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 Gunsberg-Steinitz Match,
World Championship 1890-91
Researched by Nick Pope

A VICTORY FOR STEINITZ.
GUNSBERG SUFFERS ANOTHER DEFEAT.
SCORE IN THE CHESS MATCH NOW STANDS: 
STEINITZ 5, GUNSBERG 3, DRAWN 5.
:
    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 King’s 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 Queen’s side with his Q, and on the King’s side with his R and Kt. His opponent’s 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 o’clock 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, Gunsberg’s play became greatly hampered by the attack which he had to contend with from several quarters. The deciding point seemed to be attained on White’s 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

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.
:
    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 yesterday’s 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 Queen’s 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 opponent’s 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

LEADING BY TWO GAMES.
Steinitz Again Defeats the Londoner in
the Chess Match.
:
    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 champion’s 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. Steinitz’s 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

Steinitz,W — Gunsberg,IA
(13)
A46/04
Indian: Knights (Rubinstein)
1891.01.07
USA New York, NY (Manhattan Chess Club)
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.
The Sun, New York, 1891.01.08
The World, New York, 1891.01.08
New-York Daily Tribune, 1891.01.08

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