The Gunsberg-Steinitz Match,
World Championship 1890-91
Researched by Nick Pope
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GUNSBERG WINS A GAME.
STEINITZ FALLS INTO A TRAP
THE CHAMPION STILL ONE POINT AHEAD IN THE CHESS MATCH.
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Gunsberg yesterday opened for the third time, in
the match for the worlds chess championship in this city, an Evans
Gambit
against Steinitz, and as the latter did not feel well his defence was
not
up to his usual high standard. However, he made a capital fight in
the new variation which Gunsberg introduced on his eighth move.
After
some give-and-take play on both sides the veteran forged ahead with a
somewhat
premature attack on the Kings side, which Gunsberg defended with
considerable
skill, and to that end had to bring some of his pieces from the
Queens
wing over to the Kings side. |
Just when the game was about to become highly
interesting
Gunsberg made a move which was intended not only to drive the
opponents
Queen out of play, but also in the other event to lead Steinitz into a
trap by which he would lose his Queen. Steinitz, without much
hesitation,
took the proffered pawn which was left en prise, fell into the trap
cleverly
laid by his opponent, and had to resign on his twenty-first move.
The score now stands: Steinitz, 5; Gunsberg, 4; drawn, 7; and four games
to be played. |
New-York Daily Tribune,
1891.01.16
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THE GREAT CHESS MATCH.
STEINITZ IS TRAPPED BY GUNSBERG
ON HIS TWENTIETH MOVE.
Gunsberg Opened Another Evans Gambit
and Won a Fine Game-Steinitzs Defence
was Somewhat Weak-He was About to
Lose His Queen When He Resigned.
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After two and a half hours play the
sixteenth game
in the Steinitz-Gunsberg chess encounter was decided yesterday in a most
unexpected manner. It was an Evans Gambit, which was again started
by Gunsberg, and the spectators who were assembled in the large room at
the Manhattan Chess Club found in a short time a new variation of the
famous
opening, which not only proved particularly interesting, but in which
Steinitz
took up a line of defence superior to that which he played last
Saturday.
At any rate, after nineteen moves had been made on either side there
seemed
to be no particular danger threatening him. |
Naturally, the early moves were made very
rapid.
The first deviation from the fourteenth game was made by Gunsberg on his
eighth move. With this exception Gunsbergs attack in the
opening
was similar to that which he played in the previous Evans Gambit.
Steinitz deliberated twenty minutes on his thirteenth move, and after
another
move on either side had been recorded [... it] was generally
expected
that Gunsberg would now proceed with B x Kt and Q-Kt 4, threatening
mate,
but this expectation was not realized, for he moved Q Kt-Q 2. The
attack and the defence were now conducted on fairly even terms.
Steinitz
succeeded in neutralizing the attack of his opponent and entered upon a
counter attack, for which, however, he had not made full
preparation. |
Although at the time when the middle game was
entered
upon Steinitz had not been able to castle, his king seemed to be in safe
quarters, protected by pawns and minor pieces, while his queen was
engaged
in an attack upon the opposing king. |
On his twentieth turn Gunsberg made a move which
was destined to at once change the whole aspect of affairs. At
first
sight the object of this move, Kt-R 4, was simply to drive back the
adverse
queen, at the risk of losing the pawn, which was thus left en
prise.
But in reality is was a cleverly conceived trap which had for its object
the capturing of the queen, the B P being the bait. It is
sufficient
to say that Steinitz did not see the trap until he had made the fatal
move,
and when his opponents reply came, he at once gave up. |
The Sun, New York,
1891.01.16
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MR. STEINITZS MISTAKE.
HIS OPPONENT MOVED IN A WAY
THAT WAS NOT EXPECTED.
The Contest Finely Conducted and Full
of Interesting Postions-Gunsberg
Is Now Only One Game Behind the
Famous Chess Master and Seems to
Enjoy the Evans Gambit.
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Yesterdays game of the contest brought
about another
Evans Gambit, which the English player pluckily offered. Mr.
Steinitz
still clung to his new defense, which he, like in the fourteenth game,
improved by P-K R 3 on the seventh move. As will be seen by the
notes
to the appended games, both the attack and the defense were finely
conducted,
and the middle game was full of intricacies and interesting
positions.
It is therefore to be regretted that the play, which promised to be a
specimen
of chess of the highest order, was marred by a mistake on the part of
Mr.
Steinitz, who, by capturing a pawn on the twentieth move, allowed his
opponent
to imprison his Queen. Mr. Steinitz, who had only considered the
eventuality of whites playing his Kt to K B 3 on the twenty-first
move,
resigned immediately after Gunsbergs move, Kt to K 4. The
game lasted
2h. 48m., of which Gunsberg consumed 1h. 28m. |
The victorious result of yesterdays
game
leaves the London player only one point behind his famous opponent-one
point in sixteen game. Mr. Gunsberg has so far achieved the est results
of all the experts who have ever antagonized the grand-master of chess
over the board. The score is now: Steinitz, 5; Gunsberg, 4; drawn,
7. The seventeenth game will be played to-morrow. |
The World, New York,
1891.01.16
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Gunsberg,IA Steinitz,W
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(16)
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C52/01 |
Evans Gambit: Steinitz
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1891.01.15 |
USA New York, NY (Manhattan Chess
Club)
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Annotations by Gunsberg &
Steinitz
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4
Bxb4 5.c3 Ba5 [0:01-0:01] 6.O-O Qf6 7.d4 h6 8.Qa4
** |
Gunsberg: In the fourteenth
game White played Bb5 first. But as he had to play his queen afterwards
to a4 it occurred to him that the present continuation would be better.
