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-Steinitz Match,
London 1876
Researched by Nick Pope

    The final game, played on Thursday, was opened by Steinitz again with the Vienna debut.  Blackburne defended in Anderssen’s favorite way, whereupon Steinitz at once blocked out the Q B by P to K B 5.  The novelty proved a success, since White was able to support the whole battle line of pawns on both wings, with the choice to himself to break in on either side.  Blackburne pushed hard, unable to castle, and, having most of his pieces knotted together uselessly on the Q side, forced an opening on the K side in order to relieve himself by exchanging queens.  But the position proved unfavourable to him in the ending.  Steinitz, having one important open file for the K R, and being able to force another opening for the Q R, soon compelled the opponent to sacrifice two pawns, and then managed to force the game in a pretty finish.
The Field, London, 1876.03.04
Steinitz,W — Blackburne,JH
(7)
C30/06
King’s Gambit Declined: Classical
1876.03.02
GBR London (West-End Chess Club)
Annotations by Blackburne & Steinitz
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 Whites 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 [?:??-1:00]14.c3 Nd8 15.Bb3 g6 16.g4 h5 17.Rf1 hxg4 18.hxg4 gxf5 19.gxf5 f6 20.Qe2 [1:00-?:??] 20...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 Blacks 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 [?:??-2:00]
** 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 Whites reply leaves no escape.
36.Re8+ Kg7 37.Rxa8 1-0.
The Field, London, 1876.03.04

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