Mr. Blackburne commenced with the Scotch gambit, in the same way as in the fourth game, and Steinitz defended again by P to Q R 3; Blackburne retreated the K Kt at once to Q R 3 before bringing out the Q Kt. This might appear a measure adopted to prevent the K Kt being blocked out by P to Q Kt 4, as happened in the fourth game, since this expedient would have been unadvisable for Black to adopt at that point, on account of the reply of B to B 3. But Mr. Blackburne assures us that his retreating the Kt at once was only a finger-slip, caused by his attention being diverted at the time in consequence of his desire to assist the scorers, who could not follow the players, owing to the rapidity in which the opening moves were played on both sides. Finding he had thus lost time he gave up a second pawn, in order to keep up the attack. On the twenty-second move, Steinitz gave up the exchange, with the view of simplifying the game; but his opponent, in his turn, elected to give up a piece for the very opposite purpose. On Black’s thirty-first move the game was adjourned, and Steinitz, whose turn it was to play, had, in accordance with custom, to write down his move, and to hand it over to the secretary in a closed envelope. Just at that time the alarum bell of his clock gave the sign of his having completed the second hour, and, being under the impression that it was his thirtieth move, he hurriedly put his move down, which subjected him to a tremendous attack after the adjournment. Ultimately, however, he succeeded in exchanging queens, remaining with a rook behind for six pawns, three of which were bound to fall; but, having his king near to support the other three pawns, he succeeded in a difficult and long ending to force the game. (Scotch Gambit.)

1. 10.N5a3 (a) At first sight this seems a feasible attempt to prevent the manœuvre successfully adopted by Steinitz in the fourth game of the match, namely, to shut out the K Kt by P to Q Kt 4. This object is certainly now attained; for in answer to 10. P to Q Kt 4, White would obtain a strong attack by 11. B to B 3, followed by P to Q B 4 upon the adverse Q retiring to Kt 3, e.g.: 10... P to Q Kt 4 11. B to B 3; 11... Q to Kt 3 (best) 12. P to Q B 4; 12... P to Kt 5 13. Kt to B 2; 13... P to Q R 4 14. P to Q R 3, with an excellent game. Mr. Blackburne assures us, however, that his retreating the Kt at once was a simple slip. He contemplated playing in the same way as in the fourth game, placing reliance upon a slow attack, to be fortified later on by bringing the K Kt to the succour, which, as he thinks, would be extricated by P to Q B 4, or P to Q B 3, after removing the Q Kt. Black’s following answer is plain, and is made chiefly with the object of getting the Q on the black diagonal, where she is better placed for defensive purposes, and out of the reach of the hostile rooks and minor pieces.
2. 11.Qg5+ (b) The immediate retreat of the Q to B sq, though rather humble in an attacking game of this sort, would have been sounder play, for it might have afforded the K R an opportunity of occupying the Q B file without loss of time, if Black in answer developed his K Kt. In that case it would not have been advantageous for Black to advance P to Q Kt 4 so long as the Q B P was available for an attack by P to Q B 4.
3. 12.Qd2 (c) In our opinion White places here more faith in the chances of an error on the part of the adversary than in the requirements of the position for relinquishing the attack and adopting a temporary defence. Mr. Blackburne maintains, however, that the sacrifice of the second pawn was quite legitimate, since it enabled him to gain the point at Q R 3 with his Q, for the purpose of delaying the advance of the hostile Q P.
4. 13…Qd4 (d) Black would have gained two rooks for the Q even if he had taken the R, and the opponent had shut out the Q by Q Kt to Q B 3; but his position would then have become extremely difficult to defend, and besides, he could in the present situation be well satisfied with the surplus of two pawns.
5. 14…Nge7 (e) Had Black now taken the R, the opponent would have replied Q to B 3, threatening mate, and must have afterwards won the Q by Q Kt to B 3.
6. 18.Nb3 [1st hour]
7. 19.Bf1 (f) K to R sq was preferable. Black’s K Kt could not then attack by Kt to B 5, on account of the winning reply, Kt takes Q P; and if Black proceeded in the same way as in the text, namely, by K Kt to Kt 5, it must have saved at least a move for White that his K would have been already in the corner. See Black’s 24th move.
8. 20…Re8 [1st hour]
9. 21.Rd2 (g) In this kind of position the attack must be proceeded with at any hazard, and, though Black had well protected his most vulnerable point, the Q P, the assault could only be directed against that spot. With two pawns behind already, White could only hope to confuse the opponent, who had a difficult game to defend.
