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 Rosenthal-Zukertort Match,
London 1880
Researched by Nick Pope

THE MATCH BETWEEN ROSENTHAL AND ZUKERTORT.
   THE sixth game, played on Friday, the 14th of May.  Another Ruy Lopez, and another draw, but again the struggle was distinguished by fine features, though of a different character from those of the previous games of the match, for the fight was, by an early exchange of queens, soon resolved into an ending game; and then came such a steady wrestling for small advantages as will delight the students of pawn play.  M. Rosenthal, by a series of masterly manoeuvres, at last obtained a winning superiority with a well-supported passed P at Q 7, the adversary’s K being cut off by the White R, and another passed P having been forced on at the K B file.  Instead, however, of supporting the latter with his K, he rushed on with it to B 6 on the 43rd move, not seeing that his subtle opponent though unable to capture it at once, could, by a fine manoeuvre of the B, secure its final fall.  Owing to mismanagement in the early part, Zukertort had the inferior and the more difficult game throughout the greater part of the struggle, and his defence was mostly only of a negative character; but the manner in which he calculated the chances of prolongation and of an error on the part of the opponent when all seemed hopeless, as well as the way in which he at last force the draw in a position which was still extremely difficult, deserves the highest commendation.  M. Rosenthal is of the opinion that the superiority which he by degrees acquired should be the natural outcome of his exchanging queens on the 9th move.  He evidently differs in this judgment from the best authorities, who assumed the game to be so even at that juncture as not to bestow upon it further analysis; and as the present game is also, as far as we are aware, the first match game on record in which this exchange was adopted, we may conclude that M. Rosenthal’s views are at variance with those of other first-class practitioners.  Our opinion on the subject is in accordance with the principles we have frequently laid down in out columns in our criticism of similar positions.  We still maintain that Black’s majority of pawns on the Q side, though somewhat marred by a doubled P, ought, in combination with the two bishops, to prove at least an equal match against the adverse superiority of pawns on the K side.  Though the aspect of the defence in the present game is not favourable to this theory, we think we shall be able to show, in our notes below, sufficient objections against Black’s 15th, 20th, and 22nd move to account for the failure of the defence on this occasion.  The duration of the game was seven hours and a half.
The Field, London, 1880.05.22
Rosenthal,S — Zukertort,JH
(6)
C67/02
Spanish: Open Berlin
1880.05.14
GBR London
Annotations by Wilhelm Steinitz
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Be7 6.Re1 Nd6 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.dxe5 Nf5 9.Qxd8+
** The usual move is here 9.Qe2.  As regards the general merits of this innovation, see our introductory comments.
9...Bxd8 10.Nc3 h6
** Good play.  He wishes to preserve his two bishops, and to prevent Ng5 in case he brings out his bishop to e6.  It may be observed that he had nothing to fear now or before from the opponent endeavoring to exchange by Bg5, for he might well answer ...Nd4, threatening to double the adverse f-pawn by ...Nxf3+.
11.Ne4 b6 12.h3 c5 13.c3 Be6 14.Bf4 Ne7 15.b3 Nc6
** Up to the present Blacks plan of development and the battle order of his pawns are very well devised; but this we consider a loss of time, and we hold 15...Nd5 superior.  The following was then a likely continuation: 15...Nd5 16.Bd2 (Which seems best.  We see no use for the bishop on any other square) 16...a5 17.c4 Nb4 18.Bxb4 axb4, and, we think that Black has a very fair game in spite of the two doubled pawns, owing to his being enabled to form an attack against the adverse a-pawn with both rooks.  His best plan of getting his king into good position for that object would be to bring him out at once to d7 and then to c6, in order to prepare the eventual advance of the b-pawn.  Should White try to prevent this by 19.Red1, the game might further proceed thus: 19.Red1 Be7 20.Rd2 b5, and if 21.cxb5, Black answers 21...Bxb3 with the better game, otherwise he will exchange pawns, followed by ...Ra3, also with superior position.
16.Rad1 Be7 17.c4 O-O 18.Nc3 Rfd8 19.Nb5
** 19.Nd5 was tempting but not good; e.g.: 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Nb4 21.d6 cxd6 22.exd6 Bf6 23.d7 Nc2, followed by 24...Nd4 if the adverse e-rook moves.  Should White now play 24.Bc7, then Black takes the rook with the knight, whereupon the knight must retake, and then the bishop interposes at d4, winning the pawn.
