The Gunsberg-Steinitz Match,
World Championship 1890-91
Researched by Nick Pope
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A VICTORY FOR STEINITZ.
GUNSBERG SUFFERS ANOTHER DEFEAT.
SCORE IN THE CHESS MATCH NOW STANDS:
STEINITZ 5, GUNSBERG 3, DRAWN 5.
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In the chess match for the championship of the
world
now in progress between Messrs. Steinitz and Gunsberg the thirteenth
game
was played yesterday at the Manhattan Chess Club, in West
Twenty-seventh-st.
Steinitz had the move and again selected the Zuckertort [sic]
opening,
Kt-K B 3. His opponent adopted a defence different from the one he
played
in the eleventh game, and after eight or ten moves had been made it
seemed
as though Gunsberg had not quite so good a position as on the former
occasion,
because of the fact that his pieces could not be so readily developed as
before, while Steinitz had more freedom. |
On both sides the game was conducted pretty
rapidly.
After a few more moves Steinitz threatened an attack on the opposing Q
B P, but Gunsberg was successful in neutralizing the effect of this
movement.
Not only did he manage to develop his pieces, but he appeared to avert
all danger for the present. Meanwhile, however, Steinitz prepared a
strong
attack on the Kings side by doubling his Rooks on the K B file in
readiness
for an onslaught when the proper moment arrived. This was the state of
affairs after twenty-one moves had been registered. |
Now the battle began to rage in earnest, for
Steinitz
began to threaten on both wings-on the Queens side with his Q, and
on
the Kings side with his R and Kt. His opponents play became
difficult
to manage, but just when he seemed to have got into a bad position, at
his twenty-fifth move, he played B-Kt 4 which at once seemed to alter
the
state of affairs. At the adjournment, however, Steinitz was considered
to have the better of the fight. |
On the resumption of play at 7 oclock the
pace
was forced by the move which Steinitz had sealed upon the adjournment of
the afternoon sitting. Still Steinitz had to meet with great care a
counter
attack which Gunsberg managed to obtain by giving up his centre pawns.
When the 37th move had been reached, however, Gunsbergs play
became greatly
hampered by the attack which he had to contend with from several
quarters.
The deciding point seemed to be attained on Whites 38th turn, when
Black
could no longer hold his citadel, and he had to resign after making one
more move. |
New-York Daily Tribune,
1891.01.08
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CONTESTING CHESS GAMES.
STEINITZ AGAIN IN THE LEAD BY TWO
GAMES.
The Veteran Played a Beautiful Zukertort
Opening Against the Youngster-
The Latter Fought Bravely, but in Vain.
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The incident of last Monday in the match between
Steinitz and Gunsberg, has given a lively turn to affairs, and has
brought
into existence the neucleus of what may ultimately grow to be the
subject
of a warm controversy between the two masters. Before the commencement
of yesterdays game, they had quite a lively, though not unfriendly
argument
upon the matter. |
The turn to open the game yesterday belonged to
Steinitz, and he showed his pertinacity of purpose by again playing Kt-K
B 3, known as the Zukertort opening, which, practically speaking, after
a few moves became a Queens Gambit. In effect every one of his
openings
so far has been virtually the same, and the frequent repetition of
similar
openings cannot fail to have an instructive value to students, still a
greater variety would be more edifying to the general spectator. The
early
moves on both sides were made very quickly. Gunsberg varied the defence
somewhat, and Steinitz also altered slightly his opening moves. The
former
castled on his fifth move, and Steinitz adopted the same proceeding on
the sixth. |
Steinitz then proceeded with a very carefully
directed
attack on his opponents Q B pawn, and almost at the same time he
strengthened
his K side by taking up a threatening attitude with his rooks on the
open
K B file. Gunsberg got into a very difficult position, but his defence
was a clever one, and his twenty-fifth move, B-Kt 4, seemed to turn
things
a little in his favor, although Steinitz was altogether of a different
opinion. However, after four more moves on either side, the game was
adjourned
[...] |
The move which Steinitz sealed on the adjournment
proved to be a very fine one when it was made known on the resumption of
play in the evening. By it the pace was accelerated. Gunsberg made a
gallant
but ineffective struggle, and after ten more moves his position became
so hopeless that he was finally obliged to resign, which he did on his
fortieth turn. The score now stands: Steinitz, 5; Gunsberg, 3; drawn,
5. |
The Sun, New York,
1891.01.08
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LEADING BY TWO GAMES.
Steinitz Again Defeats the Londoner in
the Chess Match.
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The short and brilliant victory scored by
Gunsberg
in the Evans gambit has infused a renewed interest to the chess contest,
for even the home champions most ardent admirers have to admit
that the
match will be by no means a one-sided affair. In consequence thereof the
rooms of the Club were crowded at an early hour yesterday, and much
speculation
was indulged in whether the veteran would deem it advisable to abandon
his hitherto favored close openings, and if so whether he would resort
to the variation of the Ruy Lopez, which he had favored almost to the
exclusion
of any other attack throughout the greater part of the London tournament
in 1883, as well as in his second match against the late J. H.
Zukertort.
