Blackburne, the best English player during the latter part of the 19th
century, was famous for his uncompromising attacking style, dazzling games in
tournaments, large number of simultaneous games around the globe, blindfold
exhibitions and fondness for whiskey, which he asserted improved his chess play.
Such a romantic player, known also as the "Black Death", was always in the eye
of the chess followers whose taste for exciting chess he made frequently spark.
His chess career was to be one of the longest, spanning over fifty years, making
him a legend. He was a romantic in the style of the old days where the heroic
sacrifices and bright combinations where the common matter on the board all over
the world.
Those days, however, were to end with the entrance of a new way of thinking,
a more modest and patient style, but with the effectiveness of scientific
affairs. And was precisely Steinitz the man who laid the fundaments of the new
theory and the positional school of chess.
At the Second World Exhibition of London 1862, the Crystal Palace was
remodelled, and along with the principal events, fourteen chess players where
invited to take part in an international tournament, among them William Steinitz,
the Austrian chess champion. That was the year of the arrival of Steinitz to
English soil and he was to remain there for twenty years, establishing himself
as the leading player in the world after modelling his chess thinking in the
next decade from the wild and speculative combinations, where himself was
raised, to his final positional understanding full of analysis and continuous
research. At the end he would say: "Chess is a scientific game..."
The 1862 London International Chess Tournament was won by Adolf Anderssen, an
affable and modest German professor of mathematics, but a fierce, if not the
fiercest, attacking player and the strongest of the world, after the retirement
of Paul Morphy.
Blackburne had learned to play chess not more than two years ago but his
talent was already evident and was at the time the strongest chess player of
Manchester. He also took part in the International Tournament, where he was to
obtain a modest 10th place, managing to beat master players like Lowenthal, the
Rev. Owen, Green and the newcomer Steinitz.
Later when he returned to Manchester he found his job in the hosiery trade
occupied and he become a chess professional.
In London, owing to the favourable environment in the English chess world,
Steinitz just had take the same decision, and the paths of both gentlemen were
to cross many times in the future.
At February 5, 1876 the next note was published in 'The Field', a
magazine of London:
"MATCH BETWEEN MESSRS BLACKBURNE AND STEINITZ"
"The preliminaries of this match have been settled, and the contest will
commence on Thursday, the 17 inst., at the rooms of the West-end Chess Club, 8,
New Coventry-street, W., where all the games will be played three times a week,
namely, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The first winner of seven games,
exclusive of draws, is to be declared victor. We shall publish the detailed
conditions in our next number."
In the following note the stakes were declared £60 a side and the games would
be played with two hours to make the first thirty moves and an hour for the next
fifteen. The time limit was regulated by sandglasses, and either player
exceeding it by five minutes forfeited the game. The games were played in
accordance with the laws of the British Chess Association, with the exception of
a draw condition: if either player repeated the same move or series of moves six
times in succession, the opponent could claim a drawn game.
By this time Stenitz had already developed a good deal of his positional
theory, triumphed in a row of tournaments and defeated respectively in match
play Anderssen, as well as his pupil Johannes Zukertort, an amazingly
combinative player and a worthy successor for the former.
Steinitz was also the editor of a chess column in 'The Field', an
important voice in the chess world because of the deep analysis of games
presented. In any case it served him also as a channel to propagate his
theories, which were not always well received.
William Steinitz
Blackburne in turn, had achieved his high status as one of the best players
in the world. He was the English champion in 1868 an 1869, and had succeed at
international tournaments like Viena 1873, where he shared first place with
Steinitz, earning also his "Black Death" nickname. Finally at London 1876 he
took first again.
J.H. Blackburne, the Black Death
In match play the two men had already faced each other as earlier as 1862, after
Steinitz won the London Masters Tournament and a series of matches between him
and some prominent players were arranged. However as Steinitz had defeated
Anderssen, the 1876 match was considered an unofficial chess championship, and
also the money surrounding the affaire was of importance according to the time.
'The Field' had the rights to publish the games and issued several notes after
the ending of each game. Blackburne and Steinitz annotated all the games which
'The Field' published also later. The annotations are not separated by
name, but show the understanding of the game by the two old masters and the
level of theory at the time. The use of time controls regulated by clocks was
starting to be a common matter, and in general terms chess players were still
not fully experienced dealing with it and his reactions give some insight into
his psychology. The first note appeared on the 19th February:
"MATCH BETWEEN MESSRS BLACKBURNE AND STEINITZ"
"According to announcement, the first game in this momentous contest
commenced on Thursday, the 17th, at the West-end Chess Club. After some
preparations, play commenced at half-past two o'clock; the toss for the first
move having fallen in favour of Mr. Steinitz. An alteration in the conditions as
published in our last number was agreed upon by the two combatants, to the
effect that the time limit should be regulated by alarum [sic] time-pieces
instead of sand glasses."
Steinitz W. -- Blackburne J.H.
Ruy Lopez
1. e4
e5
2. Nf3
Nc6
3. Bb5
a6
4. Ba4
Nf6
5. d3
Anderssen first adopted this move in his match against Morphy, which at the
time caused a great deal of animadversion amongst theorists, who were inclined
towards advocating a more energetic attack than the nature of the opening
apparently can bear. But we believe that the great German master showed a true
appreciation of the spirit of this opening, which requires a treatment similar
to that of the close game, namely, a steadfast gradual development, content with
the small advantage of the first move.
5... d6
Morphy played here invariably 5...b5, followed by 6...Bc5; the move in the
text was first brought into practice by Paulsen, and was afterwards accepted as
the standard defence, which in the majority of games hitherto played has proven
successful.
6. c3
Anderssen prefers here 6.Bxc6+, and then directs his attention to retaining
both his knights, and preventing the adversary from dissolving his doubled pawn.
