Steinitz, William VS Blackburne, Joseph Henry 1876.02.17

Annotations

1. 6…Be7 P—KKt3 with the view of posting the B at KKt2 is now established as the better defence.
2. 7.h3 Not so much for defensive purposes as with the view of forming an attack by P—KKt4 after Black has castled.
3. 11.Nbd2 Introduced for the first time in the present game, and this development of the Kt with the view of manoeuvring it to B sq. has since became an established form of attack.
4. 14…g6 We believe it would have been better to retreat B—Q sq.
5. 17…c5 Much better was 17....P—KB4; which might have led to the following continuation: 18 Kt—K sq.!, 18 P×KP; 19 P×P, 19 Kt—B5; 20 Q—B sq., followed by P—KB3 and P—KR4.
6. 19…c4 If 19....P—Q4; 20 P—K5 best (not P×P on account of the reply Kt—B5), 20....P—B5; 21 P—KR4, with an excellent attack.
7. 21.Qd2 Threatening both wings, but chiefly the King's side after removing the B.
8. 24…f5 After 24....Kt (Kt2)—K sq.; 25 P—KR4, 25 Q—Kt2; 26 Q×Q ch., 26 Kt×Q; (or 26....K×Q; 27 P—R5, etc.,) 27 P×P, 27 Kt—R4; 28 Kt—Kt5 (threatening P—B7 ch.), 28....KKt×BP; 29 P—R5, White has an irresistible attack, for if 29....Kt×P; 30 R×Kt followed by R—Kt sq. wins. And if 29....K—Kt2; 30 P×P, 30 P×P; 31 R—R7 ch. and wins.
9. 27.g6 This wins a piece by force. For obviously if P×P, Kt—Kt5 follows.
10. 29…Rf6 If 29....R—B2; 30 KR—Kt sq. ch., 30 K—R sq.; 31 B—K3, 31 P—KR3; 32 B—Q4 ch., 32 K—R2; 33 B×P ch., 33 R×B; 34 R—Kt7 ch., 34 K—R sq.; 35 QR—Kt sq. and wins.
11. 34.Rge1 White threatens according to circumstances, R—K6 or R—K7.

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