Notes by I. Gunsberg.

1. 8…exd5 There is not much harm in this isolated Pawn. Black, however, could prevent it by altering his tactics, and let such moves as P to Q Kt 3 and B to Kt 2 precede the advance of the Queen's Bishop's Pawn, which causes the isolated Pawn.
2. 17.Qe2 This is one of those routine moves in this opening which, in this particular instance, has no merits to recommend it.
3. 26.Na5 Now we get a first glimpse of all this subtle manoeuvring. White under the guise of attacking the isolated Queen's Pawn has placed his Pieces favourably for a King's side attack. The move is peculiarly characteristic of Mr. Steinitz's play. He does not depend on success in one direction, but his attacks are formed with a view to their bearing on all sides of the board. If Black replies to this excellent move, which engages the Queen's side with Kt x Kt, then B x Kt, threatening to follow up with B x Kt once more, would be bad for Black. The only other move left to defend the White Queen's Knight's Pawn would be R to Q 2, but this move would create weaknesses of a different kind by blocking Black's Pieces.
4. 26…d4 This, perhaps, was the least expected of Black's replies. A move of this kind, however, under difficulties and pressure of time limit, as this assuredly must have been, is often very useful; it serves the purpose of defence better than the more cautious move, such as R to Q 2 would have been. Very often it is well worth while taking such risks. The position is extremely interesting, and capable of treatment in many different ways.
5. 27.Nxc6 Black has verily attained his object of creating a dangerous complication. 27. Kt x Q P would have avoided the necessity of giving up a Piece.
6. 29.Qa6 His only resource is to try for another Pawn; with six Pawns to three, White should be able to hold his own, but it is a poor outcome of the fine position which he had previous to his 27th move.
7. 32.Rc3 It seems that White is not even going to have the satisfaction of getting a second Pawn, for if he now plays 32. R x R, Q x R; 33. Q x P, Q to B 8, ch; 34. K to B 2, Q to Q 7, ch; 35. K to Kt 3, Q to K 8, ch; 36. K to B 4, B to Q 3, ch, and Black wins.
8. 42…Nxd4 This exchange was not well advised, it unites White's Pawns therefore lessens Black's chances of winning.
9. 48.d5 The position is a most peculiar one, and White deserves great credit for the uphill fight. Of course, K x P is impossible, as then one of the two Pawns would be bound to go in. The White King stops the Queen's Rook's Pawn and the White Pawn stops the Queen's Knight's Pawn.