The Gunsberg-Steinitz Match,
World Championship 1890-91
Researched by Nick Pope
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GUNSBERG WINS AGAIN.
THE FIFTH GAME OF THE CHESS MATCH.
STEINITZ FOR THE THIRD TIME PLAYED THE
QUEENS GAMBIT - AN INTERESTING CONTEST.
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Play in the Steinitz-Gunsberg chess match, which
is taking place in this city under the auspices of the Manhattan Chess
Club, was temporarily suspended on Wednesday at the request of the
New-York
player, who telegraphed from his home early that morning, stating that
he was suffering from a severe cold. He did not appear to be
completely
recovered when play in the fifth game began at the usual hour yesterday
afternoon. |
It was Steinitzs turn to play, and there
was no
little astonishment when for the third time he offered a Queens
Gambit,
which Gunsberg this time did not decline. The persistency of
Steinitz
in making this opening, after he had twice tried it and only been so far
successful as to bring about a draw in each occasion, cannot but be
admired
by chess-players. Whether he expected Gunsberg, however, to accept the
proffered gambit or to reject it as he had previously done, is a matter
for speculation. Be that as it may, the Anglo-Hungarian showed
himself
a formidable antagonist on this occasion, and he succeeded in producing
in the course of his play some exciting specimens of his powers of
position
judgment which cannot fail to prove attractive to the student. |
The spectators at an early stage were aroused
from
a comparatively passive interest into one of unusual keenness, and a
disciple
of the principle of playing an open game at an early stage in defending
predicted on the third or fourth move a victory for Gunsberg. As
it happened, this premature prediction did finally meet with a
fulfilment. |
Gunsbergs defence was based on the
principles of
the old masters in this opening, particularly so with reference to his
third move, P-K 4. Instead of proceeding in the customary way by 4 B x
P, Steinitz wiped out the opposing K P with his Q P, thus enabling his
antagonist to effect an exchange of Queens and neutralize the advantage
of the opening move. By the time the 10th move was completed on
both
sides, Gunsberg had a slight advantage of postion, to which he soon
afterward
managed to add the extra advantage of winning a Pawn by a very well
wrought-out
idea. Steinitzs eleventh move was a weak one, and
shortly
after this Gunsberg managed to effect such a distinct improvement in his
game that it was seen that all he required to do to become the master of
the situation was to play with care. This he did by repelling in
an admirable manner the repeated onslaughts of his opponent on the
sixteenth, eighteenth and twentieth moves, and after clever play he
announced
mate in five on his twenty-fifth move, Steinitz resigning at
his twenty-ninth
turn. |
It will be seen by chess-players who study the
game
that Steinitz again played in opposition to his own clearly defined
principles
by allowing his rival to obtain the majority of Pawns on the
Queens side. |
New-York Daily Tribune,
1890.12.19
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CHESS STRATEGISTS AT PLAY.
GUNSBERG LEADS STEINITZ BY THE ODD GAME.
The Hungarian Added Another Masterpiece to the
Record - His Mate in Five Was Brilliant - Steinitz was
Nowhere.
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Any one entering the Manhattan Chess Club just
before
1 oclock yesterday afternoon would have found the two chess
masters, Steinitz
and Gunsberg, seated in friendly communion over a chess board in the
club
room, examining the position in the Evans game which Steinitz is playing
in his cable match with the Russian champion Tschigorin.
Steinitz
did not, by any means, look bright; there were distinct traces remaining
of the indisposition which prevented his playing on Wednesday. |
The opening of yesterdays game was another
surprise
to few early arrivals who were watching the movements on the big club
room
board. In the first place Steinitz for the third time offered a
Queens
Gambit, which this time, by the way of a change, Gunsberg
accepted.