A few Hotspurs, with whom the wish fathered the thought, gave expression
to their expectation that Mr. Steinitz would venture that variation of
the Vienna opening which bears his name. |
As is generally the case with prophecies, none of
the predicted events happened, but Mr. Steinitz adhered for the third
time
to what is known as the Zukertort opening, namely, beginning
with 1.Kt-K
B 3. Mr. Gunsberg succeeded in finding out a novel and original
defense,
which seems also to be quite sound, but unfortunately he lost time on
several
occasions by indifferent moves, while his opponent, who was in excellent
form, gained ground steadily. |
After the seventeenth move he had the better
position
for the ending, according to the doctrines expounded by the modern
school,
as he had four connected and well-protected pawns on the Queen side,
while
the pawns of his opponent were dissolved into groups of two. But he
omitted
the timely advance of his Q R P, which would have given him the
initiative,
besides that white would not have been able to bring his queen into play
via Q R 6 and Q Kt. Both the eighteenth and nineteenth moves of black
lacked
force, while white brought his pieces into a favorable array. As will be
seen by the notes on the game, the English player neglected twice to
push
his pawn to K R 3, and, as is usually the case in difficult positions,
began to be pressed for time. |
On the twenty-seventh move he committed an
irreparable
error by offering the exchange of knights, thereby submitting himself to
the opening of his K Kt file and a harassing attack, of which Mr.
Steinitz
promptly availed himself. When the time arrived for the veteran to seal
his move but few doubted that he would carry the day, and the ultimate
surrender of Mr. Gunsberg seemed only to be a question of time. |
After resumption of play Mr. Steinitz, by way of
threatening to win a piece or to mate, compelled Mr. Gunsberg to abandon
his Q B P, which white captured. Hereby the Q P was rendered
defenseless,
and Mr. Steinitz had now two pawns to his credit. On the thirty-sixth
move
he returned a pawn to bring matters to a settlement, and by
well-directed
play forced Mr. Gunsberg, who could no longer save a piece, to resign on
his fortieth move. |
This gives Mr. Steinitz again a lead of two
games:
the score being 5 to 3, and 5 drawn. To-day being the occasion of the
annual
general meeting of the Manhattan Chess Club, the fourteenth game will be
played on Friday. |
Mr. Steinitz has notified Mr. Gunsberg that he
will
not play his defense in the Evans gambit against him any more. That is
to say, not further than 6.Q-B 3. As Mr. Steinitzs two challenges,
however,
distinctly comprised also his move of 7.Kt-R 3 as well as some of the
subsequent
moves played in his cable game, his declination, no doubt influenced by
the advanced stage of the match, amounts to a complete retraction of his
challenges. Mr. Steinitz is, of course, perfectly entitled to act as he
does in his own interest as regards the present match, also as regards
the prospects in his adjourned cable game with Tschigorin. Mr.
Gunsberg
himself feels that, and he would be very sorry to take advantage of a
rashly
issued challenge, which, however, ought never to have been made. |
The interest taken in this match has caused
several
of the prominent chess clubs in this country to invite Mr. Gunsberg to
meet some of their strongest players and also to give exhibitions of
simultaneous
play. Arrangements have nearly been completed with chess clubs at:
Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Albany and other cities. |
The World, New York,
1891.01.08
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Steinitz,W Gunsberg,IA
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(13)
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A46/04 |
Indian: Knights (Rubinstein)
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1891.01.07 |
USA New York, NY (Manhattan Chess
Club)
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Annotations by Gunsberg &
Steinitz
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.e3 Bb4+
** |
Gunsberg: Black again varies
his defense of this opening.
Steinitz: There is hardly any time lost
by this odd move, unless, perhaps, White in reply should decide to
interpose
4.Nbd2. |
4.c3 Be7 5.Be2 0-0
[0:08-0:04]
6.0-0
** |
Steinitz: White did not
advance
6.c4, because Black had not advanced his d-pawn, and in such situation
Black might have answered 6...Bb4+; and if Whites
knight then interposed, he could have captured the knight and created a
double pawn. Black, after this, might proceed according to
Winawers
tactics, refraining carefully from advancing ...d5, and playing for an
ending in which the two knights would have the advantage,
because. |
6...d5 7.c4 b6
** |
Steinitz: Most of the
European
masters adopt this turn into the Fianchetto di Donna in this opening,
but
I have never looked upon it with favor. |
8.Nc3 Bb7 9.cxd5
** |
Steinitz: In my own opinion
best, though most of the experts, including Zukertort, usually played
here
9.b3, followed by Bb2. |
9...exd5 10.Ne5 Nfd7
[0:12-0:15]
** |
Gunsberg: Black played the
f-knight and not the b-knight, because after 11.f4 Nxe5 12.fxe5, he
would
have to retire that knight anyhow.
Steinitz: Hardly advisable, and under
the circumstances 10...Nbd7, followed by ...Re8 and ...Nf8 was probably
his best plan. |
11.f4 Nxe5 12.fxe5 c6
** |
Steinitz: Preparing for his
next offer of an exchange, and also preventing pawn to e4, and pawn to
d5 eventually. |
13.Bd2
** |
Steinitz: As White sees that
the adversary enters on an exchanging plan, he simply prepares an attack
on the queenside and brings the rooks into communication. Obviously
13.Bd3,
which looks a good move, would only have lost time. |
13...Ba6
** |
Gunsberg: In order to
prevent
White from posting his bishop at d3, which would give him a strong
attack.
