De la Bourdonnais versus McDonnell, 1834: The Eighty-Five Games of Their Six Chess Matches, with Excerpts from Additional Games Against Other Opponents

by Cary Utterberg

Overview

The meeting of Louis Charles Mahe de la Bourdonnais and Alexander McDonnell at London's Westminster Chess Club in 1834 was notable for a number of reasons. Hard-earned reputations were zealously protected, and masters of equal standing had seldom faced each other on even terms. The chess world was watching closely, but it was the actions of spectator William Greenwood Walker, who recorded each move of the 85 games, that has had the greatest impact.

This recording and publication of game scores from a series of matches between masters was a first in chess history: The event gave birth to modern chess theory. Once based upon composed exercises studied in isolation, theory now became concrete and measurable. Practice replaced contrivance, and tactics could be studied and honed in light of the avalanche of match records that followed.

McDonnell and de la Bourdonnais played six matches in 1834. This book offers biographies of the two and illuminates their times—and then the 85 games are analyzed using modern theory; there are numerous diagrams and previously published commentary. The merits of the openings, middle- and endgame maneuvers of the two are weighed. Nine appendices present selected games against other opponents; excerpt a contemporary account of the games' ambience; provide other interesting documents; present several statistics; and provide a schematic of mistakes made by both contestants. Bibliography, notes, indexes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786471744
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	05/24/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 3.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Cary Utterberg lives in Golden Valley, Minnesota. He has held the National Master title with the U.S. Chess Federation since 1985.

Table of Contents

Game-by-Game Table of Contents vii

Preface 1

On the Spelling of the Two Opponents' Names 5

Introduction 7

A Note on the Games 37

Match 1 de la Bourdonnais 16, McDonnell 5, Drawn 4 Games 1 to 25 43

Match 2 McDonnell 5, de la Bourdonnais 4, Drawn 0 Games 26 to 34 115

Match 3 de la Bourdonnais 6, McDonnell 5, Drawn 1 Games 35 to 46 139

Match 4 de la Bourdonnais 8, McDonnell 3, Drawn 7 Games 47 to 64 181

Match 5 de la Bourdonnais 7, McDonnell 4, Drawn 1 Games 65 to 76 242

Match 6 McDonnell 5, de la Bourdonnais 4, Drawn 0 Games 77 to 85 281

Conclusion: The Statistics 311

Appendix 1 Selected de la Bourdonnais Games 319

Appendix 2 Selected McDonnell Games 337

Appendix 3 Opening Theory, Then and Now 355

Appendix 4 Collected Games of Deschapelles 379

Appendix 5 Statistical Data 382

Appendix 6 Preface to Lewis's A Selection of Games at Chess 389

Appendix 7 Foreword to Bledow's Funfzig auserlesene Schach-Partien 390

Appendix 8 Preface to Greenwood Walker's Games by the Late Mr. M'Donnell 391

Appendix 9 Excerpt from "The Café de la Régence" 394

Bibliography 399

Index 401

Editorial Reviews

fine work...remarkable...marvelous”—The Washington Post; “wonderful book...highly recommend”—IM John Donaldson (JeremySilman.com); “four stars”—Chess Horizons; “recreates the drama and the atmosphere of the match...The chess world owes a debt to the author for making available a great legacy.”—thechessworld.com.

From the Publisher

four stars

Chess Horizons

wonderful book...highly recommend

IM John Donaldson (JeremySilman.com)

fine work...remarkable...marvelous

The Washington Post

wonderful book...highly recommend
— IM John Donaldson

JeremySilman.com