Anderssen, Adolf VS Suhle, Berthold 1859.??.??

Annotations

1. 4.Bxc6+ Anderssen generally adopted this early exchange, which, however, we do not approve of.
2. 5…f5 A hazardous venture now that White will be soon ready to castle, and this alone makes the counter gambit more dangerous than in a similar position in the Philidor defence.
3. 10.c4 A splendid move which gives him an irresistible attack, as it forces a break in Black's centre sooner or later.
4. 13.cxd5 So far White has admirably conducted his attack, but we doubt the policy of the sacrifice which this and the next hidden move initiated, and we would have preferred the plain Q—R5 which must have recovered the P with the superior game.
5. 18…c5 This effort to prevent the ch. of the Kt much endangers his game, which, we believe, was quite good enough after 18....Q—K2; 19 Kt—Q6 ch., 19 K—B sq.; 20 KR—K sq., 20 B—K3; 21 QR—Q sq., (after 21 R×B, 21 Q×R; White has no discovered ch. with the Kt that would much imperil Black's game) 21....Kt—B2; 22 R×B, 22 Q×R; 23 Kt—B5 ch., 23 K—Kt sq.; and wins. For if now 24 Kt—K7 ch., Black answers Q×Kt, and if R×R ch. first, the Black King obviously gains a square for escape at B2 after retaking with the Kt.
6. 19…Qe5 Again 19....Q—K2 was better and might have led to the following continuation: 20 KR—K sq., 20 B—K3; 21 Q—Kt5 ch., (or 21 Kt—B6 ch., 21 K—B2 and wins) 21 K—B2; 22 Kt×P, 22 R—Q3, etc., with a defensible game.
7. 23.Qb5 White could have won here at once by 23 Kt—K4, 23 Q—K2; (or 23....R×R; 24 R×R, and wins either by Q×B ch., or R—Q8 ch. accordingly), 24 Kt—Q6, 24 Q—Q2; 25 Q—B4 ch., 25 K—Kt sq.; 26 Q—Kt5, 26 K—B sq. (We see nothing better, if Q×Kt the reply Q×R ch. is sufficient to win. If 26....Kt—B2; 27 Kt×Kt, 27 Q×R; 28 Kt—R6 ch., and mates next move, otherwise White threatens R—K7) 27 Kt×B, 27 Q×R; 28 Q—KB4 ch., 28 Kt—B2; 29 Q—Kt4 ch., 29 K—Kt sq., (if Kt or R interposes he loses his Q) 30 Kt—K7 ch., 30 K—B sq.; 31 Kt—Kt6 double ch., 31 K—Kt sq.; 32 Q—B8 ch., 32 R×Q; 33 Kt—K sq. mate.
8. 23…Kg8 Salvioli justly points out that Black would have escaped now with a piece ahead by K—B2.
9. 27.Nd6 If 27....P—KR3; 28 Kt×Kt, followed by Kt—Kt5 ch. Or if 27....Q×Kt; 28 R—K8 ch., followed by Q×B and wins easily.

William Steinitz, The Modern Chess Instructor (1889) · Public domain · source