1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
Nc6
3.
Bc4
Bc5
4.
c3
Nf6
5.
d4
exd4
6.
cxd4
Bb4+
7.
Nc3
d5
8.
exd5
Nxd5
9.
O-O
Be6
10.
Bg5
Be7
11.
Bxd5
Bxd5
12.
Nxd5
Qxd5
13.
Bxe7
Nxe7
14.
Re1
f6
15.
Qe2
Qd7
16.
Rac1
c6
17.
d5
cxd5
18.
Nd4
Kf7
19.
Ne6
Rhc8
20.
Qg4
g6
21.
Ng5+
Ke8
22.
Rxe7+
Kf8
23.
Rf7+
Kg8
24.
Rg7+
Kh8
25.
Rxh7+
1-0
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Site
Hastings
Date
1895.08.17
Round
10
White
Black
Von Bardeleben, Curt
Result
1-0
Hastings, 17 August 1895 (Giuoco Piano). Steinitz's celebrated “gem of the first water,” afterwards awarded the tournament's prize for sound brilliancy. Von Bardeleben left the hall rather than resign, and Steinitz demonstrated the forced mate to the spectators. Notes by Dr. Tarrasch.
- 7.Nc3 This move is mentioned by Greco, and Steinitz has again recommended it in his ‘Modern Chess Instructor’; this variation was also played by him against Schlechter in this Tournament.
- 7…d5 Schlechter here played Kt x K P, which is the correct move, following it up 8. Castles, B x Kt; 9. P x B, P to Q 4; 10. B to R 3 (Steinitz's new move, on which the whole variation depends), B to K 3; 11. B to Kt 5, Kt to Q 3, with an equal game.
- 9…Be6 If Kt (or B) x Kt; 10. P x Kt, B x P, White gets a dangerous attack by 11. B x P, ch, K x B; 12. Q to Kt 3, ch, &c.
- 14.Re1 The point of all the exchanges, as by this move White obtains command of the board, prevents Black from Castling, and initiates a most powerful attack on the King.
- 16…c6 It would have been preferable to play the K to B 2, as White had then nothing better than a line leading, through the exchange of Queens, to an ending in which Black has still a prospect of a draw.
- 17.d5 A nice sacrifice of a Pawn, making way for the Knight to powerfully strengthen the attack.
- 22.Rxe7+ Here begins a grand combination.
- 22…Kf8 The position is most interesting, all the White Pieces being en prise. If K x R, then follows 23. R to K sq, ch, K to Q 3; 24. Q to Q Kt 4, ch, K to B 2; 25. Kt to K 6, ch, K to Kt sq; 26. Q to K B 4, ch, and wins.
- 25.Rxh7+ The checks by the Rook are delightful, as Black cannot take with the King or he loses his Queen with a check, nor can he take with the Queen or he is mated. For now if K to Kt sq, Mr. Steinitz (at the time) demonstrated the following brilliant and remarkable mate in ten moves:— 26. R to Kt 7, ch, K to R sq (or if 26 … K to B sq; 27. Kt to R 7, ch, &c.); 27. Q to R 4, ch, K x R; 28. Q to R 7, ch, K to B sq; 29. Q to R 8, ch, K to K 2; 30. Q to Kt 7, ch, K to K sq; 31. Q to Kt 8, ch, K to K 2; 32. Q to B 7, ch, K to Q sq; 33. Q to B 8, ch, Q to K sq; 34. Kt to B 7, ch, K to Q 2; 35. Q to Q 6, mate.
[Event "Hastings International Masters"] [Site "Hastings"] [Date "1895.08.17"] [Round "10"] [White "Steinitz, William"] [Black "Von Bardeleben, Curt"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxd5 Bxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Re1 f6 15. Qe2 Qd7 16. Rac1 c6 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nd4 Kf7 19. Ne6 Rhc8 20. Qg4 g6 21. Ng5+ Ke8 22. Rxe7+ Kf8 23. Rf7+ Kg8 24. Rg7+ Kh8 25. Rxh7+ 1-0