Event London Morphy Bird

Event  London   Morphy Bird

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.¤f3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.¤e5

This is known as the Kieseritzky variation in the King's gambit where White's idea is to put immediate pressure on Black's f7 square.

5...¤f6 6.¥c4 d5

Black must stop White from coming in on the f7 square.

7.exd5 ¥d6

7...Bg7 preparing to castle while adding protection to Black's kingside should be preferred.

8.d4 ¤h5 9.¤c3 ¥f5

9...O-O removing the king from the center would have been a better plan.

10.¤e2 ¥xe5 11.dxe5 f3 12.gxf3 gxf3 13.¥g5 f6

13...fxe2 14.Qxe2 White has a double attack on Black's queen and knight.

14.exf6 £d6

14...fxe2 15.Qxe2+ Kf8 would allow White a mating attack.

15.£d4 fxe2 16.¥xe2 £g3+ 17.¢d2 O-O

Black's king will come under fire since he has just castled onto the open g- file.

18.¦ag1

Black resigned since after his queen moves, the open g-file would win the game for White. 18. Rag1 Black resigned due to White's mating attack down the open g-file.

18...£d6 19.¥f4+ ¢h8 20.¥xd6 cxd6 21.f7+ ¤g7 22.£xg7# 1-0