Game No. 51 in Wilhelm Steinitz’s The Book of the Sixth American Chess Congress (1891), printed pages 69–71; played 1889.05.03. The original descriptive notation and printed analysis are retained.

1. 3…a6 Such a wing Pawn move should be retained at least.
2. 10.d3 White's disposition of Pawns is quite contrary to modern maxims of play. His centre is thoroughly weak.
3. 10…Bb7 It was much better to leave this Bishop at home for a time, in order to keep the KP protected, for the likely contingency that the formation of a centre-attack commencing by P — KB3, after withdrawing Kt — K sq., would become feasible.
4. 13…Bf6 Black fails here to disorganize the adverse K centre and Q side, which he could have done apparently by 13...P—Q5; 14 P—K4, 14 P—KB4; 15 P—K5 (if 15 P x P, 15 P x P, and Black will soon obtain the stronger position on the open K file, owing to the bad placement of White’s pieces), 15...Kt—QB2, followed by Kt—Q4, and White’s two holes at K3 and QB3 will be sore points in the latter’s game.
5. 18…cxb3 We can see nothing for Black to fear that was not on the board before, and the opening of the adverse game was quite premature, for it could be well reserved with advantage, as White could not well initiate the exchange of Pawns. 18...P—KKt3 at once was the right play; and if, for instance, 19 KtP x P, 19 QP x P; 20 P—K4, 20 B x B; 21 P x B, 21 Kt x P, etc.; for if 22 Kt x KP, 22 Q—Kt3 ch., and wins.
6. 20…Rxc1 Allowing the opponent the open file for the Rook without good cause. 20...Kt—B4, with the probable continuation, 21 R x R, 21 B x B; 22 B x Kt, 22 KP x B; 23 Kt—B3, 23 K—Kt2; 24 Q—Kt3, 24 Q—QB4, was good enough.
7. 28…Qe7 Black rightly distrusts his position for the ending with Bishop against Knight, for with one Pawn isolated and another doubled he would have been at a disadvantage after exchanging Queens.
8. 30.Qe1 An excellent answer if properly pursued.
9. 31.axb4 White ought to have retaken with the Queen, forcing the exchange. It was then an easy matter for him to get his King in at Q4, after withdrawing the Knight, which could then manoeuvre to QB5. Being sure of breaking in finally by P — K4, he could so time his Knight and Pawn moves as to make it at least extremely difficult for the opponent to save the game, whereas he himself would not run the slightest risk.
10. 37…d4 The sacrifice of the Pawn is, we believe, in no way justifiable. We see no danger for Black in moving Bishop or King, and sometimes even the Queen, backward and forward, as White could gain nothing by Q — K5, for he could not well get his Knight into play without leaving himself open to perpetual check or the loss of a Pawn.
11. 39.Kc3 A very weak move just at the time when he had a winning game in hand by 39 P — R5 (an ingenious move adopted later on by Mr. Bird at a critical juncture), 39 . . P x P (if 39.. . P— KKt4; 40 P x P, 40 P x P; 41 Kt— B3, threatening P— B6, and wins); 40 Kt — K2 or P — K4, with a fine game.
12. 41…Qa2+ Very fine and deep play, for, as will be seen, he has to keep on the R file in order to play subsequently Q—R4, which recovers the Pawn and gives him some winning chances. The closer check, which is usually better, would not have served that purpose, for after 41. . .Q— Kt7 ch.; 42 Kt— B2, 42 B— K8; 43 Q— K sq., followed by Q—QB sq., Black will have to struggle for a draw only.
13. 49.h5 An ingenious move that in actual play succeeds to save a hopeless game. See diagram.
14. 49…gxh5 But not in analysis, we think, for the following line of play seems to win : 49. . .P— Kt 6; 50 Q— B8 ch., 50 K— Kt 2; 51 Q— B3ch. (or 51 P x P, 51 Q— R7 ch.; 52 K— Q sq., 52 P— Kt7; 53 Q— B8 ch., 53 K x P; 54 Q— QB6 ch., 54 K— R2, and wins), 51 . . . K— R2; 52 P x P ch., 52 K x P; 53 Q— B6 ch., 53 K— R2; 54 Q— KB6, 54 Q— R7 ch.; 55 K— Q sq., 55 P— Kt7; 56 Qx P (B5) ch., 56 K—Kt sq. (the only move to win); 57 Q— Kt4 ch., 57 K— R sq.; 58 Q—B8 ch., 58 K— Kt2; 59 Q— Kt 4 ch., 59 K— B3; 60 Q— R4 ch., 60 K— K3; 61 Qx P ch. or P— B5 ch., 61 K—Q2, and wins.