19...Rxd1 [?:??-1:00] 20.Rxd1 Bd8
** This ill-considered retreat appears to us the root of all subsequent difficulties. We see not the least objection to 20...Rd8.  White could not then escape exchanging rooks, for, if he removed the rook from the open file, Black would mostly answer 21...Rd7, and would soon obtain the better game.  After the exchange of rooks Black would reach the queenside with his king in a few moves, or attack the knight and release the bishop for action viá e7.  White, on the other hand, could not pursue the plan of fixing the knight at d5 without exposing his far-advanced pawns, e.g.: 20...Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.Nc3 Kf8 23.a3 (This seems a necessary preliminary to Nd5, in order to prevent Blacks entrance with the knight at b4 after exchanging.) 23...Ke8 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.cxd5 Ne7 26.d6 Nd5 (We consider this better than exchanging pawns first, for it compels the retreat of the adverse bishop on the kingside, as he is bound to keep the e-pawn supported.) 27.Bg3 Kd7 (And we prefer Blacks game, for White will be ultimately compelled to exchange pawns, which brings the bishop at once into a good position.  In the meanwhile the surprise by 28.e6+, ought not to succeed by correct play for Black could answer 28...fxe6, and then safely capture the other pawn with the king in reply to 29.Ne5+.
21.Nc3 Ne7 22.g4 c6
** On no account should we have done this now, if at all.  It was so manifestly dangerous to allow the adverse knight the strong post at d6, which he could reach in two moves, viá e4, as to make it absolutely imperative to postpone such a move as long as possible.  Nor do we see any immediate necessity for it; as we think the king ought to have moved at once to f8.  If the adverse c-knight then entered at d5, Black gained at any rate an important move by ...c6; and, in answer to most other movements of the hostile c-knight.  White could gain time by the counter threat of a4, with the view of breaking through by a5.
23.Ne4 Bc7 24.Bg3 [1:00-?:??] 24...Ng6 25.Rd2
** A waiting move apparently, but one which we believe loses time.  25.Kg2 or 25.Ne1, had much more meaning.
25...Kf8 26.Kg2 Re8 27.Nd6 Rd8
** Best.  White would have soon obtained a winning superiority if he had taken the knight, e.g.: 27...Bxd6 28.Rxd6 b5 29.Nd2 bxc4 30.bxc4 Rb8 31.f4 Rb2 32.Kf3, with a winning game.
28.Ne1 b5
** This looked plausible enough, and, to all appearance, it was a fair attempt at releasing his confined position; but in reality it led to a lost game, on account of the isolation of the c-pawn.  28...f6 was probably the best resource here, for White could not afford to protect with the f-pawn without weakening his centre pawn by allowing it to be isolated.  If, on the other hand, he exchanged pawns first, then Black had certainly somewhat the inferior position, on account of his separated and isolated pawns on the kingside; but then there was no immediate danger, as the king was handy enough to support them.  At any rate, White could not institute a very effective attack at once.  Supposing 28...f6 29.exf6 gxf6 30.Nf3 (If 30.Re2, the answer is 30...Bxg4) 30...Ke7 31.Nf5+ (He will hardly obtain any advantage by 31.Ne4, and the move we suggest seems to require greater nicety of play on the part of the defense.) 31...Bxf5 32.Rxd8 Bxd8 (The only move.  32...Kxd8 33.Bxc7+ Kxc7 34.gxf5 Ne7 [This seems best if the knight move elsewhere; then White withdraws the knight to h2, threatening Ng4, and should the h-pawn advance, then White would win the same with a few moves of his king.] 35.Nh4 Kd6 36.Kf3, and Black dare not reply 36...Ke5, e.g.: 36...Ke5 37.Ng6+ Kd6 [Best; Black would lose immediately if he exchanges, for the pawn retakes, and then White moves Kg4 in reply to Blacks best defense, ...Ke6.] 38.Kg4, and he ought to win the h-pawn soon, which would decide the game in his favor.) 33.gxf5 Nh8, and, in case of danger, the h-pawn may be protected by ...Nf7.  The a-pawn is also safe now, for if White play 34.Bb8, the answer will be 34...Kd7, threatening to block out the bishop by ...Kc7 in case he takes the pawn. 
29.Nd3
** The correct rejoinder; Rosenthal plays this part with nicety and marked precision.
29...bxc4 30.bxc4 Bxd6
** Zukertort pointed out that 30...Nxe5 at this juncture, would have given him some chance of a draw, for it was by no means easy for White to win in that case, e.g.: 30...Nxe5 31.Nxe5 Rxd6 (Best, if 31...Bxd6, White wins by 32.Nxc6) 32.Ng6+ fxg6 33.Bxd6+ Bxd6 34.Rxd6 Bxc4 35.Rd2 (Best; if 35.Rxg6 then Black checks with the bishop at d5, and afterwards attacks the rook alternately by ...Kf7 and ...Ke7) 35...Bd5+ 36.Kf1 Ke7, and it would be extremely difficult to point out a sure win for White, though no doubt he has the better chance of victory, and a certain draw at any time.  The move in the text was the only other alternative, for if 30...Bb6, White would obviously obtain a winning superiority in a few moves by 31.f4.
