Battles Royal of the Chessboard by R.N. Coles Part.1

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Battles Royal of the Chessboard

Collected and presented by

R. N. Coles

Cadogan BooksLondon


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R.N. Coles 1948

This edition published 1995 by Cadogan Books pic, London House,

Parkgate Road, London, SW11 4NQ

ISBN 1 85744 182 6

Printed and bound in Finland by Werner Sderstrm Oy


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C O N T E N T SPAGE

INTRODUCTION .. .. ixGAMES

* An asterisk signifies the winner. No asterisk signifies a drawn game.

1. Mc D o n n e l l * d e L a b o u r d o n n a i s , 47th matchgame, London, 1834 ......................... .. 11King's Bishop's Opening

2. * d e L a b o u r d o n n a i s M c D o n n e l l , 78th matchgame, London, 1834 ....................... . x4

Queens Gambit

3. B o n c o u r t *S a i n t -Am a n t , Paris, 1839 . . . . 18Giuoco Piano

4. S t a u n t o n S a i n t -Am a n t , 2nd match game, London,

1843........................................................... .. 20King's Bishop's Opening5. * B i r d H o r w i t z , London tournament, 1851 . . 23

Ruy Lopez

6. v o n d e r L a s a "'St a u n t o n , 2nd match game,Brussels, 1853 .. .. .. . . .. 26

King's Bishop's Opening

7. An d e r s s e n M o r p h y , 2nd match game, Paris, 1858 28Ruy Lopez

8. An d e r s s e n *S t e i n i t z , 3rd match game, London,1866...................................................................... 31Evans Gambit

9. Z u k e r t o r t *S t e i n i t z , ist match game, London,1872...................................................................... 34

Giuoco Piano

10. M a s o n * Z u k e r t o r t , London tournament, 1883 .. 37Queen's Gambit Declined

11. B u r n *M a c k e n z i e , 4th match game, London, 1886 41Queens Pawn Game

12. *T a r r a s c h G u n s b e r g , Frankfort tournament, 1887 44French Defence

13. *M a c k e n z i e B l a c k b u r n e , Bradford tournament,1888.................................... .. .. .. 46

Queen's Pawn Game

14. We i s s T c h i g o r i n , ist tie-match game, New Yorktournament, 1889................................................49

Ruy Lopez

15. * P i l l s b u r y T a r r a s c h , Hastings tournament, 1895 52Pillsbury Attack

16. *S t e i n i t z P i l l s b u r y , St. Petersburg tournament,1896...................................................................... 54

Petroff Defence

17. P i l l s b u r y T c h i g o r i n , St. Petersburg tournament,1896...................................................................... 57

Tchigorin Defence


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40. C o l l e * Ka s h d a n , Bled tournament, 1931Colle System

41. S t o l t z * C o l l e , Bled tournament, 1931 . .Alekhine Defence

42. E u w e Ya t e s , Hastings tournament, 1932..Kings Indian Defence

43. S u l t a n K h a n * A le k h i n e , Folkestone team tournament, 1933 ................................

Queen's Pawn Game

44. S p i e l m a n n L a s k e r , Moscow tournament, 1935Scotch Game

45. E u w e A le k h in e , 19th match game, Eindhoven

1937 ........................................................Nimzo-Indian Defence

46. Re s h e v s k y B o t v i n n i k ,Avro tournament, 1938Nimzo-Indian Defence

47. E u w e Ke r e s , Avro tournament, 1938Dutch Defence

48. F i n e "Ke r e s , Avro tournament, 1938Ruy Lopez

49. * B o t v i n n i k Al e x a n d e r , Anglo-Russian radiomatch, 1946 .........................................

