The third game, played on Tuesday, February 22nd, was opened by Steinitz with the Allgaier Kieseritzky Gambit, which the theorists thought completely demolished by Paulsen’s defence. It was at once surmised that Steinitz would not have adopted this attack unless he had some at least comparative novelty in store. And so it was; for he sacrificed another pawn on the twelfth move by bringing the Q Kt to B 3, which led to the exchange of queens, and the recovery of the lost pawn, with, as Steinitz thinks, an even position. His opponent and Mr. Zukertort opine, however, that Black has the best of the game, and future analysis and practice must decide between the conflicting views. The ending was carefully played on both sides, and seemed to lead to a drawn position. But on the 25th move Blackburne, by a fine coup, which took his opponent by surprise, won a P; and two moves later on he might have won the exchange, but missed his opportunity, owing to being pressed for time. Steinitz, who had managed to keep time in hand, adopted the usual policy under the circumstances, namely, to make the game as difficult as possible for his opponent, who was pushed for time—even at the expense of correctness, and at some risk. By this means he succeeded in equalising the game, though he was still a P behind at the time of the adjournment on the 31st move. After the adjournment only three moves had been made on each side, when Blackburne made an oversight which cost him two pawns, and gave his opponent an easy victory in the end game. (Kieseritzky Gambit.)

1. 12.Nc3 (a) In our notes to this game published in The Field, we pronounced this move to be a novelty, but we have since ascertained that this line of play is already indicated in the fifth edition of the German “Handbuch” in a footnote to the main variation. We believe, however, that this is the first occasion of its having been introduced into practice in an important match game. White must recover the P he now offers, and the position afterwards is about even; but Messrs. Blackburne and Zukertort are of opinion that the retention of the two bishops gives the second player the superior game, though his pawns on the Q side are separated.
2. 19…Be4 [1st hour]
3. 20.Rd1 [1st hour]
4. 21.Nd3 (b) White could not well venture upon taking the Q P, for it would have involved the loss of the exchange, e.g.: 21. R takes P; 21... Q R to K sq. 22. R to R 4; 22... B takes Kt 23. R takes B; 23... P takes R 24. B takes B, ch; 24... K to Kt sq., and should win.
5. 24…Re6 (c) The initiation of a finely conceived scheme, altogether overlooked by the adversary.
6. 25…Bxc2 (d) In our note in the Field we remarked at this point that on the previous move White might have frustrated the adversary’s design by placing the K to B sq. It seems, however, as pointed out to us by Mr. Anthony, that Black could have captured the P even in that case. Nevertheless, that move would have been much better, e.g.: 25. K to B sq.; 25... B takes P 26. Kt takes B; 26... B takes R 27. K takes B; 27... R takes Kt, ch 28. R to Q 2; 28... R takes R, ch 29. K takes R; 29... K to K 3 30. P to Q Kt 4; 30... K to Q 4 31. K to Q 3 with an even game though a P behind. As it stands, if White take the B with the R, Black would answer R takes Kt, ch, &c. See diagram: Position after Black’s 25th move. Black’s last move was taking a P at Q B 7 with a B which stood at K 5.
7. 27…Ke7 (e) Fortunately for Steinitz, his opponent was at this point short of time, or else the latter could not have failed to see that he could win the exchange by B to K 4, threatening P to Kt 6. White had then no better reply than R takes Q P, and he would have had very hard work afterwards to draw the game, even if he found time to strengthen his position by P to K Kt 3. It does not seem, however, that White had anything better on the previous move. In answer to R to R 6 at once, Black would have first defended R to B 2, and, afterwards have played the B to K 2, preventing White’s K from crossing, and the latter’s game would have been then untenable.
8. 29…Rd7 [2nd hour]
9. 30.Ra3 [2nd hour]
10. 32.Ra5 (f) Preventing the adversary’s king from crossing, and better than checking at R 6, which would only have had the effect of drawing the K up to the support of his passed Q P; for Black could have safely answered K to Q 4, followed by K to K 5 if the Kt checked at B 4, and White would then have found it of no avail to protect the Kt by B to Kt 3, threatening mate with the R, or to attack the B by Kt to K 6, since Black could provide in each case an escape by P to Q 6, which also cleared the road to his own victory. Supposing: 32. R to R 6, ch.; 32... K to Q 4 33. Kt to B 4, ch.; 33... K to K 5 34. Kt to K 6; 34... P to Q 6 And if White capture the B, Black would win by R to K 7, ch, followed by P to Q 7.
11. 33…Kf6 (g) Black played this with the anticipation that White would answer K to Q 2, whereupon he would capture the Kt, followed by K to Kt 3, which would have given him a good game. But no doubt it was a serious error, and he ought to have captured the Kt at once, and fought for a draw.
12. 34.Ra6+ (h) White failed here to take the promptest advantage of the opponent’s error. He might have taken the Q R P with the R at once, but still the move adopted, drove the K back, forced the gain of a P, and secured at least a draw.
13. 34…Kg7 (i) A grave error, for it loses two pawns at once. He ought to have moved the K to K 2; but even in that case his game was not comfortable, and he must have lost the Q R P by the answer of Kt to B 5, without being able to make any impression with his passed Q P, which could easily be stopped.
14. 54…Ka6 [3rd hour]
15. 55.Ke6 And after some more moves Black resigned. [Duration seven hours.]