Steinitz, William VS Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich 1889.02.12

Annotations

1. 6.Bd2 White would not get a satisfactory game by 6 Q—Kt3, for after 6....B×KKt; 7 P×B, 7 B×Kt ch.; 8 P×B, 8 Kt—R4; 9 Q—B2, 9 Kt×P; 10 B×Kt, 10 P×B; 11 Q—R4 ch., 11 P—B3; 12 Q×P, 12 Q—Q4; we slightly prefer Black's game.
2. 7…Bf5 Necessary, for he evidently cannot Castle at once on account of the rejoinder B×P ch., followed by Kt—Kt5 ch. if K×B.
3. 14.Bd2 R—B2 instead was much better, for he might have had an opportunity after doubling the Rooks of retreating his B at once to K sq., which saved time.
4. 15.Rc2 Here again White ought to have first attacked by B—R5 compelling the advance of the QKtP which created a weak spot at Black's QB3.
5. 19…Nf5 Much superior to 19....Q—Kt4 to which White could safely reply 20 B—Kt3 and if then 20....R×P the answer 21 B×Kt wins a piece.
6. 25.Kf1 Black's attack in the centre is now exhausted and he must lose a P.
7. 26…Qg5 26....Q—QR4 with the intention of harassing the adverse Q with his Rooks would have failed on account of 27 P—QKt4, 27 Q—R5; 28 B—R4, 28 P—KR3; 29 P—Kt5, 29 P—KKt4; 30 B—Kt3, 30 Q×KtP; 31 Q×RP, and maintains his P ahead.
8. 33.Kg1 Much more simple and better was Q—KB4, threatening to enter at KR4 with the Q if Black refuse to exchange. If Black answered Q—Q6 then White could first play K—B2 followed by R—Q2 and Q—K3 constantly gaining time by offering the exchange of Queens.
9. 33…Nc8 Kt—R sq. as done later on was by far better.
10. 38.Bf2 38 P—B5, 38 R—Kt5; 39 P—Kt3 (or 39 B—B2, 39 R—B5), 39....Kt—Kt4 would have been in Black's favor.
11. 49.Rxh6+ Careless play which again gives Black an attack. 49 B—K3, 49 R×R; 50 R×R, 50 Kt—Kt3; 51 Q—K2, 51 Kt—K2; 52 R—B7 would have given White an irresistible attack.
12. 52…Rg4 52....P—R5 was here suggested afterward, but we do not think that Black would gain anything after 53 B×P, 53 R×P ch.; 54 K—R sq., 54 R—Kt5; 55 B—B6, etc.
13. 54…Rd2 This is a weak move which enables White to gain time.
14. 57.Rxe6 Which wins by force. See Diagram page 176.
15. 58…Rc1 58....Q—KKt2 suggested by Senor Ponce would no doubt have prolonged the game, but even then White would have obtained a sure victory by 59 Q—Q6, 59 R—K7; 60 Q×QP, 60 P—R5; 61 Q—KB3, 61 R×KP; 62 R—QR6, 62 Q—QB2; 63 Q—KB4 threatening R×QRP as well as Q×P ch. and should win.

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