Goldsmith vs Esling — Annotated

-- Stockfish 19

-- Engine disabled.

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 d6

3. d4 f5

4. dxe5 fxe4

5. Ng5 d5

6. e6 Bc5

7. Nc3 Qf6

8. Bb5+ c6

9. O-O Bxe6

10. Bc4 e3

11. Nce4 dxe4

12. Nxe6 exf2+

13. Kh1 Bb6

14. Bg5 Qg6

15. Rxf2 Nd7

16. Qxd7+ Kxd7

17. Rd1+ Kc8

18. Rf8+ Bd8

19. Rfxd8#

1-0

6.e6 This hazardous move was greatly favored by Morphy. The only correct play is KKt—R3.
6…Bc5 We prefer 6 KtxKP if only for its simplicity, as it gives White a plain advantage in a few moves. The line of play here initiated is most ingeniously pursued in the present game by White, but we think that Black's defence could be so much improved as to make the issue uncertain. Compare our comments on Black's 9th move.
7.Nc3 If 7....P—K6; 8 BxP, 8 BxB; 9 Q—R5 ch., 9 P—Kt3; 10 Q—B3+, for if 10....QxKt, White mates in two moves.
9…Bxe6 9....PxB would have lost at once, as White would reply KtxQP followed accordingly by Kt—B7 ch. or B—B4 or Kt—KB7. No better was 9....Kt—K2, as the game might have proceeded: 10 QKtxQP, 10 Q—K4 (if 10....KtxKt; 11 QxKt); 11 KtxKt; 12 BxKt; 13 B—QB4, 13 BxKt; 14 Q—R5 ch.+. But we believe that 9....P—K6 was most likely to relieve him from all embarassment. The continuation might have been: 10 KtxQP (or 10 Kt—B7, 10 BxP; 11 KtxR, 11 PxB; 12 KtxQP, 12 Q—K4, etc.), 10....QxKt; 11 Kt—B7 ch., 11 K—K2; 12 KtxR (if 12 B—B4, 12 B—Q3; 13 KtxR, 13 Q—B5+), 12 PxB.
10.Bc4 More effective would have been 10 QKtxQP, 10 BxKt; 11 QxB+.
10…e3 For now Black might have defended by 10....B—B4 and if 11 QKtxKP, 11 PxKt; 12 Kt—B7, 12 B—K3, etc. However, White's last move was very ingenious in so far as Black cannot play 10....PxB on account of 11 QKtxP, followed by either KtxB recovering the piece with the superior game.
11.Nce4 This and the rest are played by White in a style that combines elegance and soundness.
14…Qg6 Black has no good defence. If 14....Q—B2; 15 Q—Q6 and must win, for if now 15....P—KR3; 16 Q—K5, etc. Or if 15....Kt—Q2; 16 Kt—B7 ch.+. Or if 15....Kt—B3; 16 KtxKtP ch.+.
15.Rxf2 Q—Q6 is also good enough, but the move in the text is more elegant, and leads to a fine and speedy termination.
15…Nd7 A beautiful stroke of play which forces the mate in a few moves.

[Event "The Modern Chess Instructor"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "?"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goldsmith"]
[Black "Esling"]
[Result "1-0"]
[AnnotationSlug "steinitz-mci-philidor-3"]
[PlyCount "37"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Bc5 7. Nc3 Qf6 8. Bb5+ c6 9. O-O Bxe6 10. Bc4 e3 11. Nce4 dxe4 12. Nxe6 exf2+ 13. Kh1 Bb6 14. Bg5 Qg6 15. Rxf2 Nd7 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Rd1+ Kc8 18. Rf8+ Bd8 19. Rfxd8# 1-0