White pursues here a different, and in the present position novel, policy, and
makes preparation for retaining his light-square bishop, and resting his game
upon confining the opponent's dark-square bishop. Whether this plan is an
amelioration of Anderssen's line of attack can only be proved by repeated
practical trials.
6... Be7
Against Anderssen's form of attack in this début it is more usual to open an
outlet for the bishop by 6...g6. Black prefers to get his king into safety as
soon as possible, and therefore at once makes room to enable him to castle.
7. h3
Not so much for defensive purposes as with the view of subsequently
fortifying an attack by pawn to g4 against the opponent's kingside, after the
latter has castled.
7... 0-0
8. Qe2
Ne8
9. g4
b5
10. Bc2
Bb7
11. Nbd2
Qd7
12. Nf1
This peculiar way of bringing the knight over to the kingside was much
favoured by Morphy in similar situations, and was also adopted by Blackburne in
the tie match against Steintiz in the Vienna tournament. But both those players
had elected that course after having previously brought out their c1-bishop,
while here White seemed to have time for this manoeuvre, even at the cost of
temporarily blocking out his dark-square bishop.
12... Nd8
13. Ne3
Ne6
14. Nf5
g6
For pure defensive purposes it would have been feasible to retreat the bishop
to d8; but Blackburne thinks that after the exchange, and since his adversary
was compelled to castle on the queenside, the chances of an attack were at least
equally balanced for both sides.
15. Nxe7+
Qxe7
16. Be3
N6g7
17. 0-0-0
c5
18. d4
exd4
19. cxd4
c4
Blackburne pointed out that 19...d5 would have been much stronger at this
juncture, and there can be no doubt that this move would have much improved his
game. White's best answer then would have been 20.e5 (for if 20.exd5 instead,
Black would rejoin 20...Nf4, with an excellent game). Most likely the game would
have proceeded thus: 19...d5 20.e5 c4 21.h4 and now, whether Black advanced
21...f5 or 21...h5, White retained still some considerable attack; in the former
by 22.exf5, followed by 23.Ne5, and in the latter case by the answer of 23.Ng5,
followed soon by pawn to f4. But, nevertheless, Black had a better chance then
of repelling the onslaught, and certainly if he once got out of the attack, even
at the expense of sacrificing a piece eventually, his fine array of
well-supported pawns on the queen's wing would have been most formidable.
20. d5
Nc7
21. Qd2
A move necessary for defensive purposes, but also threatening. Before moving
the queen, White could not utilize his dark-square bishop without subjecting his
d-pawn to capture. Now White menaces a break in with the queen, either at a5 or
h6, after removing the bishop, as actually occurred.
21... a5
22. Bd4
f6
23. Qh6
b4
24. g5
f5
Perhaps 24...Nge8, with the intention of offering the exchange of queens at
g7, would have augmented Black's prospects of prolonging the fight; but, even if
he succeeded in effecting the exchange, White's pawns and pieces were better
situated for the endgame.
25. Bf6
Qf7
The sacrifice of the rook for the bishop would not have mended matters, on
account of the impending 27.Ng5, after capturing the rook. Nor would 25...Qd7
have been any better, e.g.: 25...Qd7 26.exf5 Nxf5 (if 26...gxf5 instead, White
would proceed with 27.g6 at once) 27.Bxf5 gxf5 28.g6 Rxf6 29.gxh7+, and wins;
for if 29...Kf7 30.Ng5+ would be a destructive rejoinder.
26. exf5
gxf5
27. g6
Decisive (for, if 27...hxg6, White replies 28.Ng5), though rather plain in
comparison with the fine variation which might have arisen in answer to 27.Nh4,
which would probably have led to a still more elegant conclusion, e.g.: 27.Nh4
Nxd5 28.Rxd5 Bxd5 29.Nxf5 Nxf5 (best) 30.Bxf5, threatening pawn to g6, and must
win, for Black dare not take the rook on account of the answer 31.Be6.
27... Qxg6
28. Bxg7
Qxh6+
29. Bxh6
Rf6
There was little to be done; but certainly, if Black wished to proceed
further, 29...Rf7 presented greater chances of prolonging resistance; but, as
our readers may observe, both players were just at this stage on the point of
completing the fixed time limit, and their movements bear the appearance of
being hurried.
30. Rhg1+
Rg6
31. Bxf5
Kf7
32. Bxg6+
hxg6
33. Ng5+
Kg8
34.Rge1
1-0.
White threatens, accordingly to circumstances, either 35.Re6 or 35.Re7, after
which the defence must soon collapse.
The second game, saw a Scotch game with a relatively unknown variation at the
time, and used once in a correspondence game between Viena and London. Steinitz
adopted the theoretical but risky London defence and was put in some
difficulties. The notes by the protagonists illustrate the situation perfectly.
Blackburne J.H. -- Steinitz W.
Scotch Game
1. e4
e5
2. Nf3
Nc6
3. d4
exd4
4. Nxd4
Qh4
5. Nb5
Bb4+
6. Bd2
Qxe4+
7. Be2
Kd8
8. 0-0
Bxd2
9. Qxd2
In the match between London and Vienna, the latter retook the bishop with the
knight. The course here adopted does not seem to afford greater facilities for
the defence, and has, perhaps, the advantage for match play that it has not
received such an exhaustive analysis as the line of play pursued in the above
mentioned game.
9... Nf6
In the altered position this appears better than the mode of development for
this knight advocated by Messrs Potter and Steinitz in their analysis of the
above quoted game, namely 9...Nh6. The chief reason given by those two examiners
was the weakness of Black's f-pawn, which might more specially compromise the
defence, since the first player had, in a great many variations, fine
opportunities of attacking that weak point with one of his knights; but in the
present position, after the queen in place of the knight has retaken the bishop,
such a contingency was too remote to be taken into serious consideration, and it
was probably the best course to defend at once the point at d5 against any
future occupation from either of the adversary's knights.
