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 fifth game, played at the St. George’s on Monday, the 4th inst., was a repetition of the opening in the third game, with some modifications which transformed the position into one similar to those arising from the Indian opening.  As usual when the players have to manœuvre their heavier pieces behind the pawns, they had to grope in the dark.  Zukertort seemed to have the best of the struggle, though he clearly lost some moves with his Kt, and his opponent was reduced to the expedient of creating a block on the K side.  Blackburne soon afterwards castled, instead of opening his centre at once.  White had then the opportunity of shutting in the adverse K B for ever by P to Q 5, which we believe was the strongest course ; but Zukertort pursued another plan, and came out with the better game, though we are not sure he must have secured the victory thereby.  He had to lose a lot of time before he could bring his two bishops into favourable position.  His manœuvres to that effect were, however, conceived in a masterly manner, and Black’s defence at last became difficult.  On the 37th move Blackburne, by a miscalculation, neglected to support once more the weak K B P, and allowed the opponent to effect an elegant sacrifice of the exchange, followed by a fine move of the R to R 6, after which White was enabled to accumulate all his forces without hindrance against the adverse weakened K side, and Blackburne’s game finally broke down after the loss of his Q had been forced.  Duration, 6½ hours.
The Field, London, 1881.07.09
Zukertort,JH — Blackburne,JH
(5)
B25/02
Sicilian: Closed
1881.07.04
GBR London (St. George’s Chess Club)
Annotations by Wilhelm Steinitz
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3
** Better than 3.f4 adopted in the third game of the match.
3...Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.Nge2 Bd7 7.Be3 Nd4 8.Qd2 Rb8
** We do not like Black’s last three moves; he should have aimed at developing his kingside.  He was, however, wise in not attempting 8...Bg4, for Black might then have safely retreated the knight to g1, and would afterwards have gained time by pawn to h3.
9.h3 h5 10.Nd1 Bc6 11.c3 Nxe2 12.Qxe2 Nf6 13.f4 Qc7 14.Nf2
** Loss of time.  He should have endeavored to post his knight at e3 after removing his bishop.
14...b5 15.0-0 Nd7 [?:??-1:00] 16.d4 c4 17.Nd1 Nb6 18.Bd2 Bd7 19.Ne3 Qc8 20.f5 [1:00-?:??] 20...g5 21.Nd1
** For the third time this knight is moved to the same square, but now with a more tangible object, for it forces his opponent to block in his bishop with his own f-pawn, as he cannot defend the g-pawn with 21...Bf6, on account of the reply 22.e5, now prepared by the removal of the knight.
21...f6 22.Bf3 h4 23.g4 0-0 24.Ne3
** We should have decidedly preferred 24.d5, which would have made Black’s g7-bishop perfectly useless.  White’s pieces could be well placed in all directions, and he could well afford to leave a weak spot open at e5 for the entrance of the adverse knight, for he had plenty of scope for operation on the queenside.
24...e5 25.fxe6 Bxe6 26.Be1 Re8 27.Qg2 Qd8 28.Kh1 Nd7 29.Bf2 Nf8 30.Bg1 Ng6 31.Bh2
** The movement of this bishop to this important post, where it attacks a weak adverse pawn, was beautifully worked out.
31...Bf8 [?:??-2:00] 32.Bd1 Bc8 33.Bc2
** By another clever maneuver he has now posted his bishop more favorably.  Black could do nothing in the meanwhile.
33...Bb7 34.Rf5 Bg7 35.Kg1
** Also marked with great foresight.  Evidently he will have to advance the e-pawn sooner or later for the purpose of attack, and he removes the knight at once from the pinning action of the adverse bishop; reserving an option of several places for the queen.
35...a6 36.Raf1 Ne7
** Almost unpardonable carelessness in a match game.  It was obvious that White aimed at breaking through in the king’s quarter, and he could, without great difficulty, have reckoned out that the opponent would obtain a clearly won game after the sacrifice of the exchange.  36...Rf8 was the proper defense.
37.Rxf6 [2:00-?:??] 37...Bxf6 38.Rxf6 Nc8 39.Rh6
** Most probably this very fine move must have been overlooked by Black in his forecast of the position.  It wins by force (see diagram).
39...Rf8 40.Nf5 Rf6 41.Rh5 Rg6 42.Qf2
** Zukertort pursues his attack with his usual vigor and energy.
42...Qf8
** If 42...Qf6, the e-pawn would also have advanced, and as soon as the bishop entered at e5 White threatened Ne7+, followed by Rh8#.
43.e5 Nb6 44.exd6 Nd5 45.Be5
** The finishing stroke.
45...Nf4 [?:??-3:00] 46.Rh8+ Kf7 47.Rxf8+ Rxf8 48.Bxf4 gxf4 49.Qxh4 1-0.
**
The Field, London, 1881.07.09

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