chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Alexander McDonnell vs Louis Charles Mahe de La Bourdonnais
La Bourdonnais - McDonnell 1st Casual Match (1834), London, rd 24
Bishop's Opening: MacDonnell Gambit. MacDonnell Double Gambit (C23)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)better is 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 Bb6 8.a4 = +0.20 (35 ply)3...Bb6 was played in J Mann vs S W Sedgefield, 1868 (0-1) 4.c3 Ba5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qb3 Qe7 8.O-O Bb6 = -0.45 (28 ply) ⩱ -1.29 (21 ply) after 4...exf4 better is 7...Nbd7 8.Nbc3 Nb6 9.Bb3 O-O 10.Kh1 a5 11.a3 Bc5 ⩱ -1.21 (21 ply)better is 8.Bb2 c6 9.dxc6 Nxc6 10.Kh1 Na5 11.Bb3 Re8 12.Ba4 Nc6 ⩱ -0.71 (20 ply) ⩱ -1.26 (22 ply) 10.Bb2 Na5 11.Bb3 Re8 12.Kh1 Nxb3 13.axb3 Bd7 14.Ng3 a5 ⩱ -1.01 (19 ply)better is 10...Na5 11.Bb3 Bg4 12.Qe1 Nxb3 13.axb3 e3 14.Ra4 a5 ∓ -2.32 (21 ply)better is 11.Rb1 Bxc3 12.dxc3 Na5 13.h3 Bh5 14.g4 Nxg4 15.Qxd8 ∓ -1.72 (22 ply) 11...Nd4 12.Rb1 Nxc2 13.Qf2 Rc8 14.Bb3 Bc5 15.Qg3 Na3 ∓ -2.24 (22 ply) 12.a3 exd2 13.Qxd2 Ba5 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Rb1 Rd7 16.Bb2 ⩱ -0.67 (21 ply)-+ -3.34 (23 ply) 25.Bf7 Re7 26.g6+ Kh8 27.Qxf5 Nc4 28.Kg1 Qb6 29.Re1 Qb2 -+ -4.14 (23 ply)-+ -8.92 (25 ply)31.Kg2 a5 32.a4 c5 33.c4 Ne4 34.Rb1 Rd2+ 35.Kg1 Rf7 -+ -5.72 (26 ply)0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35437 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 84 more McDonnell/La Bourdonnais games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: If you do not want to read posts by a certain member, put them on your ignore list.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-05-04  mack: 3.b4 - MacDonnell's not particuarly good Evansesque gambit.
Feb-05-05  schnarre: Any other games with 3. b4 despite this one? I believe there was one player who played it vs. Morphy, but I have not been able to confirm that. I tried it a few times (losing each one, but the games were fun).
May-12-06  sneaky pete: <schnarre> See Mongredien vs Morphy, 1859 and Spielmann vs Duras, 1912 for the gambit declined. 3... Bxb4 4.c3 .. with 5.Nf3 .. looks quite playable.

What's really amazing is that MacDonnell played this silly invention of his own in the 24th game and only in his next game as white first (in this match) played the Evans gambit proper, known to him but new to De La Bourdonnais.

Jul-13-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: <mack>3.b4 - MacDonnell's not particuarly good Evansesque gambit.

<mack>,
4.f4 makes the opening Macdonnell's Double Gambit.

Feb-02-12  Knight13: <3.b4 - MacDonnell's not particuarly good Evansesque gambit.> Apparently he missed 4... d5!. 4. f4 was to open up the a1-h8 diagonal. Here we see another premature attempt of McDonnell's attack, which begins as early as move three!
Feb-02-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: After ...Bxb4 we are all expecting c3 at some time - but it never happens!
Feb-03-12  Knight13: <offramp: After ...Bxb4 we are all expecting c3 at some time - but it never happens!> Playing c3 is not that good with Black's pawn on e4. It only blocks the knight on b1 from going to its optimal square, and also, after c3-d4 ...exd3 and then ...c6, that pawn on c3 becomes weak.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC