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

STEINITZ STILL CHAMPION.
GUNSBERG LOSES THE CHESS MATCH.
THE NINETEENTH GAME DRAWN-CONGRATULATIONS 
FOR THE VETERAN.
:
    The match between Steinitz and Gunsberg for the chess championship of the world, which has been going on at the Manhattan Chess Club, in West Twenty-seventh-st., since December 9, was definitely decided in favor of the veteran player by the nineteenth game, which was contested yesterday. The result of Wednesday’s play still left it possible for Gunsberg to draw the match, but in order to do this he had got to win consecutively the only two games which might still be played before the maximum limit of twenty was reached.  Yesterday’s game being drawn, the score was brought to this state: Steinitz 6, Gunsberg 4, drawn 9, which rendered it impossible any longer for Gunsberg to divide championship honors with the veteran player, who has remained unconquerable in match play for a quarter of a century.
    This being the condition of affairs last night, it was decided not to contest the twentieth game, which, no matter how it had resulted, would not have altered Steinitz’s position as winner of the match and possessor of the title of champion of the world.
    There did not appear to be any particular effort on the part of Gunsberg to win the game, nor on the part of Steinitz either, except at one stage in the end play, when the veteran worked his King out as far as the fifth square of the Q B file with some effect.  An earlier effort on the part of Gunsberg to utilize his King in the same way, for purposes of attack on the Q side, proved of no value, and, indeed, it only compromised his position and resulted in his being compelled eventually to retreat, not only the King itself but the Bishop as well, right back to the first row.
    Fianally [sic] a draw was agreed upon at the forty-second move, at which time Steinitz was of opinion that he had the superior position, but considered it wise to compound for a draw rather than risk the possibility of a mistake which might have cost him the game and given Gunsberg still a chance to draw the match.  The two masters afterward played out the game for a small stake between themselves, and after about the twelfth move Gunsberg resigned.
    In the evening Steinitz received the congratulations of his various friends and supporters in the Manhattan Chess Club on his ultimate success in retaining the title of “champion of the world.”
New-York Daily Tribune, 1891.01.23

STEINITZ BEATS GUNSBERG.
AMERICA’S CHAMPION REMAIN’S THE
CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.
The Man who has Beaten All Comers for 
Twenty-five Years Disposes of the Anglo- 
Hungarian -- Beaten but Not Disgraced -- 
Gunsberg Made a Gallant Fight Through- 
out and Played Fine Chess.
:
    Steinitz was greeted on Wednesday night after he had won the eighteenth game in his match with Gunsberg, as possessor of “half the championship,” and received the congratulations of his friends and supporters on having at the very least insured a draw by the brilliant victory which he had achieved.  Yesterday, by drawing the nineteenth game in the contest, he became once more his old self, the chess champion of the world, which proud title he had held undisputed for a quarter of a century.
    To the spectators at the Manhattan Club the interest in yesterday’s game was reduced to the question of whether Steinitz would succeed in either winning or drawing it, and thereby secure the final victory, or whether Gunsberg would manage to win and thus give the twentieth and concluding game of the match preeminence over all the others in point of supplying chess players with matter which would excite in them a lively interest and enthusiasm.
    Having the turn to open, the veteran chose as his subject the Queen’s Pawn’s opening, which ultimately was resolved into a regular Queen’s Gambit Declined.  The play was conducted very rapidly on both sides. Queens were exchanged on the tenth move and some active manoeuvring followed.
    Gunsberg did not seem to make any great effort to win, and from the nature of the play it seemed as though Steinitz too, would be satisfied with a draw, although when the game reached the end stage the spectators were of the opinion that he was making an effort to win.  He marched out with his “fighting monarch” as far as Q B 5, where he surrounded him with the few remaining officers, while Gunsberg confined himself almost entirely to defence, making very few aggressive moves in the end game.  A drawn position was finally arrived at, and this conclusion was agreed upon after forty-one moves. The total time occupied in play was considerably short of three hours.  The remaining game will not be played, as it could not possibly affect the position of either player, and the final score of the match, therefore, is: Steinitz, 6; Gunsberg, 4; drawn, 9.
    Here is what Steinitz had to say yesterday:
    “Naturally, as there has been some comment upon the frequent repetition of the same opening on my part, the public ought to be reminded that in some of the best matches this has also been the case.  In the match between Staunton and St. Amant each of the players, throughout the contest of over twenty games, played the Queen’s Gambit; Morphy mostly played the Ruy Lopez, Kolisch the Giuoco Piano; Buckle, the great historian, as first player, adopted the Giuoco Piano, and as second player the French Defence. Numerous other instances might be cited.  Now, I have never in my life played the French Defence, which is the dullest of all openings, and only once, as far as I can remember, the Sicilian, as second player.  I always play an open game when I am on the defence, and accept any gambits that are offered, but, as first player, I have latterly adopted a safe and sound opening like the Ruy Lopez against Zukertort, and the Queen’s Gambit against Tschigorin and Gunsberg, and I made up my mind not to alter the openings until I was a good number games ahead.  As all those matches were pretty close I had little opportunity of varying, though in former days, when I had a clearer memory, I ventured into a variety of attacks.
    As the score stood in the present match it would have been simple folly in this game to have hazarded a new line of play, and the opening proceeded in the usual manner.  There was no deviation of importance.  On the fourteenth move black made an attempt of a counter attack, which, however, was quickly repelled, and as the game progressed it seemed almost as if black was playing for a draw himself, for he offered opportunities for effecting various exchanges, including both rooks.  The result was that only two minor pieces were left on each side-bishop and knight-with even pawns.
    At that stage I offered a draw, but Gunsberg said he would rather go on, and he made some attempt at getting his king into play on the queen’s side, which, however, greatly compromised his position, as his king and bishop were driven right back by the adverse pawns, and white ultimately obtained the command of that wing, while black’s centre was blocked.  The game proceeded to the forty-second move, when black offered a draw which white accepted.”
    After this Gunsberg proposed to Steinitz that they should finish the game, and the latter assented to this proposal and suggested a small stake, at the same time giving his opponent the odds of a draw.  On this understanding they continued the game just for pleasure, and after about a dozen moves Gunsberg’s position became untenable, and he resigned. Steintiz contends that nobody will blame him for having agreed to a draw when he did, because, had he played on in the proper contest he might have made a mistake, as he did on the previous day, and this might have cost him the game.
The Sun, New York, 1892.01.23