Nimzo-Indian Defence

50. Sm y s l o v Katetov, Moscow-Prague match, 1946.French Defence

CONTENTS

123

126

128

131

136

138

141

143

145

149

152

I n d e x o f O p e n i n g s ...........................................155


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I N T R O D U C T I O N

I can do no better in giving my reasons for making the presecollection of games than to tell the story of an incident whichocculted at a British Chess Federation congress. Two moderateplayers were engaged in a very complicated and exciting game and

a well-known master was looking on. When the game finished ina draw White said to Black, I enjoyed that. It was a really goodgame. " Good ? interposed the master. But White couldhave won a piece nine moves ago, and Black three moves latermissed a forced mate in six ! The pieces were set up again andthe correctness of the masters analysis was established. All thesame it was a rattling good game, said White. A look of puzzledexasperation came over the masters face. The mate in six, witha queen sacrifice and a knight sacrifice, that is good, yes, but youdid not see it. No, said Black, and I never shall see thingslike that though I study master brilliancies till the cows comehome. " Then the game is not good? All right, agreedBlack, it was not good, but it was the most enjoyable game Ivehad for months. With a helpless shrug of his expressive shouldersthe master left them.

The artist is a being apart, searching ever after perfection ; therest of us can admire works of art but we cannot create them. As

with art, so with chess, the difference being that we do not leavethe playing of the game to the experts; we continue to extractthe utmost pleasure from the humble rough-and-tumble chess ofwhich we are capable, and if we occasionally miss a brilliancybecause our imagination will not rise to it we probably get greater

pleasure from a greater number of games than the artist does whocannot appreciate anything less than perfection. So long as a gameis hard fought, and especially if it is complicated and exciting, thatgame is enjoyable and good enough for most of us.

Many collections of games have been made in which the brilliancies which are beyond the average player are beautifully displayed. We admire them but cannot relate them to our own play

over the board. We watch the defeated master in the ineluctabletoils, but our own opponents wriggle out of our best laid schemesand as like as not we then have to struggle to avoid defeat ourselves ; we seek to attain supremacy only to find our opponentsecuring the ascendancy on some other part of the board. This ischess as we know it and as we have to play it.


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INTRODUCTION

The present collection consists of master examples of the sortof game which White and Black enjoyed so much at the congress ;here may be seen how the masters react when a combination goeswrong or when their opponents fight back ; in these games neitherplayer is content to be smothered by the brilliant imagination ofthe other, nor to allow master technique to win a won game bycopybook methods ; here is complicated, fighting chess.

A few of the games will be old favourites, which could not wellbe omitted from a collection of this nature ; such are Nos. 15 and20, but if their presence serves to whet the appetite for more likethem, well and good. Many of the others will be less well known.The notes are indebted to many sources for analyses, and these

have frequently passed through so many hands that it has notbeen possible to acknowledge the original except in a few cases ;the few original notes are designed to throw into relief the up-and-down nature of the various battles. As for the title the contestants are all of the blood royal of chess aristocracy and the gamesate in all senses Battles Royal.

R.N.C.

Harrow, 1948


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L. C. M. de Labourdonnais (1795-1840) was the greatest chess-master of the first half of the nineteenth century, no rival worthyof him being found until 1834, when he came to London and playedA. McDonnell (1798-1835) in a series of games which still bearscomparison with those of any later age. The Frenchman won themajority because of his greater versatility and position judgment.

The premature death of both players was an irreparable loss andit is fitting that they lie now in adjacent graves at Kensal Green.

GAME 1

MCDONNELL-DE LABOURDONNAIS

1st game of the 4th match and47th of the series.

London, 1834.

K i n g s B i s h o p s O p e n i n g

1. P K4 P K42. B B4 B B43. P QB3

Q Kt4 was a later fashion.

3. Q -K 24. Kt B3 P Q35* O O B Kt36. P Q4 Kt KB3

7. Kt R3 B Kt5

If K t x P ; 8 R Ki, P KB4 ; 9 B Q5.

8. Kt B2 QKt Q2

And now if Kt x P ; 9 B Q5, at once.

9- Q Q3

Better was B KKt5. Blackis now able to take advantage of

the queens position with abeautiful pawn sacrifice whichopens a phase of absorbing interest and complexity.

9-10. K P x P

P - Q 4

An alternative was B x P , butnot QPx P, P x B ; 11 P x Kt , P x Q ; 12PXQ, P x K t ; winning a piece. Even now Whitemust play with the greatestexactness to avoid losing apiece.

