Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich VS Steinitz, William 1889.01.20

Annotations

1. 6…Qf6 See our remarks on this move in the introduction of this series of games.
2. 8.Ng5 Apparently strong, but not as good as the line of play subsequently adopted by Mr. Tschigorin, viz.: 8 QB—KKt5, 8 Q—Q3; 9 P—Q5.
3. 8…Nd8 We think the best plan is now to simplify matters by 8...P—KR3; 9 Kt×P, 9 R—B sq.; 10 Kt×B, 10 Kt×Kt; 11 P×Kt, 11 Q×P; and though Pawns are even, we much prefer Black's game as White's QBP is weak and his QKt has little scope for action.
4. 11.Be3 If 11 P—K5, 11 Q—QB3; 12 QKt—R3, 12 Kt—B4; 13 Kt—B3, 13 Kt—K3; with an excellent game.
5. 11…d5 Black gives up the P gained in order to break up the adverse centre and in the hope of gaining material after castling. However, the bad position of his QKt is a drawback to his game.
6. 14…Re8 This premature attack is fully neutralized by the opponent's very clever play. P—QB3 at once was much better.
7. 16.Bf2 Defending everything indirectly. Of course Black dare not take both Knights on account of the ultimate R—K sq.
8. 18.Nc5 We believe that Q—QR4 instead was much stronger and would have made it very difficult for Black to release his pieces.
9. 25…Nb4 A weak move which gets Black into trouble. He could still retain some advantage with hopes of winning by 25...Q×P; 26 Q×P, 26 Kt—R4, etc.
10. 27.Qe5 An excellent rejoinder which gives White anyhow some attacking initiative. See Diagram, page 166.
11. 27…Rxa2 An extraordinary blunder. Black overlooked that the check at R8 was guarded by the Q. 27...R—R4; 28 B×P, 28 R—Kt4; 29 B—B2, 29 Q—B3 left Black still with a good game in which he could easily effect a draw almost at any time.
12. 31.g3 Not a good move. Q to either B sq. instead, followed by P—KR3, and K—R2 would have soon secured White's King against all danger of being hunted by checks, and would have given freedom to White's Q and B to operate in conjunction with the Pawns on the King's side.
13. 36.Kg1 At this stage the game was adjourned, and Mr. Tschigorin sealed the move in text.
14. 38.hxg3 If 38 Q×Q; 38 P×P ch.; 39 K×P, 39 P×Q; followed by P—KB3 and P—KKt3 drawing easily.
15. 47…Qd7 Feeble. If anything could be hoped for, P—QKt4 presented the best chance of offering resistance.
16. 48.Bd4 An excellent move which shuts out the adverse Q and prepares White's attacking advance of Pawns.
17. 53.g5 White's attack is now obviously irresistible. The latter part of the game has been played by Mr. Tschigorin with consummate mastery.

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