Steinitz, William VS Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich 1889.02.04

Annotations

1. 4…c6 With the intention of keeping the QP twice defended and in order to make the KP available later on for an advance. But we doubt the advisability of this plan which keeps the Black pieces shut up for a long time.
2. 10…h6 With the view of advancing P—K4 which he could not do at once as White after exchanging would ultimately win a P by B×RP ch. followed by Q—R5 ch.
3. 11…Re8 Again he cannot push the KP on account of the rejoinder Q—Q3.
4. 12…Qf6 A bad post for the Q and perhaps P—QB4 was his best resource at present.
5. 15.c5 By this manœuvre White blocks out two of the adverse pieces, but probably Kt—K5 would have led to a more speedy and successful direct King's side attack, for if Black took the Kt White could retake with the P followed by R—K3 and R—KKt3.
6. 16…Qd8 More promising for the defence was probably 16…P—K4; 17 P—Q6, 17 B—Kt5; 18 B—K4, 18 Kt—Q2; 19 P—Kt4, 19 P—QR4.
7. 18…f6 Necessary for if P—QR4 at once White would reply Q—Q4 followed by P×KtP.
8. 19.Qd3 But White could now easily hold command of the position on both wings by B—K4 threatening P—Kt5. If Black drove back this B by P—B4 then the formidable entrance of White's Q at Q4 after retreating the KB would win.
9. 21.Nh4 White here overrates his attack on the King's side, for as will be seen the entrance of the Kt at Kt6 which he speculated upon would hardly yield him any advantage.
10. 23.Rad1 White had to change his intended tactics. If 23 Kt—Kt6, 23 B×P; 24 Kt×Kt, 24 K×Kt; 25 Q—R7, 25 B—K3; 26 B—Kt6, 26 B—Kt sq.; 27 Q—R8, 27 Q—Q2 !; and merely at the cost of the exchange for which Black has already one P he blocks out the adverse Queen from the game.
11. 27.Bg6 Obviously White had here a draw by repetition of moves, for if he now played Q—K4 Black was bound to answer Kt—B sq. or Kt—Kt4, as he had to guard against the ch. of the Q, whereupon White could again attack the B by Q—B4 ch. and compel the Kt to interpose.
12. 28.Re2 Better than B×R, whereupon by the reply B×P ch. Black gains a second P for the exchange and will also afterward exchange B for Kt which will make it very difficult for White to win.
13. 28…Reb8 Probably his best plan was B×RP in order to fight out the battle with his passed Pawns on the Queen's side, which we believe would have given him a fair prospect of drawing.
14. 29.Rb2 Necessary, for if B—B5 at once Black would reply Q—Kt6. Though White apparently loses time, as he has to go back again with his R to his former place, he in reality gains an important move as in the meanwhile he compels the Black King to come out to B2.
15. 31…Qa6 Vorious moves were suggested here afterward for the defence, but all were found on examination of no avail. If for instance, 31…B×RP; 32 QB×P, 32 Q—B4 (this seems best, for if P×B the R retakes, followed by QR—K sq.); 33 Q—Kt4 and wins equally, for if 33…P×B; 34 Q—Kt6 ch., etc.
16. 35…Kf8 Of course nothing could save his game. If 35…K—Kt sq.; 36 Q×B, 36 Q—R2 or R—Kt2; 37 B—R7 ch., 37 K—B sq.; 38 B—Kt7 mate.

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