A pleasant variety was thus introduced, which was augmented by
Gunsbergs
promptly hewing down the pawn. After the two previous games in
which
he made a Q P opening had been drawn, Steinitz showed yesterday, in
again
making the same opening, a perseverance which would suggest either that
he thought he had discovered really this time a solution which would
enable
him to win instead of drawing, or that he was determined to play
the same opening until he does win. |
Gunsberg, however, with a wisdom which is very
commendable,
declined to give his antagonist the opportunity of again testing the
Queens
Gambit declined, by accepting the proffered gambit. The new turn
which was thus given to affairs rapidly developed new and interesting
features.
Upon the third move of black a strong amateur player who was present
said
that this playing an open game by Gunsberg was an excellent policy, and
he would predict right off that the Hungarian would win. This, of
course, was rather a premature prophecy, but immediately afterward
queens
were exchanged. Then Gunsberg once again put into practice the
principles
of his opponent by acquiring a majority of pawns on the Queens
side, and
he was soon generally pronounced to have by far the best position. |
It will be seen on reference to the score of the
game that Steinitz used twenty-three minutes in considering his eleventh
move, and it was decidedly entertaining to watch him while he pondered
over the board. At the beginning he complacently puffed his cigar
and toyed with the smoke as it curled upward from his lips, but after a
while he didnt seem quite so easy. Meanwhile Gunsberg gazed
on with
that appearance of comfortable equinimity which one can always enjoy
when
witnessing the difficulties of an adversary. At last, when
twenty-three
minutes had been remorselessly ticked off by the eloquent little clock
on his left, Steinitz pushed forward his K Kt and relighted his
cigar. |
When the fourteenth move of white had been made
his position was declared to be an extremely bad one, and it was
confidently
predicted that Gunsberg had a win clearly before him. A member,
who
is not considered by any means a strong player, after consulting the
board
at this position said, I think I shall have to finish this match
for Steinitz.
He cannot play any more. Matters went on in the same way for
some
time longer, Steinitzs position becoming more and more hopeless as
the
game proceeded. The excitement of the spectators grew with the
increasing
difficulties of the great theorist and the corresponding improvement in
the Hungarians prospects until at last the climax came on
Gunsbergs twenty-ninth
move, which was accompanied by the announcement that he had declared his
intention of mating in five moves. Suffice it to say that Steinitz
resigned on his twenty-ninth move, with a mate pending in two
moves. |
After the conclusion of the game, which was
brought
about after 2 hours and 5 minutes play, Steinitz was heard to declare
his
intention of playing the same opening again on Monday when his turn
comes,
and in fact again and again until he wins it. |
A more particular description of the play is as
follows: Steinitz opened again the Queens Gambit, which was
accepted by
Gunsberg, who defended in accordance with the theories laid down by the
old masters, principally so by advancing on his third move P-K 4.
Steintiz instead of proceeding in the usual way by 4 B x P,
chopped
off the opponents K P at K 5, thereby enabling Gunsberg to
exchange queens
and neutralize the advantage which a player, as a rule, possesses by
having
the opening move. On his fourth move Gunsberg castled on the Q
side
with a check, and his opponent then found a retreat for his king on B
2.
After this the Hungarian proceeded discreetly to the development of his
pieces Steinitzs eleventh move, Kt-B 3, over which he spent a
great deal
of time, was rather weak one, and on the twelfth move Gunsberg had a
little
the better position of the two. Soon after this the latter, by a very
well
conceived move, succeeded in winning a pawn, and he soon improved his
game
so as to get a very good grip on his opponent. He never relaxed
after
once he had gained the material advantage. He retailiated in a
beautiful
manner to the repeated sorties of Steinitz - 16. Kt-R 4, 18. P-K B 4,
19.
P-B 5, 20. P-K Kt 4. All these aggressive movements were of no avail for
the great theorist; they were first quietly conteracted, and then
assuming
a powerful attack, Gunsberg reached the culminating point of his clever
play by announcing at his twenty-fifth turn mate in
five. His play
for the mate proved as sound and brilliant as his whole game, and
Steinitz
resigned when there was a mate in two moves. |
The Sun, New York,
1890.12.19
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GUNSBERG WINS AGAIN.