10. 22…Rxe3 (h) The sacrifice makes matters more smooth and clear for the defence, and forces the opponent to give up a piece and two pawns, or to submit to a ruinous exchange of queens, which would have left Black with an extremely easy position in the ending game, and with the overwhelming superiority of four pawns and a Kt against the R. Had he taken the Q B P at once with the Kt, he would have obviously lost a piece without releasing his position, for White would have simply retaken with the Kt.
11. 26…N2d4 (i) By a singular infatuation, Steinitz greedily plays here, and subsequently, for preserving the piece, totally contrary to his own principle, which usually aims at a simplification of the game. He ought to have moved the K to Q 2, liberating the R, and winning must have become an easy matter; for White could not gain the piece without exchanging queens, and then there was nothing left to counteract the march of Black’s pawns.
12. 29.Qb2 [2nd hour]
13. 30.Bxf7 (j) Better than taking with the R; for Black would have answered Kt to K 4, since he could safely move the K to K 2 if White then proceeded with R to B 3, ch.
14. 31…Nf5 [2nd hour]
15. 32.a4 (k) We explained in our introductory remarks how Black’s error on the previous move, when the game was adjourned, arose. He ought to have played the K to Q 2 or to K 2, and there would have been no more complication to give White a chance of a mistake. But it is only due to Mr. Blackburne to state that, with inferior forces, he skilfully managed to perplex the opponent with the most puzzling moves, while the latter was pressed for time; and White’s clever manœuvre at this juncture was also one which could not be easily foreseen. We give a diagram of the position on the following page. Position of the game after White’s 32nd move.
16. 32…Ne5 (l) Black could not capture the Q R P without resigning his best chance of winning and being content with a probable draw. For instance: 32... B takes P 33. R to K 2; 33... Q to R 3 34. R to K 6; 34... Q to R 5 35. Q takes Q Kt P; 35... R to Kt sq. 36. R to K 8, ch; 36... K to Q 2 37. R takes R; 37... Kt takes R 38. Q takes Kt, and Black cannot take the other R, and he can only ch with the Kt at Kt 6, and draw the game by perpetual ch backwards and forwards, with the Kt at Kt 6 and K 7; for White would certainly avoid coming out to B sq on account of the reply Q to B 5, ch, &c. Giving up a clear piece by Q Kt to K 5 might have been, however, even better than the move in the text; for if White took the B with the P, Black by retaking with the Q R P, opening the Q R file would have had more than enough for the exchange he lost. Black’s Q Kt would then have been quite safe at Q 5, though White had three pieces on it, for the latter dared not capture it on account of the mate threatened either with the Q at K 8, or with the R at R 8 after exchanging queens. Nor could White get rid of the other Kt by P to K Kt 4 on account of the reply Q to B 6, ch.
17. 36…Nd4 (m) One piece was lost, and this way of giving it up was no doubt better than going in for winning another P by Q to B 3. Black would have had no time to take that P, since White threatened to win by doubling the rooks on the K file.
18. 39.Rde4 (n) Q takes Kt P, though he threatened a mate, would have been disastrous, for Black would have answered Q to B 3, ch, followed by R to R 6, ch. If White then interposed the R at Q 3, Black would capture the K R with the Q, the other remaining pinned.
19. 42.Qe3 (o) This fine move cuts off the retreat of Black’s King, and keeps the latter’s queen also fixed. It will be seen that later on Black’s queen could neither move to K 3 or to K sq, or Q Kt 3, on account of White’s check with the rook at K B 7.
20. 45.Rg5 [3rd hour]
21. 46…Ra3 (p) Had he checked with the Kt at Kt 5, White would have taken off the Kt with the R, and then at least have drawn the game by checking backwards and forwards with the other R at B 7 and B 8. White’s ingenious reply enables him to come out with a R ahead, but the best experts declare that Black’s pawns must win by force afterwards. We give a diagram of the situation on the following page. Position of the game after Black’s 46th move, viz. R from R 8 to B 6.
22. 48…b4 [3rd hour]
23. 49.Rb2 (q) In answer to the R to K 2, Black would have protected the K P by R to B 4, followed, according to circumstances, either by R to Q Kt 4, or R to Q 4, which would have enabled Black to lead his combined pawns to victory, supported by the K.
24. 50…Rd3 (r) Necessary to keep up communication between Black’s king and his passed pawns. White threatened to ch with the R at K B 7, followed by the other R taking the K Kt P, attacking the Q Kt P doubly.
25. 59.Rg4 [4th hour]
26. 59…Rd2 (s) White’s king being cut off, and Black’s king having crossed the front to support his pawns, the cautious advance of the latter must win easily and surely.
27. 66…Ka2 White resigns. (Duration eight hours.)