Szen, Josef VS Anderssen, Adolf 1851.??.??

Annotations

Game II. Second game between Messrs. Anderssen and Szen (Second Series), won by Szen with the White pieces. Sicilian Opening. One of the two games Szen won in the match, in which he sent his Queen deep after a Pawn and, against all appearance, brought her safely home.

1. 5.Nb5 This is unusual, yet it has the advantage of continuing the attack, while the ordinary move of Kt. to K. B's 3rd is merely defensive.
2. 10.Qxd5 Taking with the Pawn seems to gain, instead of lose, White time, and I think would therefore have been preferable.
3. 12.Qxb7 Trebly hazardous.
4. 13…Nxe4 White's Queen is in so much peril, that her escape appears next to impossible, and yet, in examining the position, I have failed to discover any sure method of imprisoning her.
5. 16.Bc4 This is the saving clause, and it enables White to escape with his Queen comparatively scot-free.
6. 17…Nxc4 P. takes Q. B. looks promising. In that case, White's best play is perhaps to Castle on the King's side at once. Taking the K. P. with the Q. is dangerous, on account of Black's then taking B. with Kt., and afterwards Q. Kt. P. with K. B. (ch.)
7. 19.O-O Very well played.
8. 21…f6 A palpable slip. Better to have castled in safety at the expense of the Pawn.
9. 29.Rd1 White has now so decidedly the advantage, both in force and position, that, without a blunder, winning is a mere question of time.

Howard Staunton, The Chess Tournament (1852) · Public domain · source