10. P K511. Q Q2 P x K t12. R K i Kt K513. Q B4 P KB414. P x P

[Diagram 1]

14. P Kt4

15. Q-K3

If QxKtP, not 15 . . ., K t x Q; 16 RxQch., K x R ; 17

XX


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12 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

(b l a c k ) d e l a b o u r d o n n a i s

(w h i t e ) MCDONNELL

Position before Black's 14th move.

(D i a g r a m i )

BxK tch., and 18 P x B withtwo pieces for the rook, but15 . Qx Q; 16 BxQ, BxBP ; with advantage to Black.

15. Kt K4

A fine continuation threatening both Kt X B and Kt x Pch.

16. B Ktsch.

This holds the extra pawn,but B K2 was probablysounder.

16. P B317. PxB

Not 17 P x P, Kt x Pch.;retaining the piece.

17. KtxKtP

Black must proceed with care.If P x B ; 18 PxP, winning

back one of the knights withthe better game.

18. Q K2 P x B19. P B3

Now it is White who must becareful. If at once 19 Q x Pch.,

K B i ; 20 P B3, Kt Q3 ;21 Q Bi, Kt K4 ; 22 P B4,P x P ; 23 B x P , Q Kt2chand 24 . . ., Kt (K) B2 ; retaining the piece.

19. Kt (Kt) B320. P x K t K tx K P21. Q x Pch. Q Q222. QxQch. K x Q23. P B4

A new phase begins, eachplayer endeavouring to use thepassed pawns.

23. QR K i24. P B5 B Qi25. P-Q6Better was B K3. Now the

bishop cannot cross to the defence of the king.

25. P B526. P Kt4 KR B i27. RBi

Blacks P Kt5 cannot belong prevented, but the rook

will be needed here whether itis or not.

27. P KR428. Kt R3 B B329. B Kt2 P Kts30. Kt B4

Not 30 RxP, BxPch.

30. P B6

31. Kt K5ch. B x Kt32. P x B P R533- QR Qi P - B 7ch.34. K R i P R6


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MCDONNELL DE LABOURDONNAIS

Now 35 . . P K t6 ; is aserious threat, after whichWhite has to avoid both 36 . . . ,P Kt7 Mate and 36 P x P, KtX Pch.; with Black winningthe exchange.

35. R Q3 R K K ti36. P Kt5 P Kt6

(BLACK) DE LABOURDONNAIS

(WHITE) MCDONNELL

Position before White's 37th move( D i a g r a m 2 )

37. PxP RxKtP

Stronger than Kt X Pch.; 38RxKt, RxR; 39 RxP, and

Whites pawns compensate forthe loss of the exchange. Clearlythe rook cannot be taken.

38. RQ4 R (K)KKti

Whites last move hasbrought Blacks attack to astandstill. Insufficient would

be 38 . . . , R x P ; 39 P B6ch.,P x P ; 40 PxPch., K x P ; 41R B4CI1., R B4 ; 42 R x K t,

while 38 .. ., R Kt8ch.; leadsto no more than a draw after 39R x R ,K t Kt6ch.; 40K R2,P xR = Q ch .; 41 K xQ , KtK7ch.; 42 K R2, K t x R ; 43B x K t, and the pawns will betoo strong; for example, 43 .. . ,K K3 (or R K K t i ; 44 PB6ch., P x P ; 45 P x Pch., K xP ; 46 B x P, R Kt7ch .; 47K x P , R x P ) ; 44 P B6, PKt3 ; 45 P -Q 7. R K K t i ;

46 KxP.39. P K6ch.

To prevent a Black rook goingto KRi.

39. K Qi

Not K x P ; 40 RxK tch.,K Q4 ; 41 R K5ch., KB 5 ; 42 R x P , and Blackslast hope of attack is broken.

40. R (4) Qi

In spite of the threat on

K K ti, White can play R x K tfor then 40 . . ., R Kt8ch.;41 K R2, R x R (threateningRR8ch.); 42 BB6ch KB i ; 43 P Q7ch., K B2 ; 44P Q8=Qch., R x Q ; 45 B xRch., K x B ; 46 R KB4, buthe hopes now for more.

