1.
Nf3
d5
2.
d4
Bg4
3.
c4
Bxf3
4.
gxf3
dxc4
5.
e4
e5
6.
dxe5
Qxd1+
7.
Kxd1
Nc6
8.
f4
Rd8+
9.
Bd2
Bc5
10.
Rg1
Nge7
11.
Bxc4
Ng6
12.
Kc1
Bxf2
13.
Rg2
Bb6
14.
Nc3
Nd4
15.
Nd5
Nf3
16.
Nxb6
Nxd2
17.
Rxd2
axb6
18.
Rxd8+
Kxd8
19.
Bxf7
Nxf4
20.
Kd2
Rf8
21.
Bb3
Ng6
22.
e6
Ke7
23.
Rg1
Rf2+
24.
Ke3
Rxh2
25.
Rg5
Rh3+
26.
Kd4
Rf3
27.
Rb5
Nf4
28.
a4
h5
29.
a5
h4
30.
axb6
c6
31.
Rf5
Ne2+
32.
Kc5
Rxf5+
33.
exf5
h3
34.
Ba4
h2
35.
Bxc6
bxc6
36.
b7
h1=Q
37.
b8=Q
Qc1+
0-1
Opening Explorer
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Site
Havana
Date
1889.01.29
Round
6
White
Result
0-1
- 5.e4 This is not as good as P—K3.
- 5…e5 A counter gambit which already occurs in similar positions in the games between Labourdonnais and MacDonnell.
- 9.Bd2 Black wisely refrains from castling on the Queen's side, as his King is wanted on the other wing for the protection of the KP.
- 10.Rg1 A lost move, as the sequel shows.
- 11.Bxc4 If 11 P×P, 11 Kt—Kt3; 12 B×P, 12 KKt×BP; 13 R×BP, 13 Kt×KP; 14 R×Kt (if 14 R×BP, 14 B×P with a strong attack), 14...Kt×Kt; 15 K—B2, 15 KR—KKt sq.; 16 P—Kt3, 16 B—Q5; 17 B—B3, 17 B×B; 18 K×B best, for if Kt×B the reply R—Q7 ch. is fatal, 18...Kt—K4 and Black, though a P behind, has an irresistible attack.
- 16.Nxb6 This leads to a general exchange of minor pieces which releases Black from the greatest part of his difficulties, whereas KB—B3 instead would have kept the attack well in hand. If Black answer 16...castles; then White could well proceed with 17 Kt×B, 17 RP×Kt; 17 P—K6, with a strong attack.
- 20.Kd2 Ill-conceived. K—B2 was far better.
- 25.Rg5 A grave error. As pointed out by Senor Vazquez, he could at least draw by 25 R—KB sq., 25 Kt—K4; 26 R—B5, 26 R—R6 ch., best (if 26...K—Q3; 27 R×Kt and wins; or if 26...Kt—Kt5 ch.; 27 K—B3, 27 Kt—B2; 28 P—K5 and wins); 27 K—K2, 27 R×B; 28 P×R and White ought to draw at least.
- 28…h5 The march of this P is well-timed and goes the shortest road to victory.
- 30…c6 Excellent play, as it blocks out the R from his most commanding file and leaves Black the option of several winning attacks.
- 31.Rf5 There was hardly anything better, for if R—KKt5 Black would have answered R—KKt6, and if then the R moved to KB5, Black would capture the KP checking and wins with ease.
- 31…Ne2+ As will be seen, Black has calculated to the end with great exactitude in order to counteract the last resource which White is trying to adopt.
- 32.Kc5 Just as bad was K—K5, as Black would also exchange Rooks and ultimately his Queen would check at R7 winning the adverse Queen. Again, if K—B4 Black would proceed in a similar way as actually played, and would ultimately win by Q—Q4 ch. and exchanging Queens by Q—Kt4 ch.
- 35.Bxc6 A forlorn hope. But, of course, White had no other resource. See Diagram, page 172.
[Event "World-ch02 Steinitz-Chigorin +10-6=1"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1889.01.29"] [Round "6"] [White "Steinitz, William"] [Black "Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich"] [Result "0-1"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3 4. gxf3 dxc4 5. e4 e5 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Nc6 8. f4 Rd8+ 9. Bd2 Bc5 10. Rg1 Nge7 11. Bxc4 Ng6 12. Kc1 Bxf2 13. Rg2 Bb6 14. Nc3 Nd4 15. Nd5 Nf3 16. Nxb6 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 axb6 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Bxf7 Nxf4 20. Kd2 Rf8 21. Bb3 Ng6 22. e6 Ke7 23. Rg1 Rf2+ 24. Ke3 Rxh2 25. Rg5 Rh3+ 26. Kd4 Rf3 27. Rb5 Nf4 28. a4 h5 29. a5 h4 30. axb6 c6 31. Rf5 Ne2+ 32. Kc5 Rxf5+ 33. exf5 h3 34. Ba4 h2 35. Bxc6 bxc6 36. b7 h1=Q 37. b8=Q Qc1+ 0-1