10. N1c3
Qe5
11. Rfe1
a6
12. Na3
Qd4
12...b5, blocking out the opponent's a-knight, was tempting, but would have
been thoroughly unsound, e.g., 12...b5 13.Bf3 Qc5 (best) 14.b4 Qb6 (best) 15.Qg5
Rg8 16.Nd5 and wins.
13. Qg5
Rg8
14. Rad1
h6
An important move, not alone to prevent the hostile queen from establishing
herself at any of the strong posts on the kingside, but also to enable Black to
bring his own queen into greater security by constantly offering the exchange of
queens.
15. Qg3
Qe5
16. Qh4
Qg5
17. Qc4
Ne5
18. Qb4
White would have gained nothing by attacking the knight and the queen, by
14.f4, though the knight might have been temporarily put out of play. For
instance, 18.f4 Nxc4 19.fxg5 Nxa3 20.gxf6 Nxc2 21.Bd3 Nxe1 22.Bh7 Re8 23.fxg7
Nd3 and Black is out of danger; for if the bishop takes the knight, he replies
24...Rg8, which recovers the most dangerous pawn.
18... Nc6
Black's last two moves were made under the pressure of time limit, and under
the impression that he could advance the pawn to b5 if the opponent retreated
the queen to b3; but it appears that after White's next answer this expedient
could not be adopted, e.g., 19.Qb3 b5 20.Bf3 Bb7 21.Qxf7 Ne5 22.Rxe5 Qxe5
23.Bxb7 Rb8 24.Bc6, etc.
19. Qb3
Rf8
20. Nc4
b5
This move is weak, and gives the opponent an excellent opportunity for
displaying his power of brilliant resource. 20...Qc5 was the correct play.
21. Bf3
Bb7
Had Black captured the knight, the adversary would have recovered the piece
at once by 22.Qa3, attacking the rook, followed by 23.Bxc6.
22. Nd5
Rb8
Probably 22...Kc8 would have been the much safer line of play. The move in
the text subjects Black to a most vehement attack, from which he ought hardly to
have escaped.
23. Qa3
Rg8
24. Ne5
At this extremely critical juncture, Blackburne, who had conducted the attack
in an excellent manner, was unfortunately very hard pressed for time so much
that he had ultimately, on the 29th move, to take advantage of the five minutes'
grace accorded by the conditions, and he was unable to work out in all its
details the very fine combination he afterwards pointed out, and which, though
apparently hazardous, was, so far as our examination goes, quite sound in all
variations. He ought to have played here 24.Re5, and the game might have gone on
thus: 24.Re5 Nxe5 (or 24...Qh4 25.Nxf6 Qxf6 [or 25...gxf6 26.Re4 Qh3 (best)
27.Bg4, and wins] 26.Red5 bxc4 27.Rxd7+ Ke8 [if 27...Kc8 28.Bg4 follows]
28.Rxc7, and ought to win) 25.Qe7+ Kc8 26.Ndb6+ cxb6 27.Nxb6+ Kc7 28.Qd6+ Kd8
29.Qxb8+ Bc8 30.Bb7 (better than 30.Qxc8+, which would only draw the game), and
wins.
24... Nxe5
25. Qe7+
Kc8
26. Rxe5
Nxd5
27. Qxf7
Qd8
28. Bxd5
Bxd5
29. Rexd5
No doubt is would have much improved White's position if he had here retaken
with the other rook, and reserved the e-rook to occupy e7.
29... d6
30. R5d3
Qe8
At this stage the game was adjourned, and was resumed after an hour's
interval.
31. Qd5
Rf8
32. Qd4
Rf6
Here Steinitz proposed a draw, and Blackburne admits that the offer was a
fair one, as the position and forces were quite even; but Blackburne in refusing
the offer, relied chiefly upon the circumstances that his opponent had exhausted
about seventeen minutes of his third hour over the last two moves, and he
trusted the chance of inveigling Black into such complications as would
necessitate his consuming more time than the limit would allow, or cause him to
make some ill-considered move of which advantage could be taken.
33. Re3
Qc6
34. Rde1
34.Qa7 would have been of no use, for Black would have replied 34...Qb6, and,
if White checked with the rook, the Black king would move to d7, and White could
not then take the rook with the queen, on account of the impending mate,
commencing with 36...Qxf2+, followed by the sacrifice of the queen at f1.
34... Kb7
35. Rc3
Qd7
Black might also with safety here have played 35...Re8, but the move in the
text gave him more aggressive chances.
36. Rce3
Rbf8
37. f3
R8f7
38. Re8
Qc6
39. c3
Rf5
40. R8e7
Rd5
41. Qh4
White could not well sacrifice the queen for two rooks by playing 41.Rxf7 for
Black would win at least two pawns on the queenside by 42...Qd5, after capturing
the queen and the opponent's retaking the rook with the pawn. Nevertheless
41.Qf2 was better than the move in the text.
41... Qc5+
42. Kf1
g5
43. Qe4
Again 43.Qf2 was preferable, but Blackburne had here to fight against the
difficulty of making all his moves up to the 45th within the five minutes grace
allowed to him, he having already exhausted his limit on the 41st move.
43... Rxe7
44. Qxe7
Rd2
45. Re2
Rd1+
46. Re1
Qc4+
47. Qe2
Rxe1+
48. Kxe1
Qxa2
49. Qe4+
d5
50. Qc2
Qc4
51. Qd2
In answer to 51.b4, Black would have advanced 51...a5, and upon the opponent
taking it, he had time to recover it by 52...Ka6.
51... a5
52. g3
b4
53. f4
gxf4
54. gxf4
bxc3
55. bxc3
a4
56. Kd1
a3
57. Kc1
Kc6
58. Kb1
He had nothing else; had he advanced 58.f5, Black would have replied
58...Qf1+, followed accordingly either by the exchange of queens, or the
immediate advance of the a-pawn.
