Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich VS Steinitz, William 1889.01.31

Annotations

1. 10…Bb6 If 11…Kt—Kt3; 12 QKt—Kt5, 12 Q—B sq.; 13 B—K3, 13 P—QB3; 14 B×B, 14 P×Kt; 15 B×P with the much superior game.
2. 15…c6 Black is a P ahead, but his game is fearfully cramped. P—Q3 was obviously worse as White would exchange Pawns followed by R—K sq. ch.
3. 17.Bb3 An excellent move which establishes communication of the Q with the King's side and gives White a powerful attack on that wing.
4. 17…h6 This is the only reply, we believe, to counteract the threatened Q—KR4.
5. 19…Qd3 If Kt×P White would answer Q×KP with the superior game.
6. 20.Rad1 Splendid play. The R exercises a powerful influence on that square for the ending. Of course, if Kt×P Black would answer Q—B4 effectively.
7. 20…Qh7 If Q—Kt3 White would exchange Queens followed by P—K6 with an irresistible attack.
8. 21.Nc2 White we believe missed here the opportunity of obtaining the victory by 21 P—K6, 21 Kt×P; 22 B×Kt, 22 BP×B; 23 Kt—K5 followed by R—Q3 with an irresistible attack.
9. 21…Kg7 Feeble. Kt—K3 was now the best defence.
10. 23…h5 This P is now entirely thrown away. He ought to have still played 23…Kt—K3; and if 24 B—B2, 24 P—KR4; 25 Q—Kt3, 25 P—R5; 26 Q—Kt4, 26 Q—R4 with good hopes of extricating himself and winning with the majority of Pawns.
11. 26…h4 There was hardly any good defence. If 26…Kt—K3; 27 Kt×Kt ch., 27 BP×Kt; 28 Kt—K7, 28 R—R2; 29 K—R sq. 29 B—Q sq.; 30 Kt×B, 30 R×Kt; 31 P—B4, 31 KR—B2; 32 P—B5, 32 R×P, 33 R×R, 33 P×R; 34 R—KB sq., with an irresistible attack.
12. 31.Nxf7 Beautiful play. See Diagram page 172.
13. 34.Ne4 The ch. of White's Kt at B6 is obviously fatal to Black's game. If, for instance, 34…B—Q2; 35 Kt—B6 ch., 35 K—Q sq.; 36 Kt—Kt8, 36 R—R sq.; 37 R—B8 ch., 37 B—K sq., 38 P—Q7 and wins. Again if 34…B—Q sq.; White mates elegantly by 35 P—Q7 ch., 35 B×P; 36 Kt—Q6 ch., 36 K—K2; 37 R—B7 mate.

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