<<<BOARD No. 7.>NOTES.>
(a) 2.c4
Had he opened with P to Q 4, this would have been a good move, but now it enables Black to prevent the advance of the Q P and to shut in the K B.
(b) 2...♗c5
The correct reply.
(c) 5.h3
White has given up all prospect of attack, and is playing a purely defensive game already ; B to Kt 5 or B to K 2 would have been better.
(d) 7.♗d2
B to K 3 is preferable, as it would have enabled him to get his Q P forward.
(e) 11.♘d1
Kt to Q 5 is better than this retrograde move.
(f) 12...♘f4
Black has opened his game in a style strikingly superior to that of his opponent. Black's pieces are all in excellent play, while White's game is much crowded.
(g) 14. O-O-O
Nothing could be worse than this, as Black's pieces are admirably disposed for commencing an attack on the Queen's side ; Kt to B 5 would have relieved his game considerably.
(h) 16.♔b1
These moves merely give Black time to concentrate his attack ; P to K Kt 4 is his best play.
(i) 21...♖bb8
He should rather have moved this rook to Kt 3, with the view of getting the Queen behind it subsequently.
(j) 22...a3
We think that the advance of this was premature; it is admirably placed where it is, but when passed by the adverse Q Kt P it becomes comparatively harmless.
(k) 23...♕a7
Threatening R takes P ch, followed by R to Kt sq if White had played Q takes R.
(l) 28.♘f1
A very bad move ; B to B sq seems about the best he has.
(m) 28...dxc4
Availing himself of White's mistake.
(n) 29...♘xc4
With such a position, Black can, of course, win as he likes, but here we should have preferred taking with the bishop, e.g. :- 29... B takes P : 30. P takes B ; 30... Kt to R 5 dis. ch ; 31. K to R ; 31... Kt to B 6 and Black wins easily.
29...♗xc4 30.bxc4 ♘a4+ 31.♔a1 ♘c3
(o) 31...♕a5
A loss of time ; he might have won at once, either by B takes Kt, followed by Kt to R 4, or by Q to R 5, followed by R takes P, &c. Kt to Q R 4, bringing the Q B into powerful co-operation with the Kt, is also much better than the move in the text.
(p) 32...♘b2
Q to R 5 seems to force the game.
(q) 33...♗xb3
Bad ; it is plain that Kt to Q R 5 would have won in a few moves.
(r) 34...♖xb3
A grave mistake ; he should have played Q to R 5, to which move we have been unable to discover any satisfactory defence.
(s) 36...♘c4+
Capping his former slips! Kt to Q 6 dis ch would still have given him a chance. Black has displayed great ingenuity in contriving to lose such a game.
Strange to say, the loser is the strongest player in the New South Wales team, and was pitted against an opponent very much his inferior in strength, as the play has shown. No doubt Mr. Smith, who had acquired a game, which a weak player could have won against Morphy, wished to finish off neatly, and was tempted into making sundry sacrifices, which, though dashing, did not turn out quite sound. The game is far more interesting than match games by telegraph generally are, and abounds in instructive positions. It was the only game scored by the Queenslanders, and is a remarkable instance of how a stubborn and tenacious defence sometimes causes the breakdown of an apparently winning game, through the impatience of the player having the attack.>
Kibitzing
