Howard Staunton, The Chess Tournament (1852)
Game 67 of 184
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Event
London knockout
Site
London
Date
1851.??.??
Round
1(2)
White
Kennedy, Hugh Alexander
Black
Mayet, Carl
Result
1-0
- 8.O-O Q. to Q. B's 2nd would have been more embarrassing, I take it.
- 9.Bg5 Again, I should have preferred playing the Q. to her B's 2nd.
- 10.cxd5 Objectionable in similar positions, because it affords the adverse player a speedy mode of bringing his Q. Kt. into play.
- 13.Ne5 Captain Kennedy had, doubtless, some good reason for not taking the exposed P., although I cannot, at the moment, discover his objection to make this tempting capture.
- 19.dxe5 If he had taken with the Q. or R., Black might have won a Pawn, while, by playing as in the text, although White separates his Pawns, one of them is ‘passed.’
- 21…Rc5 As an example of stern, pro aris et focis battling, the contest from this moment is admirable. Nothing can be better of its kind than the vigorous and determined attack that Black succeeds in maintaining until he wins the Pawn, except the unflinching tenacity with which White clings to it as long as it is tenable, and then begins a system of terrible reprisals, which never cease till the opponent strikes his flag.
- 26…Kg8 This retiring of the King upon the unexpected advance of White's K. Kt. P., was highly ingenious. If he had taken the P. instead, White would speedily have turned the tide of the game against him, for instance,— 26. P. takes P. 27. P. to K. B's 5th. 27. B. to Q's 2nd (best) 28. P. to K's 6th (ch.) &c.
- 27…Qe8 Well played. Threatening both flanks.
- 30.Bd1 What would have been the result of K. R. to Q. R's sq. ? Let us suppose 30. K. R. to Q. R's sq. 30. Q. to K's 2nd. 31. K. to B's sq. I cannot see any better play for White. 31. Q. to her B's 4th. 32. Q. takes Q. If he attempt to avoid the exchange of Queens, Black must obtain some advantage, I believe. 32. Q. R. takes Q. This is preferable to taking the Queen with the Pawn. 33. K. R. to Q. B's sq. 33. P. to Q's 5th. 34. P. to Q. B's 4th. 34. P. to Q. Kt.'s4th. 35. Q. R. P. takes P. 35. B. takes P.
- 32.Rca1 Now begins White's retaliation.
- 32…Bc6 This appears his best move.
- 37.Qd3 Taking the Q. R. P. would be fatal, on account of White's answering with Q. to her Kt.'s 3rd.
- 39.c4 The right play.
- 41.Rd6 Had he now made the natural move of R. takes Q. R. P., he would have lost the game, because Black would have replied, not with Q. takes R., which allowed White to mate him, but with R. takes B., &c.