The match had been delayed owing to the illness of Stanley who for a fortnight previously had been confined to his bed. Apparently even without a time limit the two didn't mess around, completing 17 games between the 11th and the evening of the 14th! Obviously, games played under such circumstances weren't very brilliant, but they were interesting if for no other reason than the match itself evoked a lot of interest.
John Spencer Turner (March 3, 1830 - September 18, 1905, 75 years old) was a gentleman farmer whom the visiting Hungarian great Lowenthal described as an amateur "of great natural talent and strong imagination, but somewhat too liable to be carried away by a brilliant combination or a dashing coup."
It was Turner's vivid imagination that led him to believe he had discovered and thoroughly analyzed a variation of the King's Gambit that was unbeatable. He believed that by using the King's Gambit against Stanley he would win at least half the games of the match. Shades of Weaver Adams of another era!
This belief lead him to challenge Charles Stanley, then the recognized champion of United States. Unfortunately for Turner, in his very first game as white (game 2) he played the King's Gambit and by move 17 he had a good game, but then, as Staunton put it, "With so fine a position as White now has, it is difficult to understand how he could permit his advantage to ooze from him in the way he does."
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| Turner |
Game 4 was another King's Gambit by Turner who played reasonably well until, as Staunton again put it, "Mr. Turner has an aptitude for gaining and throwing away an attack that is truly remarkable. Who would have supposed that such an advantage as White had gained in the first dozen moves, could have dwindled away to nothing by this time?"
Turner's next King's Gambit was game 6 and after this one there were no more gambits played because, accrording to Stanley, Turner confessed that his faith in the King's Gambit was "somewhat shaken." Staunton described the game as an "altogether a brilliant and amusing specimen of the gambit." As you will see, whatever analysis of the King's Gambit that Turner had done, he was simply not Stanley's equal.
James Turner - Charles Stanley
Result: 0-1
Site: Match, Washington DC
Date: 1850.02.12
King's Gambit Accepted
[...] 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.♘f3 g5 This is the Classical Variation where black defends the extra P and threatens to play ...g4 attacking the N. The main continuations traditionally have been 4.h4 and 4. Bc4. More recently, 4.Nc3 has been recommended by Scottish GM John Shaw as a less explored alternative to 4.h4 (he considers 4.Bc4 inferior). 4.♗c4 White is willing to go into the sharp Muzio Gambit (4...g4 5.O-O) 4...♗g7 Instead of the Muzio Stanley elects a safer alternative, but one which also can lead to other gambit continuations. 5.O-O (5.d4 d6 6.O-O h6 is the main alternative.)
5.h4 is also possible. 5...h6 (5...g4 6.♘g5 ♘h6 7.d4 favors white.) 6.d4 d6
5...h6 6.c3 d6 7.d4 ♘e7 8.g3 g4 Black has a couple of good alternatives here in 8...Bh3 or 8...d5, but the text is less good. 9.♘h4 f3 10.h3 This is best move.
10.♘xf3 d5 11.exd5 gxf3 12.♕xf3 O-O 13.♗e3 ♘f5 14.♗f4 ♘d6 15.♗b3 ♗h3 and black stands well. Urbina,R (2279)-Romero,A (2199)/ Managua 2001
10...h5 11.♕b3 Staunton: White might have gained a fine attack and have ensured the winning a piece in return, by taking 11.Nxf3 at his juncture
11.♘xf3 gxf3 12.♕xf3 ♗xh3 13.♕xf7+ ♔d7 14.♕xg7 ♗xf1 15.♔xf1 ♕f8+ 16.♕xf8 ♖xf8+ 17.♔g2 with an interesting and unbalanced position.
11...O-O Stanley: The combination now about to be developed is of bold conception on the part of Black; his entire defence from this point being conducted on the system of counter attack; and that of the most violent and fearless order. (According to Komodo black's advantage is now at about one Pawn.) 12.♗g5 Stanley: It will be observed that the winning of the exchange is already assured to Mr. Turner; the loss of which, however, has evidently been taken into the calculations of his adversary. 12...♕e8 Well played by Stanley. This is the only move that keeps the advantage for black. (12...♘d7 13.♘g6 ♗f6 14.♘xf8 ♕xf8 woud be about equal.) 13.♗xe7 Neither Staunton nor Stanley commented on this move, but white misses the relativel best line.
13.♘d2 is his best chance. 13...♘bc6 14.♕c2 b5!15.♗xb5 ♘xd4 is advantageous to black and white dare not take the Q. 16.♗xe8 ♘xc2 17.♖ac1 ♖xe8 18.♖xc2 and black has a huge positional advantage.
13...♕xe7 14.♘g6 Staunton: This seems to give White some advantage; but his opponent very quickly turns the tables on him, as will be seen. (Once again, best was 14.Nd2. ) 14...♕xe4 15.♘xf8 d5 Stanley: A killing move; annihilation would speedily follow any attempt on the part of White to preserve the bishop, as, should he capture 16.Bxd5, Black plays 16...Qe2, forcing a checkmate instanter. Staunton: A master-touch. Nullifying all White's fine attack, and winning a piece off-hand.
15...♗xf8 Would be a bad mistake that hands the advantage over to white after 16.♗xf7+ ♔g7 17.♘d2
(15...♔xf8 16.♘d2 ♕f5 17.♖ae1−+) 16.♘d2 Stanley: No doubt his best play under the circumstances, which, however, are adverse in the extreme. Staunton: Had he taken 16.Bxd5, Black would have played (16.♗xd5 loses to 16...♕e2 17.♖f2 ♕e1+) 16...♕e3+ (16...dxc4 is also good. 17.♘xe4 cxb3 18.axb3 ♔xf8) 17.♖f2 dxc4 Black still can'tcapture the N.
17...♗xf8 Black cannot capture the knight 18.♗xd5 ♕e8 19.♘xf3 gxf3 20.♖xf3 and white is winning.
(17...♔xf8 18.♗xd5 ♕e8 19.♗xb7 ♗xb7 20.♕xb7 with a large advantage.) 18.♘xc4 ♕e4 19.♘d2 ♕c6 All that remains for black is to finish mopping up. 20.d5 ♕b6 21.♕c2 ♗xf8 22.♖e1 ♗c5 23.♖e8+ ♔g7 24.♘e4 ♗f5 25.♕d2 ♗e3 White resigned. Staunton: The last few moves are in Mr. Stanley's best style; and the game altogether a brilliant and amusing specimen of the gambit. (25...♗e3 26.♕e1 ♘d7 27.♖xa8 gxh3 28.♔h2 ♗xe4 29.♔xh3 ♘f6 30.♖f1 ♗f5+) Powered by Aquarium
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