Though La Bourdonnais led by a wide margin in their match -- really a series of six matches -- Alexander McDonnell was by no means an easy mark. Here is one of their many wild attacking games, with an amusing final position.
La Bourdonnais - McDonnell
21st Match Game, 1834
C23 BISHOP’S OPENING
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. Qe2 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. c3 Ne7 6. f4 exf4
Ignoring the center; a modern player would have answered 6. ... d6.
7. d4 Bb6 8. Bxf4 d6 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Be3 0-0 11. h3 Re8 12. Nd2 Qe7 13. 0-0-0 c5
Correctly striking back in the center, though in 1834 Black’s plan was probably limited to opening a file near the White King.
14. Kb1 cxd4 15. cxd4 a5 16. Ngf3 Bd7 17. g4 h6 18. Rdg1
More logical seems 18. Rdf1 followed by 19. Rhg1. As the game goes, the Rh1 never does very much.
18. ... a4 19. g5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 a3 21. b3 Bc6 22. Rg4 Ba5 23. h4 Bxd2 24. Nxd2 Ra5 25. h5 (Diagram)
25. ... Rxg5!
With this Exchange sacrifice Black takes control of the dark squares and obtains a strong initiative.
26. Rxg5 Nf4 27. Qf3 Nxd3 28. d5
White must lose material, for 28. Qxd3 Nxe4 25. Nxe4? Bxe4 wins the White Queen, and 29. Rgg1 Nf2 is not much better.
28. ... Nxd5 29. Rhg1 Nc3+ 30. Ka1 Bxe4 31. Rxg7+ Kh8 32. Qg3
Threatening mate with 33. Rxh7+, but Black’s attack is quicker.
32. ... Bg6 33. hxg6 Qe1+ 34. Rxe1?
The final blunder. After 34. Nb1 White retains drawing chances.
34. ... Rxe1+ 35. Qxe1 Nxe1 36. Rh7+ Kg8 37. gxf7+ Kxh7 38. f8=Q Nc2 mate.
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