NOW LEADING IN HIS MATCH WITH MR. STEINITZ
Brilliant Contest, in Which the English Player Announced a
Mate in Five Moves - The Score Now Is: Gunsberg, Two;
Steinitz,
One - The Next Game Saturday.
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Mr. Steinitz put in an appearance yesterday in
good
time at the Manhattan Chess Club. He explained that, having a
slight
cold, he did not care to venture out of the house yesterday on account
of the severe weather which raged in Upper Montclair, N.J., the place of
his residence. He seemed, however, to be in good form and in his
usual tenaciously combative mood. In spite if the fact that in the
first and third game, wherein he adopted the Q gambit, he could not make
much headway, he nevertheless persisted in playing this opening to-day,
which, to tell the truth, was generally expected by those who know him
well. As on previous occasions, Gunsberg has shown that he is
entirely
independent of any particular line of play or studied analysis of the
opening
by again varying his line of defense as he accepted the proffered gambit
pawn. In consequence of the line of play pursued by Steinitz,
Gunsberg,
with good judgment, effected advantageous exchange of queens, thereby
forcing
white to move his king, while black himself castled on the ninth
move. |
The position that resulted from the opening
manoeuvres
brought whites king to QB2 on the tenth move. From that
point, with
every succeeding move, black developed his pieces in a telling way and
brought increased and menacing pressure to bear upon the exposed adverse
king. |
On the fifteenth move, by a combination of his
minor
pieces and probably also by an error of judgment on the part of his
opponent,
black won a pawn. White did not obtain the relief which he
expected.
On the contrary black directed his forces against the exposed king with
such effect that after twenty moves the coming catastrophe could be
foretold. |
On the twenty-fourth move black saw winning
chances,
which he grasped, and playing with great precision he obtained a
position
on the twenty-sixth move where, by a brilliant coup, he was enabled to
announce a mate in five moves. |
Needless to say there was great pleasure and
rejoicing
among the chess connoisseurs of the Manhattan Chess Club who had the
privilege
of witnessing this fine game. The prophets, both on this and the
other side of the Atlantic, will have to find a new occupation.
They
ventured to predict - and Mr. Steinitzs reputation and great
achievements
certainly warranted the forecast - that the veteran, as in past matches,
would have matters all his own way with the English player, but the
result
shows that Gunsberg was too lightly reckoned and that once more he is
following
up his former brilliant achievements by making such a bold stand against
the undefeated hero of twenty-five years battle. Whatever
the final
result now may be the brave fight will reflect honor on the younger
player. |
The sixth game will be played on Saturday.
Gunsberg will have the move and great anxiety prevails among the chess
community whether now, with the score in his favor, he will play an
Evans
gambit. |
The World, New York,
1890.12.19
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Steinitz,W Gunsberg,IA
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(5)
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D20/03 |
Queens Gambit Accepted
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1890.12.18 |
USA New York, NY (Manhattan Chess
Club)
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Annotations by Gunsberg &
Steinitz
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
** |
Gunsberg: In the two former
games played at this opening I declined the Queens
Gambit by 2...e6. This defense, in my opinion, leads to a close
and
often more interesting game than can be obtained by accepting the
gambit. |
3.e3
** |
Gunsberg: Usually prefered
to 3.e4. White may, however, simplify matters by
3.Qa4+. |
3...e5
** |
Gunsberg: The best
continuation
at Blacks disposal.
Steinitz: Quit in the old style as
played
already by Labourdonnais and McDonnell. |
4.dxe5
** |
Gunsberg: If now 4.Qa4+ Bd7
5.Qxc4 exd4 and Black obtains a speedier development for his
pieces.