58... Qb3+
Now White's king and queen are altogether confined, and Black can bring his
king round so as to exchange queens, and to capture the f-pawn at the proper
moment, as was actually done.
59. Ka1
Kd6
60. Qc1
Ke7
61. Qd2
Kf7
62. Qc1
c5
63. Qd2
Kf6
64. Qc1
Kf5
65. Qd2
Qb2+
66. Qxb2
axb2+
67. Kxb2
Kxf4
0-1.
The third game was opened with the Allgaier Kieseritzky Gambit, which
theorists of the time considered "completely demolished by Paulsen's defence",
but Steinitz showed a novelty. After a exchange of queens the game followed his
way to a balanced ending. At one point Blackburne won a pawn and could have won
the exchange, but being short of time he missed the opportunity and Steinitz was
able to complicate the game and succeed in equalizing the game. After
adjournment Blackburne blundered two pawns and lost the game.
Steinitz, W. -- Blackburne J.H.
King's Gambit Accepted: Kieseritzky
1. e4
e5
2. f4
exf4
3. Nf3
g5
4. h4
g4
5. Ne5
Nf6
6. Bc4
d5
7. exd5
Bg7
8. d4
0-0
9. Bxf4
Nxd5
10. Bxd5
Qxd5
11. 0-0
c5
12. Nc3
Obvious as this move seems, it has not received any analytical attention, and
we believe that this is the first occasion of it having been introduced into
practice in an important match game. White must recover the pawn he now offers,
and the position afterwards is about even; but Blackburne and Zukertort are of
the opinion that the retention of the two bishops gives the second player the
superior game, though his pawns on the queenside are separated.
12... Qxd4+
13. Qxd4
cxd4
14. Nd5
Nc6
15. Nxc6
bxc6
16. Ne7+
Kh8
17. Nxc6
Bb7
18. Ne5
Rac8
19. Rf2
Be4
20. Rd1
20... f5
21. Nd3
White could not well venture upon taking the d-pawn, for it would have
involved the loss of the exchange, e.g.: 21.Rxd4 Rce8 22.Ra4 Bxe5 23.Rxe4 fxe4
24.Bxe5+ Kg8, and ought to win.
21... Rfe8
22. Re2
Kg8
23. Ne1
Kf7
24. Bg3
Re6
The initiation of a finely conceived scheme, altogether overlooked by the
adversary.
25. Bf2
Bxc2
White ought on the previous move to have played 25.Kf1, which would have
frustrated this neat design. As it stands, if White take the bishop with the
rook, Black would answer 26...Rxe1+, etc.
26. Rxe6
Bxd1
27. Rd6
Ke7
Fortunately for Steinitz, his opponent was at this point short of time, or
else the latter could not have failed to see that he could win the exchange by
27...Be5, threatening 28...g3. White had then no better reply than 28.Rxd4, and
he would have had very hard work afterwards to draw the game, even if he found
time to strengthen his position by pawn to g3.
28. Ra6
Rc7
29. Kf1
Rd7
30. Ra3
Ke6
31. Nd3
Bf8
32. Ra5
Preventing the adversary's king from crossing, and better than checking at
a6, which would only have had the effect of drawing the king up to the support
of his passed d-pawn; for Black could have safely answered 32...Kd5, followed by
33...Ke4 if the knight checked at f4, and White would then have found it of no
avail to protect the knight by 34.Bg3, threatening mate with the rook, since
Black could provide an escape by 34...d3, which also cleared the road to his own
victory.
32... Bc2
33. Ke2
Kf6
Black played this with the anticipation that White would answer 34.Kd2,
whereupon he would capture the knight, followed by 35...Kg6, which would have
given him a good game.
34. Ra6+
White failed here to take the promptest advantage of the opponent's error. He
might have taken the a-pawn with the rook at once, but still the move adopted,
drove the king back, forced the gain of a pawn, and secured at least a draw.
34... Kg7
A grave error, for it loses two pawns at once. He ought to have 34...Ke7; but
even in that case his game was not comfortable, and he must have lost the a-pawn
by the answer of 35.Nc5, without being able to make any impression with his
passed d-pawn, which could easily be stopped.
35. Rxa7
Rxa7
36. Bxd4+
Kf7
37. Bxa7
Bd6
38. Be3
Ke6
39. Kd2
Bxd3
40. Kxd3
Kd5
41. a4
f4
42. Bf2
g3
43. Bg1
Bb4
44. Ke2
Ba5
45. Kf3
Kc4
46. Kxf4
Bc7+
47. Kg5
Bd8+
48. Kg4
Bc7
49. Be3
Be5
50. a5
Kb5
51. b4
Bd6
52. Bc5
Be5
53. Kf5
Bc3
54. h5
Ka6
55. Ke6
(...), 1-0.
And after some more moves Black resigned. Duration 7 hours.
In the fourth game, Blackburne repeated the Scotch and Steinitz deviated at
the ninth move. The variation left Steinitz a pawn up. He defended and
Blackburne attacked and even sacrificed a piece to complicate matters in view of
the short time his opponent had left. They arrived at the adjournment time, and
after that Steinitz found an easy victory with his material superiority.
Blackburne J.H. -- Steinitz W.
Scotch Game
1. e4
e5
2. Nf3
Nc6
3. d4
exd4
4. Nxd4
Qh4
5. Nb5
Bb4+
6. Bd2
Qxe4+
7. Be2
Kd8
8. 0-0
Bxd2
9. Qxd2
a6
This is superior to 9...Nf6, adopted by Steinitz at this point in the second
game of the match. It has the effect of blocking the king's knight for some
time.
10. N5c3
Qe5
11. Na3
b5
Best at once, but not so much with the view of attacking the two pieces as
with the object of paralysing the action of one of the knights.
