The Rosenthal-Zukertort Match,
London 1880
Researched by Nick Pope
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MATCH BETWEEN MESSRS ROSENTHAL AND ZUKERTORT.
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THE seventeenth game, played on
Saturday
the 19th inst., was a dull and common place affair. Zukertort commenced
with the Englisch [sic] opening, 1.P to Q B 4, and Rosenthal
answered
P to K 4, as in the London game of the London and Vienna match. Such a
defiance of the close opening by the second player ought to be
disadvantageous
for the latter, and we believe the best continuation for White is then
P to Q R 3, whence would arise a position similar to the game between
Anderssen
and Morphy, in which the former opened with P to Q R 3. Zukertort
brought
out the Q Kt before adopting that precaution, and Rosenthal then
followed
the Vienna tactics of developing his B to Q Kt 5. The opening struggle
resulted in Black getting the first break through in the Q centre, while
White had secured two bishops, which, however, were not well developed.
The game maintained its close character up to the 11th move, when Black
began an exchange of pawns, which soon led to a general exchange of
minor
pieces and queens, evidently by both sides. The two parties were left
each
with two rooks, bishops of opposite colours, and even pawns on the 19th
move, and the natural result was a clear draw a few moves later on.
Duration,
two hours. |
The Field, London,
1880.06.26
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Zukertort,JH Rosenthal,S
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(17)
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A22/01 |
English: Sicilian (Two Knights)
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Annotations by Wilhelm
Steinitz
1.c4 e5 2.e3 Nf6
3.Nc3
** |
See introduction. 3.a3, now or on
the previous move, would keep Blacks
f8-bishop
shut up. |
3...Bb4
** |
In the style of the Viennese
players
in the match between London and Vienna by telegraph and correspondence.
The b4-bishop is an incumbrance to Blacks
game, and cannot be conveniently posted in the opening. It is better to
try and exchange it. |
4.Nge2
** |
He cannot allow the pawns to be
doubled
at this stage. His two bishops are no compensation, as they cannot find
commanding situations. On the other hand, his doubled pawn cannot be
dissolved
against proper play of the adversary, and the latter has the advantage
with his two knights in such circumstances. |
4...0-0 5.a3 Bxc3 6.Nxc3 d5
7.cxd5
Nxd5 8.Be2 Nc6 9.0-0 Be6 10.d4 Nde7
** |
A good move. Black wishes to
preserve
the superiority of pawns on the queenside, and justly does not mind the
adverse superiority on the kings
wing. For
the ending the former would stand better. |
11.Bf3
** |
The correct reply, which forces
equalization
in a few moves. |
11...exd4 12.exd4 Bc4
[?:??-1:00]
** |
A thrown-away move. The adverse
bishop
is only driven to an important open file thereby. It was preferable to
take the pawn at once, whereupon the game might have proceeded thus:
12...Nxd4
13.Bxb7 Bb3 14.Qd3 (This seems best; neither at g4 nor at h5 is the
queen
apparently better placed, for she will be subject to attacks by the
pawns
sooner or later) 14...Rb8 15.Be4 (He cannot now endeavor the maneuver
15.Bd5,
as Black would answer 15...Nc2) 15...g6 16.Bh6 Re8, followed mostly by
...Nef5, and also threatening to win a pawn at least by ...Bc2, with a
good game. |
13.Re1 Nxd4 14.Bxb7 Rb8
15.Bd5
** |
Which speedily counteracts all
complications,
and reduces the positions to a level. We give a diagram presenting the
game at this, its only interesting juncture. |
15...Ne2+
** |
A good answer. He draws the adverse
knight back into a less commanding position before accepting the offer
of exchanging. |
16.Nxe2 Qxd5 17.Nc3 Qxd1 18.Nxd1
Nd5 19.Ne3
** |
Which means as much as offering a
draw. |
19...Nxe3 20.Bxe3 a6 21.Rec1 Bd5
22.Rxc7 Rxb2 23.h3 Rfb8 24.Rd1 Bb3 ½-½.
** |
The Field,
London, 1880.06.26
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