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 great contest between the two masters commenced on Monday last at two o’clock at the rooms of the St. George’s.  Both players seemed to be in excellent condition, and, as far as good health is a requirement in match play, the friends of either player have apparently no need to fear any break-downs.  The toss for the first move fell in favour of Mr Zukertort, who opened with P to K 4.  His opponent adopted a peculiar form of the Sicilian defence which has never before occurred in any match or tournament, though Mr Blackburne has previously practised it in several toughly contested games against Mr Steel.  The result of the opening manœuvres was an early exchange of queens, and the position of the seven pawns was unbroken on Black’s side from the K R file to the Q B file, with a vacancy on the Q Kt file, and an isolated Q R P, while White’s battle order was divided in two wings, the pawns standing respectively to the number of four on the K side, and three on the other, and the open Q file being occupied by doubled rooks.  White had evidently the best of the development, and Black was labouring under great difficulties to make his retained Q P available.  We believe that Mr Zukertort on the 17th move could have, by occupying K B 2 at once with his B, obtained sufficient increase of advantage to keep the pressure of attack in his favour. Also on the following he would have improved his position by B to K sq. as afterwards proposed by Mr Blackburne; but, having adopted some tardy manœuvres instead, his opponent, after cautious preparations, was at last enabled to advance his Q P under sufficient cover, and thus to release his blocked-up Q R and Q B.  After a little more fencing, which resulted in exchanges of one R and a minor piece, the game assumed a drawn aspect, and by mutual consent it was given up as such on the 28th move, neither side having any advantage.  This is the first draw which occurred between the same two players, though they have altogether, on various previous occasions, contested eight games, of which each party won four.
The Field, London, 1881.07.02
Zukertort,JH — Blackburne,JH
(1)
B45/01
Sicilian: Barnes
1881.06.27
GBR London (St. George’s Chess Club)
Annotations by Wilhelm Steinitz
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6
** The usual continuation is 6.Ndb5, which leads to the American variation, in which Black replies 6...Nf6, and then moves 7...Ke7, in answer to 7.Nd6+.
6...bxc6 7.Qd4 Bf8
** It would be disadvantageous to capture the knight, for White would afterwards obtain a strong post for his bishop at a3.
8.Bf4
** 8.e5 would at last subject him to an isolation of the e-pawn, if he wished to support it with the f-pawn in case Black replied 8...f6.
8...f6
** A very good rejoinder, which gains important time.
9.Bg3
** If 9.e5 now, Black would first oppose 9...Qb6 before exchanging pawns.
9...Qb6 10.0-0-0 Nh6 11.Be2 Qxd4
** 11...Bc5 was of course of no use, for Black could not take the f-pawn, on account of the ultimate Bh5+.
12.Rxd4 e5
** Premature.  12...Nf7 was much better.  He could well reserve the move in the text, with the additional option of waiting for a favorable opportunity to play ...d5.
13.Rd2 Nf7 14.Rhd1 Bb4
** As he can never venture to exchange the bishop for the knight, the pinning was useless.  We should have preferred 14...d6.  Anderssen did not mind in this opening to keep the center pawns abreast, even while queens were on the board on both sides.  White seemed to have no means of egress against such a plan in the present position.
15.Bc4 Ng5 16.f3 Ke7 [?:??-1:00] 17.Rd3
** Feeble.  17.Bf2 instead would have effectually stopped the release of Black’s pieces, excepting at the cost of an important pawn — e.g.: 17.Bf2 Rd8 (if 17...d6, White attacks the bishop with 18.a3, and then either advances up to b5, weakening the adverse queen’s center, or forces a continuation similar to the following) 18.a3 Bxc3 19.Bc5+ d6 20.Rxd6, etc.
17...Rd8 18.Na4
** Blackburne justly observed that he was more afraid of 18.Be1, which would have enabled White to advance the pawns on the left wing for an attack, or must have resulted in White keeping the two bishops, with a good game.
18...d6 19.Rb3 [1:00-?:??] 19...Ba5 20.Bf2 Ne6 21.g3
** A doubtful sort of waiting move, for it weakens the pawns on the kingside.
21...Bc7 22.Nc3
** With the object of attacking the a-pawn at a3, and compelling its advance.
22...a5 23.Na4
** The knight is now strongly placed, in view of b6 being assailable.
23...Ba6 24.Bxa6 Rxa6 25.Rb7
** 25.Rdd3 instead would have gained an important move, and was perhaps sufficient to deter Black from opposing rooks at b8, for White, after exchanging, would then gain time by Rb3; while his king was also near enough to protect the kingside within two moves.
25...Rb8 26.Rxb8 Bxb8 27.Nb6 Bc7 28.Nc4 ½-½.
** A fair draw.  White has some attack against the a-pawn, but he is not likely to succeed, on account of Black being enabled to effect a diversion by the advance of the d-pawn.
The Field, London, 1881.07.02

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