Steinitz, William VS Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich 1889.01.29

Annotations

1. 5.e4 This is not as good as P—K3.
2. 5…e5 A counter gambit which already occurs in similar positions in the games between Labourdonnais and MacDonnell.
3. 9.Bd2 Black wisely refrains from castling on the Queen's side, as his King is wanted on the other wing for the protection of the KP.
4. 10.Rg1 A lost move, as the sequel shows.
5. 11.Bxc4 If 11 P×P, 11 Kt—Kt3; 12 B×P, 12 KKt×BP; 13 R×BP, 13 Kt×KP; 14 R×Kt (if 14 R×BP, 14 B×P with a strong attack), 14...Kt×Kt; 15 K—B2, 15 KR—KKt sq.; 16 P—Kt3, 16 B—Q5; 17 B—B3, 17 B×B; 18 K×B best, for if Kt×B the reply R—Q7 ch. is fatal, 18...Kt—K4 and Black, though a P behind, has an irresistible attack.
6. 16.Nxb6 This leads to a general exchange of minor pieces which releases Black from the greatest part of his difficulties, whereas KB—B3 instead would have kept the attack well in hand. If Black answer 16...castles; then White could well proceed with 17 Kt×B, 17 RP×Kt; 17 P—K6, with a strong attack.
7. 20.Kd2 Ill-conceived. K—B2 was far better.
8. 25.Rg5 A grave error. As pointed out by Senor Vazquez, he could at least draw by 25 R—KB sq., 25 Kt—K4; 26 R—B5, 26 R—R6 ch., best (if 26...K—Q3; 27 R×Kt and wins; or if 26...Kt—Kt5 ch.; 27 K—B3, 27 Kt—B2; 28 P—K5 and wins); 27 K—K2, 27 R×B; 28 P×R and White ought to draw at least.
9. 28…h5 The march of this P is well-timed and goes the shortest road to victory.
10. 30…c6 Excellent play, as it blocks out the R from his most commanding file and leaves Black the option of several winning attacks.
11. 31.Rf5 There was hardly anything better, for if R—KKt5 Black would have answered R—KKt6, and if then the R moved to KB5, Black would capture the KP checking and wins with ease.
12. 31…Ne2+ As will be seen, Black has calculated to the end with great exactitude in order to counteract the last resource which White is trying to adopt.
13. 32.Kc5 Just as bad was K—K5, as Black would also exchange Rooks and ultimately his Queen would check at R7 winning the adverse Queen. Again, if K—B4 Black would proceed in a similar way as actually played, and would ultimately win by Q—Q4 ch. and exchanging Queens by Q—Kt4 ch.
14. 35.Bxc6 A forlorn hope. But, of course, White had no other resource. See Diagram, page 172.

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