A proto-Traxler

While the Traxler did not make its debut until the late 19th century, there were games played earlier than that, that at least showed some of the ideas that were employed. One example was a game from 1850 where Black allowed a fork on f7 and sacrificed the rook on h8 to gain time for his attack. Unlike the Traxler proper, there was no sacrifice on f2, although the bishop on c5 still played an important role.


Moor - Dubois,Serafino [C50]
Rome Rome, 1850

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 f5 An Italian/Latvian Gambit hybrid. 5. Ng5 f4 6. Nf7 The position also bears a passing resemblance to the Traxler, although the knight is not on f6 as yet. 6...  Qh4 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nxh8 d5 Black is planning the bring the bishop to g4 with tempo, but a direct attack was stronger. ( 8... Ng4 9. h3 Nxf2 10. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 11. Kh1 f3! 12. gxf3 d6! 13. d4 Nxd4 and the best White can do here is drop lots of material 14. Qf1 Qxf1+ 15. Bxf1 Nxc2 16. Nc3 Nxa1 ) 9. Bxd5 ( 9. Bxf4 exf4 10. exd5 Ng4 ) 9...  Bg4 ( 9... Ng4! ) 10. Qe1 f3 ( 10... Nd4 ) 11. Bg5 An interesting defensive try, but completely unsuccessful. ( 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 eliminates one attacker, and poses far greater problems for Black. 12. Qc3 fxg2 13. Qxe5+ Kd7 14. Qxc5 gxf1Q+ 15. Kxf1 Qxh2 16. Ke1 Qg1+ 17. Kd2 Rxh8 ( 17... Qd1+ 18. Kc3 Qxc1 19. Nf7 Qe1+ 20. Nd2 Qxa1 21. Ne5+ Kc8 22. Qf8+ Kb7 23. Qxg7 is incredibly messy ) 18. Nc3 and White is actually better ) 11...  Qxg5 12. g3 Nd4 13. Bb3 ( 13. h4 Qh6 leaves White with too many weak points to defend. ) 13...  Ne2+ 14. Kh1 Bh3 15. Rg1 Nh5 16. Nf7 Nhf4 ( 16... Nhxg3+ 17. Rxg3 ( 17. hxg3 Qh5 ) ( 17. fxg3 Nxg1 ) 17... Bg2+ ) 17. Nxg5 Bg2+ 18. Rxg2 fxg2# 0-1