12. Bf3
Nge7
13. Rad1
Qf5
It may be observed, that on this and the previous moves Black had to avoid
the temptation of forking the two knights by ...b4, as on each occasion White
could have obtained a winning attack by the reply of Nd5.
14. Rfe1
Rb8
15. Qe2
This was a loss of time; he ought to have played 15.Qe3 at once.
15... d6
16. Ne4
Bd7
17. Qe3
f6
18. g4
Qg6
19. Nxd6
In match games regulated by time limit the expedient is often adopted, to try
to confuse the opponent when he is short of time, by raising complications even
at great hazard. The present incorrect, strictly speaking, sacrifice belongs to
that category. The defence was extremely ticklish, and, as Steinitz had nearly
exhausted his second hour, the chances were in favour of his not hitting always
upon the right move in the course of the vehement attack to which the sacrifice
gave rise.
19... cxd6
20. Rxd6
Kc7
21. Bxc6
This exchange gave the most chances of continuing the pressure of a violent
onslaught. Had he played the 21.Qf4, Black might have replied 21...Ne5; for if
22.Rxe5, the pawn would retake, attacking the queen. Blackburne informs us that
at the time he sacrificed the knight he contemplated at this point to move
21.Qc5, and, upon the opponent answering 21...Qg5, to leave the queen en prise,
and take the e-knight with the rook, e.g.: 21.Qc5 Qg5 22.Rxe7 Qxc5 23.Rexd7+ Kb6
24.Rxc6+ Qxc6 25.Bxc6 Kxc6 26.Rxg7; but he overlooked that at this stage Black
could force the exchange of rooks, with a winning position, by playing either
rook to g8.
21... Nxc6
22. Qg3
Kc8
He could not capture the g-pawn with the queen, on account of the reply
23.Rxd7+, winning the queen.
23. Red1
Rb7
24. Qg2
Nb8
Better than 24...Ne5, which would have been of little use for aggressive
purposes, while now the knight affords additional protection to Black's
much-exposed right wing.
25. R1d4
h5
26. Qd5
Qg5
27. Qxg5
fxg5
28. Rg6
Bxg4
29. Rxg5
Re8
30. Kg2
Rf7
31. h3
Bd7
32. Kg3
Re2
33. Rxh5
Rexf2
34. Rc5+
Nc6
35. Rd3
Kc7
36. Nb1
Kb6
37. Rcd5
Nb8
38. Nd2
White might have here won the exchange, but it would have simplified the
position too much, e.g.: 38.Rxd7 Nxd7 39.Rxd7 Rxd7 40.Kxf2 Rd1 41.Nc3 Rd2+,
winning easily.
38... Bc6
39. Ne4
Best. Had he moved the rook at once, the answer of 39...Rg2+, would have been
deadly.
39... Re2
40. Nc3
Rxc2
41. Rd2
Rxc3+
42. bxc3
Bxd5
43. Rxd5
Rc7
44. Rd3
Nc6
45. Kf4
Rf7+
46. Ke4
Rf2
47. a3
Ra2
48. c4
bxc4
49. Rg3
Rd2
50. Rxg7
Rd4+
51. Kf5
c3
0-1.
There is no means of stopping the pawn now, excepting at the cost of a clear
rook. If 52.Rg2, the answer is 52...Rd2; and if 53.Rg1 or 53.Rg3, with the
intention of afterwards stopping the pawn accordingly, either by 54.Rc1 or
54.Rc3, Black may still advance the pawn to c2, followed by 54...Rd1, for the
rook will be lost after taking the pawn by 55...Nd4+
The fifth game was a Vienna Gambit. Blackburne answered with a novelty that
involved a sacrifice which put his opponent on the defensive from the very
beginning.
Steinitz, W. -- Blackburne J.H.
Vienna Gambit
1. e4
e5
2. Nc3
Nf6
3. f4
d5
4. d3
Bb4
This rarely adopted variation transfers to the second player the attack,
which is, however, a short-lived one if properly defended.
5. fxe5
Nxe4
This sacrifice of the knight is a novel introduction. 5...d4 is generally
preferred at this point, and is usually continued thus: 5...d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.b3
Qxf6 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.Be2 Nc6 etc., and most practitioners pronounce the game even.
6. dxe4
Qh4+
7. Ke2
Bxc3
8. bxc3
Bg4+
9. Nf3
dxe4
10. Qd4
The saving clause which redeems White's game, and leaves the opponent no
option but to lose a move with the only piece he has got in play besides his
queen.
10... Bh5
Black would have lost a piece if he had taken the knight with the pawn
checking, for White would have simply retaken with the pawn, and Black would
have been compelled to sacrifice the pinned bishop for the adverse f-pawn, and
then White's king would have easily reached a safe goal after a few checks from
the opponent.
11. Ke3
A number of ingenious traps were laid for White by Black's last move. Had he
now moved 11.Kd2, the reply would have been 11...Qg4; and if White attacked the
queen by 12.h3, Black would have checked with the queen at f4, followed by
13...Qg3+, if 13.Ke1 or, in the other alternative, if 13.Kd1, he would have won,
by 13...exf3, followed by 14...fxg2+, in answer to 14.Bxf4 etc. Again, if White
now moved 11.Kd1 at once, Black might have sacrificed the queen by 11...exf3;
for, if 12.Qxh4 in reply, he could also proceed to leave the bishop en prise by
12...fxg2+, winning the rook and making a new queen.
11... Bxf3
12. Bb5+
The only move to prevent an immediate draw, which Black would have obtained
by checking backwards and forwards with the queen at e1 and h4, if White had
captured the bishop at once with the pawn. White wished to avoid that
contingency, relying upon his king getting into the middle of the board, ready
to support the pawns of both wings, if he succeeded in exchanging queens, which
would be more favorable to him in the endgame.