31.exd6 Bxc4 32.Nxc5 [2:00-?:??] 32...f6 [?:??-2:00]
33.Nb7 Rd7 34.Nc5 Rd8 35.d7 Bd5+ 36.f3 Ne5 37.Bxe5 fxe5 38.Re2 Kf7
** Had the king moved to e7, then White would take the e-pawn checking, followed by 40.Re8 in answer to 39...Kd6.  He could then exchange rooks, and, after moving the a-pawn to a3, he would win easily, as the adverse king remained fixed, and the hostile bishop could never approach the strong pawn at d7.
39.Rxe5
** Stronger than the tempting 39.Nd3, for Black would then reply - first 39...Kf6, followed by 40...B-K3, in answer to 40.Nxe5.
39...Bxa2 40.f4 g6 41.f5
** Good enough.  But it was also a sure way of winning to bring the king round to the queenside, viá f2 and e1, but not by way of e3, as he was bound to reserve this square for the rook, in case the adverse a-pawn advanced up to a4.  The White king then threatened to come up at last to c7, after picking up the pawn on the road; and Black had no defense to stop this, for even if he sacrificed the a-pawn in order to be enabled to attack the d-pawn by ...Be6, White could defend by Rd3, and the hostile king could not come nigh at e7, on account of the winning reply Re3 pinning the bishop.
41...gxf5 42.gxf5 Bb1
** In anticipation of Whites plan of attack, and a lucky guess.
43.f6
** A gross error.  He had nothing to do but to bring up his king to f4 in support of the f-pawn, winning became only a question of time.  According to the line occupied by Blacks bishop, he could then force the game either by Re6, or pawn to f6.  We give a diagram of this position.
43...Bg6
** An excellent rejoinder.  Of course, he could not take at once, or White would win by 44.Re8; but this preparation enables him to take it next time.
44.Kf3 Kxf6 45.Kf4 [3:00-?:??]
** White could here win a piece by the following process: 45.Re6+ K-moves 46.Rg6 Kxg6 47.Ne6 Rd7 48.Nf8+ Kf5 49.Nxd7; but by cautious play Black ought to have little difficulty in securing a draw by the help of his pawns on the queenside.
45...Bf7 46.Rf5+ Ke7 47.Re5+ Kf6 48.Rf5+ Ke7 49.Re5+ Kf6 50.Rf5+ Ke7 51.Re5+
** One of the conditions of the match provides that, after three repetitions of the same move or line of play, the repetition moves do not count any more in the time allowance for the player who first initiates the repetition; and, after six such moves, the game may be claimed as a draw by the opponent.  This rule is framed in order to prevent any player gaining undue time in situations in which a certain line of play can be forced upon the adversary.  It will be observed that Rosenthal alters his course just after the third repetition of a series of two different moves.
51...Kf6 52.h4 a5 53.Re4 h5
** All this is played with great foresight.  The effect of this fine move will be seen afterwards.
54.Re1 a4 [?:??-3:00] 55.Re3 a3 56.Rxa3 Be6 57.Rd3 Bg4
** See our previous note.  Without the bishop being able to fix himself on this square, Black could not save the game now, for the bishop could nowhere else command the line on which he attacked the adverse pawn, and enabled his own king to come near at e7.  He could not at once move 57...Ke7, on account of the rejoinder 58.Re3, and if 57...Bf5, he would lose thus: 57...Bf5 58.Rd6+ Ke7 59.Rh6 Bxd7 60.Rh7+ Ke8 61.Nb7 Rc8 (Best, or else a whole rook is lost by 62.Rh8+.) 62.Nd6+, winning the exchange and the h-pawn, which ought to secure an easy victory.
58.Rd4 Kf7 59.Kg5 Rg8+ 60.Kf4 Rd8 61.Rd6 Ke7 62.Rxc6
** Had he now attempted 62.Rh6, the game might have proceeded thus: 62.Rh6 Rf8+ 63.Ke3 (Best; if 63.Ke5, Black checks with the rook at f5, and then again at d5, and afterwards wins the pawn safely.) 63...Kd8 64.Rh7 Kc7, followed by ...Rd8 and then taking the pawn with the bishop.
62...Bxd7 63.Rh6 Rf8+ ½-½.
**
The Field, London, 1880.05.22

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