It may be remarked here that had White now played 8.Qb3 Black could have
played 8...Nge7, and if 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Bxf7+ Kd8 with a
good
position for the ending.
Steinitz: An alteration from game 14,
which seems to strengthen Whites
attack. |
8...Bb6 9.Bb5
** |
Gunsberg: Here 9.d5 or 9.Be3
deserves to be considered. But it is doubtful whether in either case
White
would obtain a better game than by the line of play which he adopted.
After
9.d5 in some variations White may bring about an exchange of
dark-squared
bishops and may compel Black to retake with the c-pawn, but that may
hardly
be deemed sufficient compensation for the pawn he has
sacrificed. |
9...Nge7 10.Ba3 exd4
[0:17-0:16]
** |
Gunsberg: If 10...O-O, then
of course 11.Bxc6 dxc6 12.Nxe5 would recover the pawn; if 10...d6, then
11.d5 would win a piece. Black might have tried the odd move of 10...Rb8
with a view of playing ...a6 to displace the bishop. White would not do
well to exchange both bishops for the sake of regaining the pawn, as he
would remain with two knights against two bishops. But there really is
no seeming objections against 10...Ng6.
Steinitz: This seems now
Blacks
best plan. If 10...Ng8 (or 10...O-O 11.Bxc6, followed by 12.Nxe5)
11.Nbd2,
followed soon after by Nc4 with an excellent game. |
11.e5
** |
Gunsberg: The only way to
continue
the attack. |
11...Qg6
** |
Gunsberg: White is here of
the opinion that Black ought to have taken his chances by 11...Nxe5.
Steinitz
does not believe that he could have done that. But in practical play it
would have been very difficult to find the right way to take advantage
of Blacks move. The best seems to be
after
11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Nd2 c6 14.Rfe1 Qxb5 15.Rxe7+ Kd8 and
its
now an open question whether the best continuation for White would be
16.Qxb5
or 16.Qd1. In either case the burden of proving the attack successfully
is thrown upon White.
Steinitz: Evidently if 11...Nxe5 12.Re1
Nxf3+ 13.gxf3, and Black cant save
the piece. |
12.cxd4 Nd5 13.Re1
** |
Gunsberg: Best, for it still
keeps Blacks game confined and
provides for
playing Bf1 in certain contingencies. |
13...Nf4
** |
Gunsberg: In the next few
moves
Black worked desperately hard to obtain a counter-attack. However,
13...Nce7
seemed a good defensive move in this position.
Steinitz: This was probably premature,
and 13...Nce7 appears to be the better play. |
14.g3 Qg4 15.Nbd2
** |
Gunsberg: It was extremely
difficult to decide on the right move here, as Black threatened ...Nxd4.
White ultimately found out that he could reply upon the following
variation:
15...Nxd4 16.Re4 Nxf3+ 17.Nxf3 Qxf3 18.Rxf4 Bxf2+ 19.Kf1 Qh1+ 20.Kxf2
Qxa1
21.Qc4 and wins. |
15...Nh3+ [0:47-1:01] 16.Kg2
Ng5
** |
Gunsberg: If 16...Nf4+, with
a view of drawing, then White plays 17.Kh1, and if then 17...Nh3 again,
Steinitz points out the following fine variation, showing that White can
defend by 18.Re2, as Black dare not continue with 18...Nxd4 on account
of the powerful reply of 19.e6 fxe6 20.Ne5 and wins.
Steinitz: This was
Blacks
best play. If 16...Nf4+ 17.Kh1 Nh3 18.Re2, and should Black then play
18...Nxd4,
then would follow 19.e6 fxe6 20.Ne5 with a winning
attack. |
17.Bb2
** |
Gunsberg: Though
relinquishing
the line of attack, it is probably his best. There is nothing much to be
gotten out of 17.d5. |
17...Ne7 18.Be2
** |
Gunsberg: In conformity with
his last moves, White changes his tactics and brings his pieces back to
repel Blacks counter-attack, in order
to
be able to continue afterwards the attack with better
prospects. |
18...Ne6
** |
Steinitz: Not a good move.
Much better was 18...Qe6. |
19.Kh1 Qf5 20.Nh4
** |
Gunsberg: White has
now attained
the object for which he temporarily withdrew his bishops. The only
available
square for Blacks queen is on R 2,
where
she would be badly placed, and white could continue with 21 B-B 3, and
his superior development ought to tell soon.
Steinitz: A good move under any
circumstances
but also involving a trap into which the opponent falls. It should
be stated that at this point Gunsberg touched the square at h4 with his
knight, and then retracted the move, and after taking some time to
consider
and shaking his head as if he had made a mistake, finally adopted the
move.
Thereupon I took the pawn, and on seeing my opponents
reply, 21.Ne4, resigned. Then I taxed my opponent on the manner in
which he had made his twentieth move, which was calculated to mislead,
and I reminded him that in his match with Chigorin he had in a similar
case brought a charge against the Russian master. Gunsberg
apologized,
and gave his word of honor that he had not done it wilfully. |
20...Qxf2
[1:17-1:20]
** |
Gunsberg: An error which
loses
the queen. |
21.Ne4 [1:17-1:20]
1-0.
** |
Gunsberg: If 21...Qe3, then
22.Bc4, and the queen has no more moves.
Steinitz: Of course the queen can only
go to e3, and then follows 22.Bf1 and the queen has no move. |
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The Sun, New York,
1891.01.16
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The World, New York,
1891.01.16
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New-York Daily Tribune,
1891.01.16
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