Rev C.E. Ranken (white) - Rev G.A. MacDonnell (black)
London Vizayanagaram Tournament,
1883
1.e4 b6 (This unusual defence is known as Owen's or the English Defence) 2.d4 e6 3.Bd3 Bb7 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Nd2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Rc1 Qc7 8.Nh3 d6 9.0-0 0-0-0 (Rather risky because it posts the king on the side where white can attack. Better was Be7 10.Qf3 with equality) 10.Qe2 h6 (This move intended to prepare for a king side advance of pawns, but white's next move stops further expansion in this theatre.) 11.f4 Be7 12.b4 (White's attack is already much stronger than black's.) Nb8 (To stp white placing a bishop on a6) 13.a4 a6 14.Rb1 (Or 14.a5 bxa5 15.e5 Nd5 16.exd6 Rxd6 17.bxc5 Rd7with a strong attack) 14...Nfd7 (A better defence is 14...c4!? 15.Bc2 Nbd7) 15.Rb2 Rdg8 16.Rfb1 Kd8 (A pawn sacrifice was the only reasonable defence: 16...c4!? 17.Nxc4 g5 18.Qh5, but white is still on top.) 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.Nc4 g5 [(An interesting variation, but one that favours white is: 18...cxd4 19.cxd4 a5 20.f5 exf5 21.Bf4) 19.Nxb6 Bc8 20.Nxc8 Qxc8 21.Nf2 Bd6 22.e5 Bc7 23.Be4 (23.f5 a5 is probably even better for white.) 23...Ke7 24.f5 exf5 25.Bxf5 Qd8 26.e6 fxe6
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27.Bxe6! (This sacrifice ripps away the black king's defences.) 27...Kxe6 28.Bxg5+ (This discovered check wins black's queen.) 28...Kf7 29.Bxd8 Rxd8 30.Rf1 Rde8 31.Ng4+ Kg7 32.Qc4 Rhf8 33.Rxf8 Rxf8 34.Qe6 Nf6 35.Rb7 Rf7
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Source: Hoffer L (1891). The Chess Monthly. Volume XII, pp.276-277 (May)