40. P R7

Threatening to win by 4 1 . . . ,R Kt8ch.; 42 K x P , R (1)Kt7ch .; 43 K R3, KtKt4ch.; 44 K R4, R R7Mate. If White replies 4 1K x P,then the combination of R(6)Kt3 with the mating threatforces White to play his pawnsas in the actual game.

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41. P K7Ch. K Q242. P B6ch. P x P43. Px Pc h. K x P44. P K8=Qch. R x Q45- K x P

Sooner or later he must takethe pawn. If 45 P Q7, R (K) K K ti ; 46 P Q8=Q, R x Q ;47 R x R, R Kt8ch.; 48 K xP, R X R ; 49 R KB8, K Q4 ;and wins. However, Blacks

reply to the text move alsodecides the game.

45. R K346. R Bich. K Kt4

More decisive than K x P ;47 KR Qich., K K2 ; 48 R B7CI1.,

K

K i;

49B

Kt7,R (K) KK t3 ; 50 R -Q K ti,K Q i ; etc. It is the virtualend of a very great struggle.

47. P R4ch. K Kts48. B B3ch. R x B49. R x R K x R

50. P Q7 R Q351. K Kt2 R x P52. R Bich. K Q653. K B i K K6

Resigns.

GAME 2

DE LABOURDONNAIS-MCDONNELL

2nd game of the 6th match and78th of the series.

London, 1834.

Q u e e n s G a m b i t

1. P Q4 p - q 42. P QB4 P x P

3. P k 4 p k 44. P Q5 P KB45. Kt QB3 Kt KB36. B x P B B47. KtB3 PxP

A very famous game, the50th of the series, continued7 . . ., Q K2 ; 8 B Kts, B xPch. ; 9 K Bi, B Kt3 ; 10Q K2, P B5 ; 11 R Qi, B K ts ; 12 P Q6, P x P ; 13 Kt

Q5, K tx K t; 14BXQ , KtK6ch.; and Black won magnificently.

8. K t KKt5 O O

Daring, for after 9 P Q6 dis.ch., K R i ; 10 K t B7CI1.,

R x K t ; 11 B x R , Black hasnothing better than P x P ,though his pressure in the centreis then considerable.

9. 0 0 BQ310. Kt K6

Kt(5) x KP leads to an equalgame. White finds that a pawnon K6 exerts less pressure thanone on Q5.

10. B x Kt11. P x B K R i12. B KKt5 Kt B3

13. Kt x P Q K214. K R i QR Qi15- Q R4 P QR316. B Q5 Kt Q5

Sacrificing a pawn on theQ side in order to force Whiteto give up his KP. The threatis 17 . . P B3 ; 18 B Kt3,PKt4; 19 Q xR P, R R i ;20 Q Kt6, KR Q K ti; winning the queen.


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DE LABOURDONNAIS MCDONNELL 15

17. B x K t P x B18. B x P Q x P19. QRKi

Reluctant to accept the offer.

If 19 Q xP , P KB4 ; 20 K txB, R x K t ; 21 Q R4 (not QR3. Kt B7 ; nor Q Q3, PK5 ), P K5 ; with a strongposition.

19. P KB420. KtB3

Threatening Q x Kt.

20. Q B321. Q x P

Better was R K3, for theattack on his king is strongerthan is at first apparent.

21. P K522. Q B4

Now R K3 was essential.

(BLACK) MCDONNELL

(WHITE) DE LABOURDONNAIS

Position before Black's 22nd move.

( D i a g r a m 3 )

22. B x P

Clever but not best. AfterKtB6; 23 RK3 (P x Kt,Q K4), Q R5 ; White is lost.

23. R K3

Not 23 K x B, Q R5ch. ; 24KKti, KtB6ch.; 25 PxKt, R K tic h .; and mates.

With the text move White begins to fight his way out.

23. Kt B6The only move to continue

the attack, but better was B0 3 -

24. R x K t P x R 25. K x B R Q5

26. Q B5 P x PHe cannot prevent the bishop

returning to the defence of theking, for Q or R Rsch.; 27KKti, R K t i ; 28 BxP,

with a solid position.

