15.Qb4Compare up to this our notes to the 15th game of the contest. The move in the text is the most powerful continuation. It is a waiting move that prevents Black from playing B—B4, and keeps the latter's pieces shut up for a long time.
16.Bb3Still stronger is we believe 16 K—R sq. with the following probable continuation: 16....P—KKt3; 17 Kt×P, 17 P×Kt; 18 P—KB4, 18 R—K sq.; 19 P×P dis. ch., 19 K—Kt2; 20 P—K6, 20 Kt×P; 21 B×Kt, 21 R×B; 22 P—K5, 22 R×P; 23 Q—KR4, 23 R—K3; 24 Q—KB4 and wins.
17…Kg7This is grievous loss of time. Much better was 17....Kt—B2; for if 18 Kt×B, 18 P×Kt; 19 B×Kt, 19 K×B; 20 Kt×P ch., 20 K—Kt2; and Black still keeps the superiority on the Queen's side.
21.Nxe5+A highly ingenious sacrifice. See Diagram page 184.
21…Kg7If 21 P×Kt; 22 P—KB4, 22 R—K sq. (or 22....P×P; 23 R×P ch., followed accordingly by Q—B4 ch. or Q—Q4 with or without ch. winning in a few more moves); 23 P×P dis. ch., 23 K—Kt2; 24 Q—Q4, 24 Q—R2; 25 Q—B2, 25 P—QKt4; 26 R—Q4, and wins.
22…b5The only move that gave him any hope of releasing himself.
23.axb5Kt—Kt6 would have compelled Black to give up the exchange by P×P and then to fight it out as well as he could for a draw; for if the R moved, White would answer P—R5 with still more effect.
26…Qc2Better than Q—Kt6, in which case, White would reply Kt—Q2 followed by P—KB4, whereas if White now pursue the same plan Black would answer R—R7, threatening R×KP in case White advance P—KB4.
33.Ra4Much better was P—QB4 with the view of playing P—B5.
38.Raa8A serious error. He ought to have exchanged Queens first and then the move in the text would have won a piece, for obviously, if Black defended afterward by R—B3, White would answer Kt—Q5 followed by Kt—B7.
40.f4A weak move that enables Black to extricate himself with even forces and the superior game.
51…Qe5This weak move was the consequence of a miscalculation. He could have won here by 51....Q—Q7; 52 Q—R sq. ch., 52 K—B2; 53 Kt—Kt sq., 53 B×P; 54 Kt×B, 54 P—B6; 55 Q—KB sq., 55 Q×Kt ch.; 56 Q×Q, 56 P×Q; 57 K×P, 57 K—K3 and wins.
53…Kf6If he played B—R5 White would still answer Kt—B2, for if then B×Kt the BP would advance to B6 winning. It was this which Black had overlooked when he allowed Queens to be exchanged instead of playing Q—Q7 on the 51st move.
55…Bb7This secures the draw in the simplest manner. It was obviously of no use to play for more.
William Steinitz, The Modern Chess Instructor (1889) · Public domain · source