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

    Second game, played at Simpson’s on Wednesday, June 29.—The duel for chess honours was renewed at half-past one o’clock. Blackburne commenced with his favourite Scotch Gambit, and his opponent adopted a defence which will be new to most British players, viz. : 4…Kt to B 3 first suggested and analysed in the Schachzeiting some years ago by Herr von Schmid. It led to a rapid exchange of queens after both centre pawns had been exchanged, White retaining an unbroken row of pawns on each of the two wings, while Zukertort had an isolated doubled P on the Q B file, and an isolated R P ; but Black had apparently relied on the strength of his two bishops as against the adverse Kt and B. On the 14th move Blackburne chose an ill-judged development for his Kt at Q R 3, which reduced his subsequent manœuvres with that Kt to one feasible course, while Kt to Q 2 instead would have allowed him eventually several fair options. His game became cramped, and in his usual dashing style he entered on a counter-attack on the 17th move, most probably only on the chance of extricating himself with a draw, for his game looked too bad to give him any reasonable prospect of winning. Zukertort’s play kept his opponent tight, and Black’s conduct of the attack on the Q side, and respective defence on the other wing, was faultless, excepting that on his 16th move K R to Q sq was stronger, and on the 18th move he advanced the Q R P too soon, instead of first guarding by P to K Kt 3. Blackburne did not avail himself of the opportunity of pushing his K B P at once to the 5th, apparently in fear of the reply P to R 6, which we believe would have only led to an even game. (See note i.) He guarded against the latter advance, and his game then became gradually worse, until Black, on the 23rd move, posted prematurely his R at Q 6, instead of guarding himself first against the entrance of the adverse Kt at Q 5. Blackburne promptly took advantage, and extricated all his forces by a series of ingenious coups, and succeeded in exchanging all minor pieces, with even pawns. After the exchange of one R, a rather languid ending followed, in which Zukertort retained his superiority of a P, with two separated passed pawns on the K side against a passed P on the Q R file. The game was adjourned, according to the rules of the match after four hours’ play, for an hour and a half, on the 43rd move, Zukertort having tried in vain to make any impression with his pawns. After the adjournment, Blackburn [sic] defiantly gave up the last P he had, and thereby forced with his K and R a singular position, which, his opponent had to admit, could only result in a draw, albeit, Black was two clear pawns ahead. Duration five hours.
The Field, London, 1881.07.02
Blackburne,JH — Zukertort,JH
(2)
C45/05
Scotch: Schmid
1881.06.29
GBR London (Simpson’s Divan)
Annotations by Wilhelm Steinitz
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3
** 6.e5 seems preferable, and apparently give White a good game without necessitating the exchange of queens.
6...d5
** The best answer now, for the apparently dangerous reply 7.e5 has no effect.
7.Qe2
** If the e-pawn advanced, the knight would retreat to d7 without minding the attack by 8.e6, in which case Black might return with the knight to f6, or else even capture the pawn, and then move the king to e7, if the adverse queen checks at h5, with a strong center.
7...dxe4 8.Bxe4 Nxe4 9.Qxe4+ Qe7 10.Qxe7+ Bxe7 11.0-0
** Mr. Steel afterwards proposed here the strong-looking 11.Bf4, followed by 12.Bg3, should Black oppose 11...Bd6.  We think this leads to an even game, provided that Black castles on the queenside, in order to cover his weakness of pawns on that wing.
11...0-0 12.Re1 Bf6 13.c3 Rb8 14.Na3
** An ill-favored post for the knight, which might have been better employed from d2.  He had then the choice of entering at e4 or c4, or else of covering at b3, even if the opponent replied 14...Be6, as Black could not gain a pawn by the exchange, his a-pawn being left afterwards unprotected.
14...Be6 15.Nc2 c5 16.Ne3 Rfe8
** Black has contested his game excellently up to this, but here 16...Rfd8 at once apears preferable; he has afterwards to remove this rook to that square.
17.f4
** 17.Nd1, with the view of bringing out the bishop to f4, was sounder play.  Black could not then retain the pawn if he captured the a-pawn in reply, for White would then return with his knight to e3, either before or after exchaning rooks.
17...a5 18.Kf2 a4
** Premature, for it gives the opponent an opportunity of releasing himself.  He should have first advanced 18...g6. 
19.a3
** Inconsistent hesitation, which ought to have cost him the game. He could have safely advanced 19.f5, and the reply 19...a3, which he apparently feared, could not harm—e.g.: 19.f5 a3 20.fxe6 axb2 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Bxb2 Rxb2+ 23.Re2 Bxc3 (this seems best, for if 23...Rxe2+ first, the white king is driven nearer to the queenside, and his rook comes in at f1 with a check.) 24.Rf1 and he certainly has a much better game than the one he obtained by the move in the text. [This is note i mentioned above. -Pope]
19...g6 20.Re2 [1:00-?:??] 20...Red8 21.g4 h6 22.f5 Bc8 23.c4 Rd3
** This throws victory away, which could have been secured by limiting the action of the knight on the kingside, where it was of little use.  Either by 23...c6, as afterwards proposed by Zukertort, or 23...Ba6, would have served that object.  If in reply to the latter move the knight nevertheless entered at d5, Black could either take it off with the rook at once, or check with the bishop at d4, followed by 25...Bxc4.
24.Nd5 Bh4+
** In reply to 24...Bd4+, White could have safely interposed the bishop; for if then 25...Bxb2, White could answer 26.Rb1, at the same time threatening 26.Ne7+.
25.Kg2 gxf5 26.Bf4
** A very ingenious resource.  In case Black should take the b-pawn, White would obtain a strong attack by Re8+, followed by Be5.
26...Bb7 27.gxf5 Rd4 28.Bxc7 Rc8 29.Bg3 Bxg3 [?:??-1:00]
** If he withdrew 29...Bg5, White might answer 30.h4; and if then Black took twice without taking the knight checking, White would move the king to g3 and win the exchange, since Ne7+ would remain threatened; while, on the other hand, the exchaning of all the minor pieces would also only leave the game in a newish condition.
30.Kxg3
** Best, as he wants to release his knight from the pinning action of the adverse bishop, and compel its exchange.
30...Bxd5 31.cxd5 [2:00-?:??] 31...Rxd5 32.Rae1 Rxf5 33.Re8+ Rxe8 34.Rxe8+ Kg7 35.Ra8 Rd5 36.Rxa4 Rd3+ 37.Kg4 Rb3 38.Rc4 Rxb2 39.Rxc5 Rxh2 40.a4 Kg6 41.Rc4 Rh1 42.Rd4 f5+ 43.Kf4 Rf1+ 44.Kg3 Rc1
** If 44...Kg5, White would move 45.Rd8, threatening a series of checks in the rear.
45.Kf4 Rf1+ 46.Kg3 Kf6
** Apparently with the object of assisting the advance of the f-pawn from the center, for he perceives that he can do no good with his king on the extreme king’s wing.
47.a5 [3:00-?:??]
** He gives up his last pawn gratuitously, which caused much excitement amongst the spectators.
47...Ra1 48.Kf4 Rxa5 49.Rd6+ Kg7 50.Rb6 ½-½.
** It is a curious and rather amusing position.  The white rook cannot be displaced from the sixth row now, and whenever Black’s h-pawn advances, White will enter at g5, securing an easy draw.
The Field, London, 1881.07.02

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