Steinitz, William VS Zukertort, Johannes Hermann 1886.03.22

Annotations

1. 14.g4 Compare Cols. 4, 5 and 6 of our tables for analysis up to this juncture.
2. 16…h5 An excellent move which neutralizes the attack of White's Pawns.
3. 17.g5 Certainly better than P×P in which case White could not make much use of the open KKt file, and Black after retaking with the Kt, might eventually enter at KB5.
4. 19.c4 The key move to White's future operations is the centre. White can defend this P if attacked by the adverse Kt without being compelled to advance P—QKt3 in which case Black would obtain some counter attack by P—R5.
5. 19…Nd6 If 19....R—Q5; 20 B—Q3, 20 Kt—Q3; 21 P—QKt3, threatening Kt—B2 or B—Kt2.
6. 21…Bxd5 The exchange is unfavorable for Black, and we should have preferred B—KB sq., as White's Kt could not do much harm for the present.
7. 23…Ra8 The best defence for this P. If 23....P—QKt3; 24 R—QB sq. threatening R—B 6.
8. 26…Qa4 An indifferent move which in no way alters the course of White's attack, but, practically, his line of defence would not have been much changed. If 26....P—QKt3; 27 B—B3, 27 Q—K2 or K sq.; 28 Q—KB2, etc.
9. 29.Qf2 Besides attacking the QKtP, the move in the text prepares a strong onslaught with the KBP eventually.
10. 30.Bb5 Useless. It would have been better to have exchanged Rooks at once.
11. 33…Nc6 R—QB sq. was much better. For whether White answered P—Kt3 or B—Q5 Black could answer Kt—Kt4, and though in the latter case White would still have some attack by P—KB4, which, however, would not have been as potent, as he could not avoid the exchange of his powerfully posted QB.
12. 35.f4 There is hardly any satisfactory defence against the attack here initiated.
13. 35…Qd7 If 35....P×P; 36 Q×BP, etc.
14. 36…Ne7 No better was 36....P×P; 37 Q×P, 37 Q×Q; 38 R×Q, 38 Kt—Q sq.; (or 38....Kt—K2; 39 B×P ch., 39 K moves; 40 R—B3, etc.,) 39 P—Kt6 and wins.
15. 37…gxf5 P—B6 was threatened, and if 37....B—B sq.; 38 B×P ch., 38 K×B; 39 P×P double ch., 39 K—K3 best; 40 Q—B7 ch., 40 K—Q3; 41 R—Q sq., ch., and wins.
16. 38…Bf8 In the hope that White might take the QKt—P to which Black would answer Kt—Q4 threatening B—B4 ch.
17. 39.Qf3 The decisive answer which prevents the entrance of Kt—Q4 and attacks the indefensible RP.
18. 40.Qxh5 R×B is the only defence and then would follow B×P ch. and P—B6 mate.

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