Steinitz,W — Gunsberg,IA
(19)
D40/01
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch
1891.01.22
USA New York, NY (Manhattan Chess Club)
Annotations by Steinitz
1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O [0:02-0:03] 6.Be2
** In the early part of the match Steinitz usually played 6.Bd3, but he has come to the conclusion that it is of no use directing the bishop against the kingside, and that this piece could be better employed in most variations at f3, after removing the knight.
6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5 8.O-O Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 [0:05-0:05] 11.Bd2 a6
** Hardly a good move.  It could have had no other sensible object than to advance ...b5, and, as will be seen, this would have greatly weakened his queenside.
12.Rac1 Ba7
** Obviously, if 12...b5 13.Nxb5 axb5 14.Bxb5, and recovers the piece with at least one pawn ahead, even if Black gets the a-pawn.
13.Rfd1 Bd7 14.Be1 Ng4 15.e4
** Black threatened either ...Bxe3 or ...Nxe3, which would have given him a rook and two pawns for two minor pieces, which is rather more than an equivalent in the majority of cases.
15...Nce5 [0:24-0:20] 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Be2 Bc6 18.Kf1 Bd4 19.f3 Rd7 20.Bf2 Rad8 [0:43-0:26]
** If 20...Bxc3 21.Rxc3 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Rd8 23.Be2 (best) 23...Rd2 24.Bg3, followed either by exchanging the knight or, if the knight moves, by 25.Bxa6.
21.Bxd4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 Rxd4 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Nxd1 Kf8 25.Ke1 Ng6 [0:45-0:30] 26.Ne3 Ke7 27.Kd2 Kd6 28.Kc3 Kc5 29.g3
** 29.Nc4, though it looks strong, would have been answered by 29...Bb5, and White could not get any advantage out if the position.
29...Bb5 30.b4+ Kb6 [0:54-0:40] 31.Bd1 Kc7 32.a4 Bd7 33.f4 Bc6 34.Kd4 Ne7 35.Bb3 Be8 [1:15-0:45] 36.Nc4 Nc6+ 37.Kc5 Nd8
** Threatening ...b6+, followed by ...Nb7+ in case White takes the pawn.
38.Nb6
** Stopping that maneuver and exercising a very commanding position on Blacks crowded pieces.
38...f6 39.b5 axb5 40.axb5 Bg6[1:35-0:55] 41.Bc2 Bh5 [1:36-0:56]½-½.
** The game in my database says 41...h5, but the two sources I used clearly state 41...Bh5.-[Pope]
The Sun, New York, 1891.01.23
New-York Daily Tribune, 1891.01.23

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