12... c6
13. gxf3
cxb5
14. Qxe4
Qh6+
Much superior to exchanging queens at once, whereupon White would have
retaken with the king. White's king is now driven more to the rear and the
exchange can be afforded more conveniently on the next move. If White in reply
move 15.f4, Black would obtain a good game by 15...Nc6.
15. Kf2
15... Qc6
16. Qd4
Na6
Black chose this mode of development for the knight with the object of
getting rid of the hostile bishop as early as possible. 16...Nd7 would have led
to various complications of a character which must have made Black's game
exceedingly difficult, for White would have replied 17.Rg1 attacking the g-pawn,
which could not be defended by 17...g6 or 17...0-0, on account of the rejoinder
18.e6.
17. Ba3
b4
Black could not afford to allow the bishop to be planted at d6, and the
sacrifice of the pawn was quite judicious under the circumstances that White's
material advantage consisted afterwards in a doubled pawn.
18. Bxb4
Nxb4
19. Qxb4
Rc8
20. Rab1
b6
Taking the c-pawn would have led to an exchange disadvantageous to Black,
e.g.: 20...Qxc3 21.Qxc3 Rxc3 22.Rxb7 Rxc2+ 23.Ke3, and wins the a-pawn.
21. Rb3
Rd8
22. Re1
Rd5
23. Re4
Qh6
The counter attack looked promising at first sight; but 23...Rc5, with the
object of castling, was in reality safer play. White's best reply was then to
challenge the exchange of queens by 24.Qa4, and he would have still retained the
best of the game, but his chances of winning must have been considerably
diminished in that case.
24. h4
g5
"A desperate sortie, which involves the exposure of the K to a strong attack
by White's forcible reply. Q to B 8 offered better chances of recovering ground,
though White would even then have kept the attack in hand by Q to R 4, ch.
followed either by Q takes R P, or by R to Kt 4, according to Black's reply."
25. e6
fxe6
Black had nothing better, for White threatened an extremely harassing check
at a4.
26. Qa4+
Ke7
Again the only move. Had he interposed the rook, White would have won as
follows, supposing-26...Rd7 27.Rd4 Qg7 28.Rxb6 axb6 29.Qa8+ Ke7 30.Rxd7+ Kf6
(best; for if 30...Kxd7, White wins the queen by 31.Qa7+) 31.hxg5+, and wins;
for if 31...Kf5, White would reply 32.Qe4+.
27. Qxa7+
Rd7
28. Qxb6
Rc8
29. Qe3
Kf7
30. Rb5
Rcd8
31. Rxg5
Rd2+
32. Kg3
R2d6
33. Rf4+
"Here White missed the shortest way of winning the game right off. He ought to
have doubled the rooks by moving the same rook to K Kt 4, threatening Q to B 4,
ch. followed by R to Kt 7, ch. He might have also won here two rooks for the Q
by R to B 4, ch. Black had then nothing better than to capture the R with the P,
for if he attempted to support the Q by K to Kt 3, R to B 6, ch. followed. But
the latter mode of play left, however, the chances of long protracted and
perhaps complicated fight open, and the line of play in the text had therefore
the preference of greater simplicity, though it was not as prompt and decisive
as our first suggestion."
33... Ke7
34. Qe5
There was only one answer to this, and that was the one actually made.
34... Rd5
35. Rg7+
Ke8
36. Qf6
36.Qc7 would have been of no use, for Black would have replied with
36...R8d7. The move in text forces the exchange, and leaves Black no game to
fight with.
36... Qxf6
37. Rxf6
R8d6
38. Rxh7
Rc5
39. Rg6
Kf8
40. h5
Rdd5
41. Rxe6
Rxh5
42. Rxh5
Rxh5
43. a4
Rc5
44. Re3
Rc4
45. Kf2
Kf7
46. Ke2
Kf6
47. Kd3
Rxa4
48. c4
Ra1
49. c5
Ra4
50. Re4
Ra1
51. Kc4
Ra4+
52. Kd5
Ra3
53. c6
1-0.
Reflecting his taste for the famous drink, Blackburne opened the sixth game
once again with a Scotch. According to 'The Field' report, Blackburne had a finger
slip during the game and moved an undesired piece. He was distracted by
assisting the scorers, who could not follow the players, owing to the rapidity
in which the opening moves were played.
Blackburne J.H. -- Steinitz W.
Scotch Game
1. e4
e5
2. Nf3
Nc6
3. d4
exd4
4. Nxd4
Qh4
5. Nb5
Bb4+
6. Bd2
Qxe4+
7. Be2
Kd8
8. 0-0
Bxd2
9. Qxd2
a6
10. N5a3
At first sight this seems a feasible attempt to prevent the manoeuvre
successfully adopted by Steinitz in the fourth game of the match, namely to shut
out the king's knight by 10...b5. This object is certainly now attained; for in
answer to 10...b5, White would obtain a strong attack by 11.Bf3 followed by
12.c4 upon the adverse queen retreating to g6, e.g.: 10...b5 11.Bf3 Qg6 (best)
12.c4 b4 13.Nc2 a5 14.a3, with an excellent game. Blackburne assures us,
however, that his retreating the knight at once was a simple slip. He
contemplated playing the same attack as in the fourth game, placing reliance
upon a slow attack, to be fortified later on by bringing the a-knight to the
succour, which, as he thinks, would be extricated by pawn to c4, or pawn to c3,
after removing the b-knight. Black's following answer is plain, and it is made
chiefly with the purpose of getting the queen on the a1-h8 diagonal, where she
is better placed for defensive purposes, and out of the reach of the hostile
rooks and minor pieces.
10... Qd4
11. Qg5+
The immediate retreat of the queen to c1, though rather humble in an
attacking game if this sort, would have been sounder play, for it might have
afforded the f-rook an opportunity of occupying the d-file without loss of time,
if Black in answer developed his g-knight. In that case it would not have been
advantageous for Black to advance pawn to b5 so long as the c-pawn was available
for an attack by pawn to c4.
