BOARD No. 3.-FRENCH OPENING.
Mr. Morphy and Mr. Walker.

WHITE. (Mr. M.)

1. P. to K's 4th.
2. P. to Q's 4th.
3. P. takes P.

4. Kt. to K. B's 3rd.
5. B. to Q's 3rd.
6. Castles.

7. Kt. to Q. B's 3rd.
8. P. to K. R's 3rd.
9. B. to K's 3rd.
10. Q. to Q's 2nd.
11. B. to K. B's 4th.

BLACK. (Mr. W.)

1. P. to K's 3rd.
2. P. to Q's 4th.
3. P. takes P.

4. B. to Q's 3rd.
5. Kt. to K. B's 3rd.
6. Castles.

7. B. to K. Kt's 5th.
8. B. to K's 3rd.

9. Kt. to B's 3rd.
10. Q. to Q's 2nd.

The best move. An examination of the position will prove that Black meditated the capture of K. R's P., with the sacrifice of the Bishop, which might have caused White some trouble. This step, however, on Mr. Morphy's part, at once frustrates any such design.

12. Q. R. to K's sq.

13. Kt. to K's 5th.

11. K. R. to K's sq.
12. Q. R. to Q's sq.

A fine move, acquiring a good attacking position.

13. Q. to B's sq.

Taking the Knight with either Bishop or Knight would have been exactly what his adversary desired.

14. B. to Q. Kt's 5th.

All this is admirably played, and considering that White is playing blindfold against such an able opponent, is quite marvellous.

15. B. takes B. ·

14. B. takes Kt.

15. Kt. takes B.

Selecting the proper course of play, for B. to Q's 2nd would have cramped his game still further; and if R. to Q's 3rd, then P. to K. B's 4th would have given White an excellent game. We give a diagram to show the position of the pieces at this moment :

A mode of evading the gambit which 'is irregular and not to be commended. It was adopted perhaps in the vain expectation of confusing the blindfold player.

3. Kt. to Q. B's 3rd.

4. Kt. to B's 3rd.

5. B. to B's 4th.

6. P. to Q's 4th.

7. B. takes P. 8. Castles.

9. B. to Q's 3rd. 10. Q. to Q's 2nd. 11. Q. R. to K's sq. 12. P. to K's 5th. 13. P. takes P. 14. Kt. to K's 4th. 15. Kt. takes Kt. 16. K. to R's sq. 17. Kt. to Kt's 5th. 18. P. to K's 6th. 19. B. takes B.

20. Q. to B's 3rd.

3. P. to Q's 3rd.
4. B. to K's 2nd.
5. P. takes P.

6. Kt. to B's 3rd.

7. Castles.

8. B. to Kt's 5th.

9. Q. Kt. to Q's 2nd.
10. B. to R's 4th.
11. B. to Kt's 3rd.
12. P. takes P.
13. Kt. to K's sq.
14. Kt. to B's 4th.
15. B. takes Kt. (ch.)
16. Kt. to B's 2nd.
17. Q. to K's sq.
18. Kt. takes P.
19. R's P. takes B.
20. B. to K's 2nd.

Best; for the Knight was in danger of being captured by the Rook, after which White could have brought over the Q. to K. R's 3rd with advantage.

6. P. to Q's 4th.

7. Castles.

6. P. takes P.
7. Kt. to B's 3rd.

8. B. to R's 3rd.

Mr. Morphy entertains a high opinion of this move, being con vinced that it gives the first player a tenacious and powerful attack.

9. P. to K's 5th.

8. P. to Q's 3rd.

9. P. to Q's 4th.

The "Chess Monthly," in a note to this move, appends the following analysis:

And whether the Bishop be captured with King or Queen, White wins a piece. If, too, on the 13th move, K. takes B. the piece is equally gained by 14. B. takes Kt.

13. B. to Q's 3rd.

Far stronger than taking the Pawn with Queen. White thereby would certainly have gained a Pawn, but would have lost his advantageous position, e.g.

And Black's game is certainly not inferior to White's.

13. B. to B's sq.

14. R. to Q. B's sq.

15. R. takes Kt.

14. B. to Kt's 3rd.

With Mr. Morphy the sacrifice of the exchange seems to be of no moment, provided that the attack can be maintained. As the game progresses the soundness of thus giving up the Rook for Knight will become apparent.

By means of the foregoing diagram, which shows the situation of the pieces before this move on the part of White, it may be proved that Mr. Morphy, in the present instance, missed the road to victory when open to him. Had he played P. to K's 6th he must have won in

a few moves, e.g.

21. P. to K's 6th.

22. R. takes B. (ch.)

21. B. takes K's P. (best.)
22. P. takes R.

23. Kt. to K's 5th.

And no play that Black can adopt will retrieve the game. This move