Mortimer vs St. Bon — Annotated

-- Stockfish 19

-- Engine disabled.

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bc4 Nf6

4. Ng5 d5

5. exd5 Na5

6. Bb5+ c6

7. dxc6 bxc6

8. Qf3 cxb5

9. Qxa8 Nb7

10. Qxa7 Bc5

11. Qa6 O-O

12. Qxb5 h6

13. Nf3 e4

14. Ng1 Qd4

15. Qe2 Bg4

16. Qe3 Qd5

17. Qg3 Bxf2+

18. Qxf2 e3

19. Qg3 exd2+

20. Bxd2 Re8+

21. Kf1 Qb5+

22. Qd3 Qxb2

23. Qc3 Qb5+

24. Qd3 Qe5

25. Nc3 Nc5

26. Qc4 Nce4

27. Be1 Qf5+

28. Nf3 Bxf3

0-1

12…h6 In the manner of our column 1, White, we believe, can simplify the game by Kt—KR3, which avoids all complications arising from the attack of that Kt by P—K5. Should Black answer Q—Q4, then White may retreat Q—KB sq., followed by K—Q sq. in reply to Q—K5 ch.
16…Qd5 White could have gained here a very important move by QKt—B3.
17.Qg3 Very fine play and yielding Black an excellent attack.
17…Bxf2+ If 18 KxB, 18 P—K6 ch.; 19 K—B sq. (or 19 QxP, 19 R—K sq.; 20 Q—B4, 20 Q—K3; 21 KKt—B3, 21 Q—K7 ch.; 22 K—Kt sq., 22 Q—Q8 ch. wins), 19....Q—B4 ch.; 20 Kt—B3 20 QxP; 21 Q—K sq.!, 21 PxP; 22 QxP, 22 Q—B5 ch.; 23 K—Kt sq., 23 R—Q sq., with a winning attack.
21.Kf1 Q—B4 ch., followed by QxP if the Queen interposed, or by Q—Kt4 ch. in reply to Kt—KB3, was stronger.
23…Qb5+ Black has already a draw in hand, but takes his chances on the complications of the attack that follow.
25…Nc5 Feeble play. By R—K sq. he would, no doubt, have to return the piece gained, but would remain with a P ahead.
28…Bxf3 The probable continuation is 29 PxB, 29 QxP ch.; 30 K—Kt sq., 30 R—K4; 31 KtxKt, 31 KtxKt; 32 Q—B8 ch., 32 K—R2; 33 P—KR4, 33 R—KB4, and wins.

[Event "The Modern Chess Instructor"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "?"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mortimer"]
[Black "St. Bon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[AnnotationSlug "steinitz-mci-two-knights-3"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 cxb5 9. Qxa8 Nb7 10. Qxa7 Bc5 11. Qa6 O-O 12. Qxb5 h6 13. Nf3 e4 14. Ng1 Qd4 15. Qe2 Bg4 16. Qe3 Qd5 17. Qg3 Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 e3 19. Qg3 exd2+ 20. Bxd2 Re8+ 21. Kf1 Qb5+ 22. Qd3 Qxb2 23. Qc3 Qb5+ 24. Qd3 Qe5 25. Nc3 Nc5 26. Qc4 Nce4 27. Be1 Qf5+ 28. Nf3 Bxf3 0-1