11... Qf6
12. Qd2
In our opinion White places here more faith in the chances of an error on the
part of the adversary than in the requirements of the position for relinquishing
the attack and adopting a temporary patient defence. Blackburne maintains,
however, that the sacrifice of the second pawn was quite legitimate, since it
enabled him to gain the point at a3 with his queen, for the purpose of delaying
the advance of the hostile d-pawn.
12... Qxb2
13. Nc4
Qd4
Black would have gained two rooks for the queen even if he had taken the
rook, and the opponent had shut out the queen by 14.Nc3; but his position would
then have become extremely difficult to defend, and, besides, he could in the
present situation be well satisfied with the surplus of two pawns.
14. Qc1
Nge7
Had Black now taken the rook, the opponent would have replied 15.Qa3,
threatening mate, and must have afterwards won the queen by 16.Nc3.
15. Nbd2
d6
16. Rd1
Be6
17. Qa3
Nd5
18. Nb3
Qc3
19. Bf1
19.Kh1 was preferable. Black's d-knight could not then attack by 19...Nf4, on
account of the winning reply, 20.Nxd6; and if Black proceeded in the same way as
the text, namely by 19...Ndb4, it must have saved at least a move for White that
his king would have been already in the corner. See Black's 24th move.
19... Ndb4
20. Ne3
Re8
21. Rd2
In this kind of position the attack must be proceeded with any hazard, and,
though Black had well protected his most vulnerable point, the d-pawn, the
assault could only be directed against that spot. With two pawns behind already,
White could only hope to confuse the opponent, who was pressed for time, and had
a difficult game to defend.
21... Bxb3
22. Rad1
Rxe3
The sacrifice makes matters more smooth and clear for the defence, and forces
the opponent to give up a piece and two pawns, or to submit to a ruinous
exchange of queens, which would have left Black with an extremely easy position
in the ending game, and with the overwhelming superiority of four pawns and a
knight against the rook. Had he taken the c-pawn at once with the knight, he
would have obviously lost a piece without releasing his position, for White
would have simply retaken 23.Nxc2.
23. fxe3
Nxc2
24. Qc1
Qxe3+
25. Kh1
Ba4
26. Bc4
N2d4
By a singular infatuation, Steinitz greedily plays here, and subsequently,
for preserving the piece, totally contrary to his own principle, which usually
aims at a simplification of the game. He ought to have moved 26...Kd7,
liberating the rook, and winning must have become an easy matter; for White
could not gain the piece without exchanging queens, and then there was nothing
left to counteract the march of Black's pawns.
27. Re1
Qf4
28. Rf1
Qh6
29. Qb2
Qe3
30. Bxf7
Better than taking with the rook; for Black would have answered 30...Ne5,
since he could safely move the king to e7 if White then proceeded with 31.Rf8+.
30... Bb5
31. Rfd1
(Adjourned)
31... Nf5
(Sealed)
32. a4
We explained in our last number how Black's error on the previous move, when
the game was adjourned, arose. The latter ought to have played the king to d7 or
to e7, and there would have been no more complication to give White a chance of
a mistake. But it is only due to Blackburne to state that, with inferior forces,
he had skilfully managed to perplex the opponent with the most puzzling moves,
while the latter was pressed for time; and White's clever manoeuvre at this
juncture was also one which could not be easily foreseen.
32... Ne5
Black could not capture the a-pawn without resigning his best chance of
winning and being content with a probable draw. For instance: 32...Bxa4 33.Re2
Qh6 34.Re6 Qh4 35.Qxb7 Rb8 36.Re8+ Kd7 37.Rxb8 Nxb8 38.Qxb8, and Black cannot
take the other rook, and he can only check with the knight at g3 and e2; for
White would certainly avoid coming out to f1 on account of the reply ...Qf4+,
etc. Giving up a clear piece by 32...Ncd4 might have been, however, even better
than the move in the text; for if 33.axb5, Black, by 32...axb5, opening the
a-file, would have had more than enough for the exchange he lost. Black's knight
would then have been quite safe at d4, though White had three pieces on it, for
the latter dared not capture it on account of the mate threatened either with
the queen at e1, or with the rook at a1 after exchanging queens. Nor could White
get rid of the other knight by 34.g4, on account of the reply 34...Qf3+.
33. axb5
Nxf7
34. Re2
Qh6
35. Qb3
axb5
36. g4
Nd4
One piece was lost and this way of giving it up was no doubt better than
going in for winning another pawn by 36...Qf6. Black would have had no time to
take that pawn, since White threatened to win by doubling the rooks on the
e-file.
37. Rxd4
Ra1+
38. Kg2
Qf6
39. Rde4
39.Qxb5, though it threatened a mate, would have been disastrous, for Black
would have answered 39...Qf1+, followed by 40...Ra3+. If White then interposed
41.Rd3, Black would capture 41...Qxe2, the other rook remaining pinned.
39... Ne5
40. Rf2
Qg6
41. Ref4
c6
42. Qe3
This fine move cuts off the retreat of Black's king, and keeps the latter's
queen also fixed. It will be seen that later on Black's queen could neither move
to e6, or to e8, or b1, on account of White's check with the rook at f7.
42... Kc7
43. h3
h5
44. Rf5
hxg4
45. Rg5
gxh3+
46. Kh2
Ra3
Had he checked with the knight at g4, White would have taken off the knight
with the rook, and then at least have drawn the game by checking backwards and
forwards with the other rook at f7 and f8. White's ingenious reply enables him
to come out with a rook ahead, but the best experts declare that Black's pawns
must win by force afterwards.
