A Fine Combination IV

Morphy never played William Steinitz, but it's apparent that even in 1862, during the time that Morphy was bowing out of competitive chess, Steinitz would have been a formidable opponent.  Augustus Mongredien, Steintitz' victim in the game below, was a friend of Morphy and was also the last person to receive no odds from the American master in a one-sides match played in Paris with Mogredien scoring a draw in the first game then losing the next 7. Mongredien had been president of the London Chess Club from 1839 until its demise in 1870.

Adolf Anderssen, one of the era's greatest tactician and another loser in a match with Morphy stated that Steitintz' conception below proved "The finest combination played in the tournament." This was Steinitz' first international tournament (he scored +8-5) and the game below won the brilliancy prize.

Steinitz, playng White, found an unusual line that not only involves opening a file for his opponent's Rook while sacking his own Rook, but almost immediately collapses Blacks position in the process . . . and plays g4!

The game in its entirety: