Sellman, Alexander VS Steinitz, William 1885.02.10

Annotations

1. 9.c3 Either this or P—QB4 (which is preferred by Herr Englisch and Dr. Noa) are necessary, as Black threatens to win a piece by P—QB4 and P—B5.
2. 10.Bf4 This B is better posted at K3.
3. 12.Bc2 Aiming at a prospective attack on the King's side which is very hard to reach, and as his pieces were not well developed, and especially as his KBP, the advance of which was necessary for forming a King's side attack is blocked by his own B. Kt—Q2 was preferable.
4. 14.b3 Not good, for it weakens his QBP.
5. 15.e5 Which allows the opponent the important majority of Pawns on the Queen's side. But there was hardly anything better, as he had to guard against the adverse attack by B—B3 and P—Kt5.
6. 15…d5 If P×P followed by Q—Q4 White after retaking would play Q—K3, threatening B—K4 should Black capture the KKtP.
7. 16…g5 To cut off the QB from supporting the weak Q side, and also to prevent Q—Kt3.
8. 18.f4 His position is much confined and he makes a risky effort to extricate himself.
9. 19.Qd3 If 19 P×QP, 19 Kt—Q4; 20 Q—K4, 20 P×KBP; 21 B×P, 21 Kt—Kt5; 22 B—Q sq. (there seems nothing better if 22 Kt—R3 Black wins by B—Q4 followed by Q—QR4, and if 22 B—K3, 22 P×P; 23 B×P, 23 Q×B and wins) 22....B—Q4; 23 Q—K2, 23 B×KKtP followed by Kt—Q6 ch., or Q×P with a winning attack.
10. 21.Bh6 His best plan was to retreat B—Q2 followed by Q—K4 in case Black answered Q—B2.
11. 22.Bg7 If 22 B×B, 22 Q×B; 23 Q—K4 (or 23 O—O? 23 Kt—K6 followed by B—KB4 or —Q4 with a winning game) 23 R—QB sq. with a fine game.
12. 23…d3 The winning move.
13. 24.Bxh8 If B—Q sq. Black would win by B—Q4, or by P—Q7 ch.
14. 24…dxc2 Better than B—Q4 to which White might reply B—B6.
15. 26.Qg4 If now 26 B—B6, 26 B×Q; 27 B×Q, 27 B×B; followed accordingly by B—Q8 or Kt—K7 ch., and remaining with a piece ahead.
16. 32.Kg1 If he meant to fight on at all K—B sq. was better.
17. 33.Kf1 If he move in the corner, then follows Kt—B7 ch., Kt—Kt5 dis.ch., and Q—R5, etc.
18. 33…Qh4 Q—Kt4 was most precise, for then White had not the resource of Q—K2, for in that case Black could answer B—Kt5.
19. 34.g3 Q—K2 might have prolonged the game as he could interpose the Q at B3 if Black played Q—B5 ch.

William Steinitz, The Modern Chess Instructor (1889) · Public domain · source