Marache -- Morphy

Napoleon Marache (1818-1875) is not well-known today, but was recognized as one of the leading players in New York in the 1850s.  In 1856, he won the New York Chess Club Championship Tournament, an eight player event.* He was born in France on the third anniversary of Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat at Waterloo. In his youth, he moved to the United States, learning chess in his 20s. Soon he was composing problems and writing about the game.

He is "perhaps  best known today" for a loss to Paul Morphy in a casual game played after the First American Chess Congress, according to NM Frederick Klein, who created the Wikipedia article on Marache. The Marache -- Morphy game's conclusion frequently appears in collections of tactical exercises. It has been annotated many places, including Wikipedia.

In the main event, he was eliminated by Benjamin Raphael in the second round after defeating Danial Fiske in the first round. Morphy won the event, his only tournament.

Marache -- Morphy,Paul [C52]
New York New York, 1857

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 6.d4 exd4 7.e5?!

A move that has not been repeated, Geza Maroczy states in Paul Morphy: A Collection of His Games with Detailed Notes (2026 [1909]). Even more than a century later, databases showing master games have this move only in this one game. But, online play differs, especially when games between low rated players are accessible. Chessdotcom's database (really only an opening tree, as access to the games is not provided) shows 116 games with 7.e5. White won 45%. Lichess shows 3.7 thousand with a 55% score for White.

7.O-O is the normal move.

Black to move

7...d5!

Morphy's move appears in 907 games played on Lichess and 53 on chessdotcom.

8.exd6 Qxd6 9.0-0 Nge7 10.Ng5

White plays the Evans Gambit in order to get ahead in development, but here lags far behind Black.

10.Ba3 an improvement suggested by Maroczy and appearing in the majority of online games that followed the game this far on Lichess and chessdotcom. 10...Qf6 11.Nxd4  Bxd7 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Re1+ and Black is somewhat better.

10...0-0

White to move

As White has nothing whatsoever to show for the two pawns, Black is already technically winning.

11.Bd3

Not White's best option. I expected 11.Qh5 Qg6 (11...h6?? 12.Nxf7+-) 12.Qxg6 Nxg6-+ 

11...Bf5!

"An entirely correct exchange sacrifice. Black obtains an attack and has a serious pawn preponderance on the queenside" (Maroczy, 64). Morphy's move is Stockfish's second choice.

11...h6 12.Ne4 Qg6 13.Ng3 Qg4 14.Be2 Qh4 is the main engine line.

12.Bxf5 Nxf5 13.Ba3 Qg6 14.Bxf8 Qxg5

White to move

Material is equal, but White has fallen further behind in the mobilization and coordination of his pieces. 

15.Ba3 dxc3 16.Bc1 Qg6 17.Bf4

17.Na3 at least attempts to mobilize the undeveloped queenside.

17...Rd8 18.Qc2

Black to move

18...Ncd4 19.Qe4

19.Qa4 b5! 20.Qxa5 moves into forced checkmate.

19.Qd3 Ng3!! 20.Qxg3 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Nxg3+ 22.Bxg3 c2 23.Na3 Qd3-+; 

19.Qd1 c2 20.Qd3 Ng3 21.Qxg3 Ne2+; 

19.Rd1 Ne3 20.Qxg6 Ne2+ 21.Kh1 Rxd1#

We have reached the position that appears in many collections of tactics.

19...Ng3!!

Marache may have resigned here. He is either losing the queen or getting mated.

20.Qxg6 Nde2# 0-1

**See Joost van Winsen, "Early New York Chess Club Champions", Chess Archaeology, www.chessarch.com/archive/0040_NY1856/index.shtml.