The Blackburne-Zukertort Match,
London 1881
Researched by Nick Pope
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The fifth game, played at the St. Georges
on Monday,
the 4th inst., was a repetition of the opening in the third game, with
some modifications which transformed the position into one similar to
those
arising from the Indian opening. As usual when the players have to
manuvre their heavier pieces behind the pawns, they had to grope
in the
dark. Zukertort seemed to have the best of the struggle, though he
clearly lost some moves with his Kt, and his opponent was reduced to the
expedient of creating a block on the K side. Blackburne soon
afterwards
castled, instead of opening his centre at once. White had then the
opportunity of shutting in the adverse K B for ever by P to Q 5, which
we believe was the strongest course ; but Zukertort pursued another
plan,
and came out with the better game, though we are not sure he must have
secured the victory thereby. He had to lose a lot of time before
he could bring his two bishops into favourable position. His
manuvres
to that effect were, however, conceived in a masterly manner, and
Blacks
defence at last became difficult. On the 37th move Blackburne, by
a miscalculation, neglected to support once more the weak K B P, and
allowed
the opponent to effect an elegant sacrifice of the exchange, followed by
a fine move of the R to R 6, after which White was enabled to accumulate
all his forces without hindrance against the adverse weakened K side,
and
Blackburnes game finally broke down after the loss of his Q had
been forced.
Duration, 6½ hours. |
The Field, London,
1881.07.09
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Zukertort,JH Blackburne,JH
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(5)
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1881.07.04 |
GBR London (St. Georges Chess
Club)
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Annotations by Wilhelm
Steinitz
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3
** |
Better than 3.f4 adopted in the third game of the
match. |
3...Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.Nge2 Bd7 7.Be3 Nd4 8.Qd2
Rb8
** |
We do not like Blacks last three moves; he should
have
aimed at developing his kingside. He was, however, wise in not
attempting
8...Bg4, for Black might then have safely retreated the knight to g1,
and
would afterwards have gained time by pawn to h3. |
9.h3 h5 10.Nd1 Bc6 11.c3 Nxe2 12.Qxe2 Nf6 13.f4 Qc7
14.Nf2
** |
Loss of time. He should have endeavored to post his
knight at e3 after removing his bishop. |
14...b5 15.0-0 Nd7 [?:??-1:00] 16.d4 c4 17.Nd1 Nb6
18.Bd2
Bd7 19.Ne3 Qc8 20.f5 [1:00-?:??] 20...g5 21.Nd1
** |
For the third time this knight is moved to the same
square,
but now with a more tangible object, for it forces his opponent to block
in his bishop with his own f-pawn, as he cannot defend the g-pawn with
21...Bf6, on account of the reply 22.e5, now prepared by the removal of
the knight. |
21...f6 22.Bf3 h4 23.g4 0-0 24.Ne3
** |
We should have decidedly preferred 24.d5, which would
have
made Blacks g7-bishop perfectly useless. Whites pieces
could be
well placed in all directions, and he could well afford to leave a weak
spot open at e5 for the entrance of the adverse knight, for he had
plenty
of scope for operation on the queenside. |
24...e5 25.fxe6 Bxe6 26.Be1 Re8 27.Qg2 Qd8 28.Kh1 Nd7
29.Bf2 Nf8 30.Bg1 Ng6 31.Bh2
** |
The movement of this bishop to this important post, where
it attacks a weak adverse pawn, was beautifully worked out. |
31...Bf8 [?:??-2:00] 32.Bd1 Bc8 33.Bc2
** |
By another clever maneuver he has now posted his bishop
more favorably. Black could do nothing in the meanwhile. |
33...Bb7 34.Rf5 Bg7 35.Kg1
** |
Also marked with great foresight. Evidently he will
have to advance the e-pawn sooner or later for the purpose of attack,
and
he removes the knight at once from the pinning action of the adverse
bishop;
reserving an option of several places for the queen. |
35...a6 36.Raf1 Ne7
** |
Almost unpardonable carelessness in a match game.
It was obvious that White aimed at breaking through in the kings
quarter,
and he could, without great difficulty, have reckoned out that the
opponent
would obtain a clearly won game after the sacrifice of the
exchange.
36...Rf8 was the proper defense. |
37.Rxf6 [2:00-?:??] 37...Bxf6 38.Rxf6 Nc8
39.Rh6
** |
Most probably this very fine move must have been
overlooked
by Black in his forecast of the position. It wins by force (see
diagram). |
39...Rf8 40.Nf5 Rf6 41.Rh5 Rg6 42.Qf2
** |
Zukertort pursues his attack with his usual vigor and
energy. |
42...Qf8
** |
If 42...Qf6, the e-pawn would also have advanced, and as
soon as the bishop entered at e5 White threatened Ne7+, followed by
Rh8#. |
43.e5 Nb6 44.exd6 Nd5 45.Be5
45...Nf4 [?:??-3:00] 46.Rh8+ Kf7 47.Rxf8+ Rxf8 48.Bxf4
gxf4 49.Qxh4 1-0.
** |
The Field, London,
1881.07.09
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