[Event "Match Labourdonnais-McDonnell(5) +7-4=1"] [Site "London"] [Date "1834.09.??"] [Round "3"] [White "De Labourdonnais, Louis Charles Mahe"] [Black "McDonnell, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C51"] [Opening "Italian Game: Evans Gambit, McDonnell Defense, Main Line"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Juggernaunt"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/uJ72fS0m/G5rpfMW6"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 { This is another popular move. The bishop simply retreats to the c5-square. } 6. O-O { d4 was another strong option, but La Bourdonnais preferred to complete his development first. } 6... d6 7. d4 exd4?! { Once again, we see this dubious move. McDonnell insisted in surrendering the center. } 8. cxd4 { [%csl Ge4,Gd4] } 8... Bb6 9. d5 { And we have a transposition to the first game. } 9... Na5 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. h3 h6 { An improvement! Finally, we have a deviation compared to the first game. } 13. Kh2?! (13. Bf4 { This move seems more natural. }) 13... c5? { A strange-looking move. Now the bishop is blocked by its pawns. } (13... c6 { Was best. }) 14. Nd2 { With the idea of playing f4, a similar plan that happens in the Benoni pawn structures. Nevertheless, Rb1 combined with the plan of Bf4 was better. } { [%cal Yf2f4] } 14... Bd7 15. Qe1 { [%cal Yf2f4] } 15... g5? { McDonnell tries to avoid the f4 plan, but in fact, this move only weakens Black's king. Now, f4 will be stronger. } 16. f4! gxf4 17. Rxf4 { [%csl Rh6,Rg8][%cal Ra1h8] } 17... c4 { [%csl Rd3][%cal Rc4d3] } 18. Bc2 Bd4 19. Nf3 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 $18 { White has a decisive advantage, the finish was quite instructive! } { [%csl Rf6][%cal Ra1h8,Rf4f6] } 20... Nh5 21. Rh4 { [%csl Rh5][%cal Rh4h5] } 21... Ng7 22. Bxh6 f6 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. e5!! { Very strong move! When your opponent's king is weak, it's always a good idea to open up the position. } 24... fxe5 25. Rh7+ Kg8 26. Nxe5! Bf5 27. Nf7!! Qf6 28. Qxf6 Kxh7 29. Bxf5+ Kg8 30. Nh6# { The Chess Player's Chronicle 1843, p. 298 } 1-0