Black loses, however, time thereby.
Steinitz: This was now
Blacks
best plan, undoubtedly, for if 13...Na6 instead, White would have opened
a tremendous attack by 14.Bd3, which he could well back up ultimately
with
the doubled rooks on the f-file, and those rooks could afterward be
brought
accordingly to the g-file, or h-file. |
14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.Qa4 Nb8
[0:22-0:28]
16.Rac1 f6 17.exf6 Bxf6
** |
Gunsberg: If 17...Rxf6 White
would continue with 18.e4. Black has now the better position for the
ending,
as he has four connected pawns on the queenside, while the white pawns
are dissolved in groups of two. But Whites
pieces are far better developed. |
18.Ne2 Re8
** |
Gunsberg: A weak move,
instead
of which he should have played 18...a5, followed by 19...b5. |
19.Rf3 Qe7 20.Rcf1 Rc8[0:35-0:54]
21.Bb4 Qe6
** |
Gunsberg: If 21...Qe4, then
22.Ng3, followed by Nf5 and Nd6.
Steinitz: If 21...c5 22.Qb3 Rd8 23.dxc5
bxc5 24.Nf4, and clearly Black dare not take the bishop on account of
the
rejoinder 25.Nxd5, and both his center pawns will become weak and must
fall in the end. |
22.Nf4 Qe4 23.Nh5 Nd7 24.Qa6
** |
Steinitz: Better than 24.Rc1
on account of the continuation 24...b5 25.Qa6 Bxd4 with the
advantage. |
24...Qe8
** |
Steinitz: Whereas now, if
24...Bxd4
25.exd4 Qxd4+ 26.Kh1 Qxb4 27.Qb7 Qd6 28.Rf7 with a winning
game. |
25.Rh3 Bg5
[1:19-1:34]
** |
Gunsberg: 25...h3 instead of
the last move seems to be much better. |
26.Kh1
** |
Gunsberg: Intending to
continue
with Nxg7.
Steinitz: In order to prepare Re1 in
case
Black should take the e-pawn with his bishop. |
26...Nf6
** |
Gunsberg: He cannot capture
the pawn because of the reply 27.Qd3. The move in the text is a grave
error,
as will be seen forthwith. Blacks
best play
at this juncture was still 26...h6.
Steinitz: Perhaps the best defense was
26...Bh6, followed by ...Nf8. |
27.Nxf6+ gxf6
** |
Gunsberg: If 27...Bxf6
instead,
White would win with 28.Rxf6, followed by 29.Qb7.
Steinitz: Absolutely necessary. If
27...Bxf6
28.Rxf6 gxf6 29.Qb7, followed by 30.Rg3 in reply to 29...Qg6 (the only
move) and wins. |
28.Qb7 Qg6
** |
Gunsberg: Perhaps it was
better
to play here 28...h6. The following continuation was likely to occur:
28...h6
29.Rg3 Qf7 30.Qa6 Kh8. |
29.Qd7 Kh8 [1:51-?:??]
30.Be7(Sealed)
30...Rg8 [1:51-1:46]
** |
Gunsberg: White threatened
31.Bxf6+ Bxf6 32.Rxf6. Blacks last
move prevents
it, but at the cost of two pawns.
Steinitz: He had hardly anything better
and this opens to him some prospect of attack against the
kingside. |
31.Qxc6 Rac8 32.Qxd5 Rg7 33.Bb4
Qd3 34.Qf3 Rc2 35.Bc3 Re7 [2:17-2:13]
** |
The ChessBase for Windows demo
has the move 35...Re2, which is clearly wrong.-[Pope] |
36.e4
** |
Gunsberg: Giving up the pawn
in order to bring matters to a speedy termination.
Steinitz: The best way of getting rid
of the adverse attack, as White had sufficient to win in the ending and
the e-pawn could not be saved anyhow. |
36...Qxe4 37.d5 Qg6
** |
Gunsberg: The exchange of
queens
would likewise leave him with an untenable position. |
38.Rg3
** |
Gunsberg: Threatening to win
by Rxg5. |
38...Rf7 39.d6
** |
Gunsberg: Better than 39.h4
at once, to which Black had some defense by 39...Qh6.
Steinitz: Obviously, if 39.Rxg5 Qxg5
40.Bxf6+
Rxf6 and wins, for clearly White cannot retake twice on account of the
mate ultimately pending by ...Rc1#. |
39...h6
** |
Gunsberg: If now 39...Qh6,
White pushes 40.d7 Rxd7 41.Rxg5 and Black cannot reply with 41...Rxc3,
for White would mate beginning with 42.Qa8+. |
40.h4 [2:30-2:38]
1-0.
** |
Steinitz: Winning a piece
with
an overwhelming attack. |
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The Sun, New York,
1891.01.08
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The World, New York,
1891.01.08
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New-York Daily Tribune,
1891.01.08
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