Chess is a scientific game and its literature ought to be placed on the basis of the strictest truthfulness, which is the foundation of all scientific research. W._Steinitz

The Blackburne-Zukertort Match,
London 1881
Researched by Nick Pope

    The eighth game, played on Monday [sic], July 12, at Simpson’s.  This game which lasted somewhat less than two hours requires little comment.  The opening was the same, Giuoco pianissimo, as in the fourth and six games, with the modification that Blackburne in his development dispensed with the retreat of the B to Kt 3, and the advance of P to K R 3.  The nature of this opening, at least in the form favoured by Blackburne, did not apparently allow the first player to profit much by the gain of those two moves, and the respective positions stood about even when Blackburne instituted an exchange of two minor pieces and the Q, which resulted in Black’s K being temporarily shut up, while White’s rooks were doubled on the K file.  Zukertort then promptly opposed his Q R, protected by the Kt, and a few moves after the additional exchange had been effected, the game presented such an even position, with little scope for action on either side, that a draw was declared by mutual consent.
The Field, London, 1881.07.16
Blackburne,JH — Zukertort,JH
(8)
C54/07
Giuoco Piano: Pianissimo
1881.07.12
GBR London (Simpson’s Divan)
Annotations by Wilhelm Steinitz
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Be3 Bb6 7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.Nf1 c6 9.Ng3 h6 10.Qe2 g5 11.0-0-0 Ng6 12.d4 Qe7 13.Nf5
This leads to an even game, though White gains first possession of the open e-file with doubled rooks. Probably Blackburne thought that the latter contingency, which is usually a favorable one, should have yielded him some retainable advantage. However, excepting perhaps 13.h4, the consequences of which required great forethough, we see no other feasible line of continuation for White.
13...Bxf5 14.exf5 Nf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Rde1 Qxe2 17.Rxe2+ Kf8 18.Rhe1 Re8
The proper rejoinder, which completely neutralizes the action of the opponent's doubled rooks.
19.Rxe8+ [1:00-?:??]
If 19.Nd2, Black's king will first move to g7; and should White then attempt to enter at e7, then Black would make himself safe by 20...d5 followed by 21...Bd8. It should be observed that it is necessary to bring the king out first, for if 19...d5, White after retreating the bishop might cause some embarrassment to Black's position by returning with the knight to f3, and fixing himself at e5 without allowing both rooks to be exchanged.
19...Nxe8 20.g4 fxg3 21.fxg3 d5 22.Bd3 f6 ½-½.
Black will bring his rook to e7 via R2 to face that of the opponent, and neither side has any means of egress.
The Field, London, 1881.07.16

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