Steinitz: The above masters invariably
played here 4.Bxc4 instead. |
4...Qxd1+
** |
Gunsberg: This exchange
gives
Black a slight superiority. |
5.Kxd1 Nc6
[0:04-0:02]
** |
Gunsberg: 6.f4 may be played
but the white pawns in the center would be clumsily
situated. |
6.Bxc4 Nxe5 7.Bb5+
** |
Steinitz: This I already
played
against Chigorin in a consultation game; the object is not to allow the
knight to go back to c6, but it is probably better to retreat the bishop
to e2 at once. |
7...c6 8.Be2 Be6 9.Nc3 0-0-0+ 10.Kc2
** |
Gunsberg: In hope of playing
out his dark-square bishop and a-rook and retire his king to
b1. |
10...Nf6 [0:11-0:05]
11.Nf3
** |
Gunsberg: 11.f3 instead
seems
preferable, although it would retard the development of his
g-knight.
Steinitz: 11.e4 or 11.f3 were the right
moves at this juncture; and, in fact, the move made loses the game by
letting
too many of the adverse pieces in against the king. |
11...Neg4 [0:34-0:09] 12.Rf1 Bf5+
13.Kb3
** |
Gunsberg: It is already
plainly
evident that White will not be able to place his king in safety, as he
imagined when playing 10.Kc2. |
13...Nd7
** |
Gunsberg: The most forcible
way to threaten with punishment the recklessly bold monarch.
Steinitz: A very fine move which forces
the gain of a pawn. |
14.e4
** |
Gunsberg: The result of a
miscalculation.
White was of course bound to seek some opening for his pieces, but he
must
been under the delusion also that Black subsequently could not capture
the pawn on account of the rejoinder 15.Nh4. |
14...Nc5+ 15.Kc2 Nxe4 [0:38-0:19]
16.Nh4 Nxc3+ 17.Kxc3
** |
Gunsberg:
Whites
idea was probably to get rid of the troublesome adverse bishop, even at
the cost of a pawn, but he probably overlooked the fact that if he now
would take the bishop, Black would win a piece by 17...Nxe2. |
17...Be6 18.f4 Nf6 19.f5 Bd5 20.g4
** |
Steinitz: This is a bad
move,
and 20.Nf3 at once was undoubtedly the proper play. |
20...Be7
[0:46-0:29]
** |
Gunsberg: Threatening
...Ne4+,
which would win a piece.
Steinitz: Also a very fine
move. |
21.Kc2
** |
Steinitz: Forced as Black
threatened
to win a piece by ...Ne4+; nor could the g-pawn advance, as it would be
lost by the same sally. |
21...Be4+ 22.Kb3 Nd7
** |
Gunsberg: Once more the
self-same
move comes in very forcibly. |
23.g5 f6
** |
Gunsberg: Effectively
stopping
the desperate though harmless rush of these pawns.
Steinitz: Very fine play, as White
cannot
advance the pawn without creating an opening for the adverse rook that
would be disastrous for him, and otherwise the whole of
Whites
attack on the kingside is completely stopped. |
24.Bg4
** |
Gunsberg: A move wholly
without
effect in preventing the speedy dissolution of the game contemplated by
Black.
Steinitz: 24.Be3 was now the only
defense.
The text move draws White into the mate net. |
24...Nc5+ 25.Ka3 Rd3+ [1:12-0:44]
26.b3
** |
Gunsberg: Black here
announced
mate in five moves.
Steinitz: As will be seen the mate is
accomplished in a most ingenious manner. |
26...Na4+ 27.Kxa4 Rd4+ 28.b4
Rxb4+
[1:15-0:50] 0-1.
** |
Gunsberg: If 29.Ka3, mate
follows
by 29...Rb5+ 30.Ka4 Bc2#. Or if 29.Ka5 b6+ 30.Ka6 Ra4#. |
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The Sun, New York,
1890.12.19
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The World, New York,
1890.12.19
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New-York Daily Tribune,
1890.12.19
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