47. Qxe5
dxe5
48. Rxg6
b4
49. Rb2
Had he played 49.Re2, Black would have protected the e-pawn by 49...Ra5,
followed, according to circumstances, either by rook to b5 or d5, which would
have enabled Black to lead his combined pawns to victory, supported by the king.
49... c5
50. Rf2
Rd3
Necessary to keep up communication between Black's king and his passed pawns.
White threatened to check with the rook at f7, followed by the other rook taking
the g-pawn, attacking the b-pawn doubly.
51. Rc2
b6
52. Re6
b3
53. Rb2
c4
54. Rxe5
Kc6
55. Rg5
Rd5
56. Rxg7
Kc5
57. Kxh3
Kb4
58. Rb1
b5
59. Rg4
Rd2
White's king being cut off, and Black's king having crossed the front to
support his pawns, the cautious advance of the latter must win easily and
surely.
60. Rg5
b2
61. Kg3
c3
62. Kf3
Kc4
63. Rgg1
Kb3
64. Ke3
Rd8
65. Rgf1
c2
66. Ke2
Ka2
0-1.
The final game saw again a Vienna Gambit which Blackburne declined. Later the
novelty 7.f5 was used and Blackburne faced a very constrained game.
Steinitz, W. -- Blackburne J.H.
Vienna Gambit Declined
1. e4
e5
2. Nc3
Bc5
3. f4
d6
4. Nf3
Nf6
Safe enough. If White now takes the e-pawn, the game might go on thus: 5.fxe5
dxe5 6.Nxe5 Qd4 7.Nd3 Bb6, etc.
5. Bc4
Nc6
6. d3
a6
This move was played by Anderssen against Blackburne in the Vienna tourney,
whereupon the latter also replied 7.a3.
7. f5
Stronger than 7.a3, and it seems, from the progress of the present game, that
the array of White's pawns on the kingside cannot be broken through.
7... h6
The answer to either 7...g6 or 7...Na5 would have been 8.a3; for in the
former case, if Black proceeded by 8...gxf5, White would reply 9.Bg5,
threatening knight to d5, and in the latter case Black could only follow up by
taking the bishop, and on the pawn retaking he would have had little prospect of
liberating his game on either side.
8. h3
In order to fortify the attack immediately by pawn to g4, in case Black
attempted to castle on the kingside, or to open the game by pawn to g6, as
afterwards done.
8... Qe7
9. a3
White, being safe on both wings, makes an opening for his bishop to prevent
the opponent exchanging it by knight to a5. He has now also prepared for an
attack with his pawns, on either side, wherever the adversary might attempt to
castle, while his own king is in perfect security.
9... b5
10. Nd5
Nxd5
11. Bxd5
Bb7
12. b4
Bb6
13. a4
Rb8
14. c3
Nd8
15. Bb3
g6
16. g4
h5
17. Rf1
hxg4
18. hxg4
gxf5
19. gxf5
f6
20. Qe2
Qg7
21. Be3
White threatens now to take possession of the open g-file with both rooks by
rook to g1, followed by rook to a2.
21... Bxe3
22. Qxe3
Qh6
22...Rh3 would not have improved Black's position, for the opponent would
have first answered 23.Ke2 before attacking the queen.
23. Qxh6
Rxh6
24. Rg1
d5
24...Rh7 was the only other means to prevent the hostile rook cutting off the
king by rook to g7, and then the game might have proceeded thus: 24...Rh7
25.Rg8+ Ke7 26.axb5 axb5 27.Ra7 Nc6 28.Rxb8, winning a piece.
25. exd5
Ke7
26. Kf2
Better now than checking with the rook, whereupon Black might have attacked
the rook by 26...Kf8, and White could not then capture the c-pawn on account of
the impending rook to h1, check.
26... Nf7
27. Rg7
Rf8
White threatened pawn to d6, check, winning a piece. Neither pawn takes pawn
nor rook to h5 would have been a better resource, for in the former case White
could have replied 28.Bc4 without altering the position materially, and in the
latter contingency he could move out of all danger by 28.Ke3, followed in answer
to 28...Rxf5, by 29.Nh4, threatening check at g6, and winning at least the
exchange.
28. axb5
Kd6
The pawn could not be retaken, on account of 29.Ra7, winning easily.
29. bxa6
Ba8
30. a7
Bb7
31. Rxf7
Rxf7
32. Ra6+
Kd7
Had he played 32...Ke7, White would have pushed 33.d6+, followed by 34.Bxf7,
etc.
33. Ba4+
Ke7
34. Re6+
Kf8
35. Bc6
Ba8
A last desperate attempt to prolong the game by 36...c6, in case White takes
off the bishop at once; but White's reply leaves no escape.
36. Re8+
Kg7
37. Rxa8
1-0.
In the coming years from the match Steinitz would become the first World
Chess Champion and defend his title in six occasions, until finally fall at the
hands of a new generation.
Blackburne would have again good results in his long chess career and he
remained a favourite of the public, as admired and followed as ever. Maybe he
didn't possess the necessary positional understanding nor the liking for it, but
his style as many other attacking and exciting players, would play a role as
important as delighting the chess world with shining games. For at the pass of
the years, after the positional school was firmly and rightfully established in
the core of the chess world, other players would come, as strong and imaginative
as Blackburne once was and with the same taste for wild tactics and firing
games. But this time the tactic players would be prepared also in the positional
realm, and therefore his magic would be able to face his quiet counterpart in
equal terms and chess would be enriched with a combination of styles.
St. Petersburg 1914, Blackburne in his last tournament
Sources of information:
Chess Archaeology
http://www.chessarch.com/excavations/000B_blac_stei/1876blst.shtml
Chess Bios by Bat Girl
http://snow.prohosting.com/~batgrrl/JH%20Blackburne.html
Freddys Schachseite
http://www.schachgeschichte.de/chess/champs/steinitz.htm
KARL
http://www.karlonline.org/403_2.htm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Henry_Blackburne