1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Bc4
Bc5
4.
b4
Bxb4
5.
c3
Ba5
6.
O-O
Qf6
7.
d4
Nge7
8.
Bg5
Qd6
9.
Qb3
O-O
10.
Rd1
Bb6
11.
dxe5
Qg6
12.
Qa3
Re8
13.
Nbd2
d6
14.
exd6
cxd6
15.
Bf4
Bc5
16.
Qc1
Bg4
17.
Bg3
Rad8
18.
h3
Bxf3
19.
Nxf3
Qxg3
20.
Kh1
Qg6
21.
Rd3
Qf6
22.
Qd2
Ng6
23.
Ng5
Nce5
24.
Rf3
Nxf3
25.
Bxf7+
Qxf7
26.
gxf3
Qc4
0-1
Opening Explorer
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Site
Havana
Date
1889.01.27
Round
5
Black
Result
0-1
- 8…Qd6 This is forced. For if 8...Q—Kt3; 9 B×Kt, 9 K×B (or 9...Kt×B; 10 Kt×P and wins); 10 P—Q5 with a fine attack.
- 10…Bb6 Black might have kept the superiority of Pawns by exchanging QP, but obviously White would then have forced a centre similar to the one usually obtained in other variations of this opening, and all the stronger in the present situation, as Black's Q was badly placed. The move in the text releases the defence.
- 12.Qa3 Preventing the development of the adverse QP, but only for a little time.
- 18.h3 White's position was already much inferior. If, for instance, 18 B—K2 Black could institute a vehement attack by the answer 18...P—Q4. The move in the text was, however, a fearful error that cost a clear piece.
- 18…Bxf3 Black could also answer 18...QB×RP; and if 19 K—R2, e. g. KB×P winning easily, but of course the play actually adopted is more than sufficient.
- 20…Qg6 If Q or B×P, White could still hope for some attack by the reply R—KB sq., followed by Kt—Kt5.
- 21.Rd3 See Diagram page 172.
- 21…Qf6 If 21...Q×KP; 22 B×P ch., and obviously Black dare not take the B on account of the winning rejoinder Kt—Kt5 ch.
- 24.Rf3 Desperate, but White's game was beyond recovery.
- 26…Qc4 Black had sufficient forces to win, even after 26...Q—KB5; 27 Q—Q5 ch., 27 K—R sq. (if 27...K—B sq.; White might still harrass him by 28 R—KKt sq.); 28 Kt—B7 ch., 28 Q×Kt; 29 Q×Q, 29 R—KB sq.; with three pieces for the Q and an irresistible attack. But of course the move in the text was the simplest and surest.
[Event "World-ch02 Steinitz-Chigorin +10-6=1"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1889.01.27"] [Round "5"] [White "Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich"] [Black "Steinitz, William"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. Bg5 Qd6 9. Qb3 O-O 10. Rd1 Bb6 11. dxe5 Qg6 12. Qa3 Re8 13. Nbd2 d6 14. exd6 cxd6 15. Bf4 Bc5 16. Qc1 Bg4 17. Bg3 Rad8 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qxg3 20. Kh1 Qg6 21. Rd3 Qf6 22. Qd2 Ng6 23. Ng5 Nce5 24. Rf3 Nxf3 25. Bxf7+ Qxf7 26. gxf3 Qc4 0-1