In playing over these old games, it is best not to ask too many questions about the defender’s play — the gap between master and amateur was often enormous — but relax and enjoy the tragicomic plight of the White King, as he is driven across the board and mated with his pieces still at home.
Matchego – Falkbeer
London, 1869
C39 KING’S GAMBIT ACCEPTED
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nc3
White’s set-up (known as the Kieseritsky Gambit) is acceptable — he can recover either the g5 or f5 pawn — but he should now play 6. d4, to answer 6. ... d6 with 7. Nd3.
6. ... d6 7. Nc4 Be7 8. d4 Nh5 9. Be2 Bxh4+ 10. Kd2 Qg5 11. Kd3 Nc6 12. a3 Bf2 13. Nd5 Bxd4 14. Nxc7+ Kd8 15. Nd5
The alternative 15. Nxa8 is no worse than the game, but it runs into something like 15. ... d5 16. exd5 Bf5+ 17. Kd2 f3+ 18. Ke1 f2+ 19. Kf1 Ng3 mate.
15. ... f5 16. Nxd6 fxe4+ 17. Kc4
Instead, 17. Kxe4 Ng3+ 18. Kd3 Qxd5 loses routinely.
(Diagram)
17. ... Qxd5+! 18. Kxd5 Nf6+ 19. Kc4 Be6+ 20. Kb5 a6+ 21. Ka4 b5+ 22. Nxb5 axb5+ 23. Kxb5 Ra5+ 24. Kxc6 Bd5+ 25. Kd6 Ne8 mate
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