THE sixth game, played at
Simpsons
on Tuesday, the 6th inst.The same opening as in the fourth game
with the
improvement suggested in our comments on the latter, namely, that the
white
Q was developed at K 2. Black (Zukertort) also made an alteration
in his plan by opposing his B at K 3, which must have been a lost move,
as it turned out ; for he had afterwards, as in the 4th game, to capture
with that B the adverse Kt, which came in at B 5. It was all
manuvring
up to the 24th move, when Black exchanged the first pawnrather too
soon,
we believe ; and we do not think there was any difference in the
respective
positions. Zukertort, with another precipitate advance of the Q P,
brought his Kt at Q B 4 into a loose position, which caused him some
trouble.
On the 30th and 31st move he proceeded with a similar incautious line of
attack with the pawns on the right wing, where he had castled ; and, to
speak in the parlance of Dr Meitnerwho first introduced the joke
in criticising
some of the games played by Herr Steinitz in the Vienna
tournamentWhite
came out with half a pawn ahead ; and after that the exchange of
queens,
which soon followed, Blackburnes advantage grew in natural course
to the
extent of a tangible P. As usual in hard endings, analysis finds
that the ultimate winner might have despatched the game quicker ; but
there
was some fine play nevertheless on both sides. The game was
adjourned
about a quarter to eleven at night, and finished next day at the St.
Georges,
when Blackburne seized the right moment for exchanging rooks, and forced
victory with B and a passed Q R P against Kt in excellent style.
Duration, seven and a half hours. Both players seemed to suffer
severely
from the excessive heat of the weather which prevailed last week ; and
as they had already played on three successive days, it was agreed that
the match should be continued to-day at Simpsons. |
The score stands now : Blackburne, 1 ; Zukertort,
3 ; drawn, 2. |
The Field, London,
1881.07.09
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Blackburne,JH Zukertort,JH
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(6)
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C54/07 |
Giuoco Piano: Pianissimo
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1881.07.06 |
GBR London (Simpsons
Divan)
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Annotations by Wilhelm
Steinitz
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Be3 Bb6
7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.Nf1 c6 9.h3 h6 10.Qe2
** |
The queen is better placed here than at c2; but the
question
is, whether she should be brought out at all at this stage, and whether
with a move in advance he ought not to try Blacks plan by
advancing 10.g4
and entering with his knight at f5 viá g3. |
10...Be6
** |
This seems to entail loss of time; and, though both
parties
can apparently afford delays in maneuvering, yet we think it might make
some ultimate difference if the bishop were kept at home in order to
proceed
at once with 10...g5, 11...Ng6, etc. |
11.Bb3 g5 12.0-0-0 Ng6 13.Ng3 Qe7 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.exf5
Nf4 16.Qf1 0-0-0 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.g3 N4d5 19.c4
** |
Which drives him where he wants to go. 19.Qe2
followed
by 20.Rhe1 in order to advance the d-pawn appears to us the better
plan. |
19...Nc7 20.Qe1 Nd7 21.Qc3 Qf6
** |
Useless. The queen stood better where she was, and
21...f6 was preferable. |
22.g4 [1:00-?:??] 22...b5 23.Nd2 Nc5 24.Bc2
** |
Best, as Black threatened 24...b4. |
24...bxc4
** |
This premature exchange liberates Whites bishop and
d-rook,
and rids the adversary of a weak pawn. Up to this we were inclined
to take Blacks game for choice, though the difference did not
amount to
much. The game is now about even. |
25.dxc4 d5
** |
Also too early. He should have prepared with
25...Qe7
in order to be enabled to retake with the knight. |
26.cxd5 Rxd5 [?:??-1:00] 27.Nc4 Nd7 28.Qb4 c5 29.Qb3
Rd4
30.Rhe1 b5
** |
30...Qa6 was the right play. Unless White then
exchanged
rooks, in which case the c-pawn could retake, he had no better defense
than Na3 or Bb3, and then Black could enter either at b5 or d5 with his
knight, and afterwards, accordingly, gain for the knight the post at d4
by exchanging rooks or the strong point at f4. |
31.Nd2 c4
** |
An error in judgment which compromises his position for
the ending. |
32.Qb4 [2:00-?:??]
** |
Well played. If 32.Ne4 at once, the reply was
32...Qe7. |
32...Qd6
** |
32...Qa6 was of no use now, as White could afford to give
up the a-pawn, and attack with the knight at e4. Also, if
32...Qc6,
the knight would come in at e4, and, if then, Blacks knight would
attack
at d5 White would capture the b-pawn with the queen, and afterwards
recover
the queen by 35.Nd6+. |
33.Qxd6 Rxd6 34.Ne4 Rxd1+ 35.Rxd1 Ne8
** |
If 35...Rf8, White would check at d6, followed by
37.a4. |
36.Rd5 Kc7 37.Rxb5 Nd6 38.Nxd6 Kxd6 39.Be4 Rb8
[?:??-2:00]
40.Rd5+ Ke7 41.f3 f6 42.Kc2 Nb6 43.Rb5 Kd6 44.a4
** |
He could have won here much quicker by 44.Bd5. The
c-pawn could not be saved then, for, in reply to 44...Kc7, White would
still capture, followed by 46.Rc5+. |
44...Nd7
** |
Black defends himself very ingeniously. |
45.Rd5+
** |
As afterwards pointed out by Zukertort, there was no more
than a draw now if he exchanged rooks, e.g.: 45.Rxb8 Nxb8 46.Kc3 Kc5
47.a5
Na6 48.Bb7 Nc7, followed by 49...Nb5+, etc. |
45...Kc7 46.Ra5 Kd6 47.Ra6+ [3:00-?:??] 47...Rb6 48.Ra8
Rb8 49.a5
** |
He has gained an important move, and chosed the right
position
for allowing the exchange. The latter part of the ending is
excellently
played by Blackburne. |
49...Rxa8 50.Bxa8 Kc5 [?:??-3:00]
** |
50...Nc5 would no more save the game, for he can no more
reach c7 with the knight, e.g.: 50...Nc5 51.Bb7 Kc7 (best; if 51...Nxb7
the a-pawn goes straight to queen) 52.a6 Kb6 53.Kc3, and, after taking
the c-pawn, the king walks over to the kingside. |
51.Bb7 Kb5 52.a6 Kb6 53.Kc3 e4 54.fxe4 Ne5 55.Kd4 Ka7
56.Kc5 Kb8 57.Bd5 1-0.
** |
If the knight checks at d3, the answer is 58.Kb6. |
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The Field, London,
1881.07.09
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