {In taking this pawn, White makes a mistake which costs him a piece; despite this loss he generates a very dangerous attack.}
Ledger: 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
CPC: We are inclined to believe that White's position would have been improved by his taking 24.gxf5.
Ledger: A better move would have been 24.gxf5.
24...Na5 25.gxh6
CPC: 25.Bd3 or 25.Bf7, would have been much better play; the latter move, indeed, would have given White a very fine game.
Studies: 25.Bf7.
Ledger: Badly played; had he moved 25.Bf7 Black would not have had an easy game.
25...g6
Palamède: Coup juste qui détruit l'attaque. {Correct move that ruins the attack.}
26.Qe2 Nxc4 27.Qxc4 Nd2 28.Qc3 Qc6+ 29.Qxc6 bxc6 30.Rd1 Rd8 0-1

In the Match between M. De La Bourdonnais and Mr. M'Donnell.

To The Editor Of The Chess Player's Chronicle.

Turning over the leaves, Mr. Editor, of your Second Volume, yesterday morning, I was struck with the following note upon one of the games played by De la Bourdonnais and M'Donnell; such game being the 25th in the series, and occupying your 26th and 27th pages. Respecting De la B.'s 18th move you say:—"It is consolatory to players of moderate powers to find that those of the highest rank are not exempt from errors which would raise a smile even among beginners at the game. Through a strange inadvertence, Black, in his late move, left the King's Pawn unguarded; and, still more strangely, his quick-sighted antagonist overlooked the advantage thus presented him of determining the battle."

Now, from the forcible language in which this critque is worded, it was tolerably clear that the fault imputed was of the class "enormous blunder;" and I immediately set up my Chessmen in order to have a look at it. I played over the preceding moves of the game, and the "blunder" was "enormous" indeed; so "enormous," that the very hair of my head stood on end with horror and wonder. M'Donnell leaves a Pawn "en prise," which an adverse Knight can take, forking Queen and Rook; and his opponent, M. De la Bourdonnais, with a chivalry peculiarly French, overlooks the advantage, and with the view, I presume, of lengthening the game, retreats Knight simply to head quarters! [...]

[...]

Over this position I paused in utter perplexity. What? said I, the two great players of the age commit a fault so gross?—a deep sin of commission—a deeper sin of omission—I am bewildered.—Are our Chess gods, then, mere idols of clay after all? I cannot understand it. The moves must be incorrectly printed. Well, I played them over again and again; but the chapter all reads fluently, and I could detect nothing wrong. I then referred to the parent source—to the printed collection of these games by my namesake, Mr. William Greenwood Walker, and found his text the same;—and then, Mr. Editor, I did at last, what I ought to have done at first,—hunted up my own MS. copy of the games made when they were played. I turn to No. 25, and find I took it all down myself, move by move, as it was played;—an lo! and behold! M. De la Bourdonnais' thirteenth move is not "Knight to his fifth," but to "HIS KING'S FIFTH!" So the blunder is no blunder, save on the side of Mr. William Greenwood Walker—and our two departed heroes remain in my mind what they have ever been—the Leonardo and Paolo Boi of the nineteenth century. The living may protect themselves, but let us be very—very—jealous of the game of the illustrious dead!

The error on the part of the original transcriber of the moves is curious; and it is rarely indeed a similar error presents itself so difficult of detection. Yet, upon examining the position at Move 13, we find, upon reflection, that Knight to King's fifth has a meaning, which as regards Knight to his own fifth is utterly wanting. The move falsely assumed to have been made, is almost lost time, as being merely a species of false attack; but the move actually played at once challenges the adverse Knight to take, which would allow De la Bourdonnais to reunite his Pawns and open a strong attack. Let the student compare the two, and judge for himself.
I am, Mr. Editor,        
Yours truly,    
George Walker.
17, Soho Square,
    August 25th, 1843.

Date: 1834.07.25
Site: ENG London
Event: Westminster Chess Club, First Match
Round: 1.25 (25)
White: Mahé,LC (de la Bourdonnais)
Black: McDonnell,A
Opening: [A03] Bird
1.f4
CPC: This opening, so general among the leading players of Paris, has never been duly understood and appreciated by our English Amateurs.
1...d5 2.d4
Ledger: This is not to be commended. In this opening White ought not prematurely to advance his d-pawn, as many positions may arise when it will become necessary to place it at d3.
2...c5 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c4 cxd4 6.exd4 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Nf6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Kh1 a6 11.Be3 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Ne5 Kh8 14.Bc2 Nb4 15.Bb3 Nbd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qe2 f6
CPC: He should, we think, have taken 17...Nxe3.
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
36...Qd6
Studies: 36...Re7.
Ledger: Black must have won at least a pawn by 36...Re7, for 36...Re7 37.Bf5 (this is best and the only move to avoid the loss of a piece. If 37.Qe4 Rde8, followed by 38...Rxe6, winning a piece) 37...Bxe3 38.Rxe3 Rxd5 39.Rxd5 Bxd5 40.Be4 Rxe4 41.Rxe4 f5 42.gxf5 Qa8:
A) 43.Re8+ Kg7 44.f6+ (If 44.Re7+ Kf8) 44...Kh6 and Black wins.
B) 43.Kg1 (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
CPC: An ingenious move, but not a sound one.
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
CPC: Well played: threatening to advance the pawn to queen, discovering check with the rook at the same moment.
Ledger: Decisive.
51...Re8 52.Nxe8 Kxe8 53.Kf5 Kf7 54.Rb7 h6 55.a4 1-0
Studies: 55.e8Q+ Kxe8 56.Ke6 Kd8 57.Rxb4 Kc7 58.a4 wins.

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