27. B x P R K K tiThreatening 28 . . ., R

R5ch.; 29 K K ti (B R3,R x B c h . ; and mates), QKt2 ; 30 Q Q5, R K5 ; winning.

28. P B4This loses the pawn. Better

was B R3, and if R R5 ; 29Q k 3.

28. Q Kt229. RB2 R x P

30. R K2 R KKts31. B R3 R KB532. R Kt2

If Q K3 (to prevent the


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i 6 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

threatened checks on K ti andKt3), Q Q5 would lead topositions similar to those in thetext.

32. QO533- QxQch. R x Q34. R KB2

After 34 B x P, R X Rch. ; 35K x R , R Q7ch. ; White couldnot hope to win.

34- P B535. P R4 K Kt236. B Kt2

Envisaging the advance andpossible queening of the QRP.Blacks reply prepares a subtlecounter to this plan.

36. R K Bi37. P R5 R Q338. B Kt7 R B439. P R6 P B6

(BLACK) MCDONNELL

By this sudden counterattack (threatening R KKt3and RR4 Mate, and lateranother mate on KR8) Black

hopes to force 40 B x P , R x P ;ending the threat on the QRfile, but he is one move too late.

40. K K ti R Kt3ch.41. KBi RR342. K K i R R8ch.43. K Q2 R R8

Now Black seems to havesucceeded in his plan to halt theQRP, and is in a position toadvance his own pawns.

44- K Q3

This unassuming move is anecessary preparation for yetanother plan to advance theQRP.

44- K - B 3

(w h i te ) d e l a b o u r d o n n a i s

Position before White's 40th move.

( D i a g r a m 4)

Hoping to induce White towaste time capturing the QBPwhile he mobilises his K side.Both players are still schemingto win.

45. Kt Qsch.

Apparently accepting thebait, but actually continuing

the plan made the previousmove to bring the knight toQR3 or QR5, cutting off theBlack rook.

45. K -K t446. Kt K3 R B3

The purpose of Whites 44thmove is now clear; Kt B4cannot be prevented, whereas ifonly 47 K t B2 had been avail


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DE LABOURDONNAIS MCDONNELL 17

able, Black could have replied47..., R(8) R4 or R5.

47. Kt B4 P R4

If R R5 ; 48 P Kt3, R R8 (more point to Whites44th; with the K on Q2, Blackcould now play R R7CI1.); 49 P Kt4, R R5 (aiming to getrid of both Whites Q-sidepawns for his rook) ; 50 K B3,and only then Kt R5. Black

therefore proceeds with his ownplans, though he stood a betterchance of drawing by R x P ;48 B x R , R x B ; 49 Rx P, P R4.

48. Kt R3 R Q8ch.

49* K B2 R Qx50. P R7 K Kt551. P R8=Q R x Q52. B x R

White is now two piecesahead but Blacks pawns are

becoming increasingly dangerous.

52. K Kt653. R Bi K Kt7

54- R - Q i p - b 3

Cutting off the bishop andthreatening P B7. White isnow in difficulties and his nextmove suggests that the best planhe can find is to play B B8 andthen sacrifice the bishop for theRP, with a draw.

55. B Kt7 P B756. Kt B4 R - K 3

Not P B8=Q ; 57 Kt

K3ch.

57. Kt Q2 P R558. P Kt4

Finding the correct methodjust in time, which is to reopenthe diagonal.

58. P R659. P Kt5 P R760. B x Pch. K Kt661. B R i R QKt362. R K ti R Kti63. P Kt6 Resigns.

For after 64 Kt Bich., K R6 ; 65 R Kt3ch., the pawns

begin to fall.


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i8 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

P. C. F. de Saint-Amant (1800-1873) became the leader ofFrench chess after the departure of de Labourdonnais fromFrance. He won a short match against Staunton early in 1843 butin the big return match later in the year, which was virtually forthe world championship, he was decisively defeated. An unsuccessful appearance at the Birmingham tournament of 1858

was his only other incursion into competitive play. Boncourt wasa strong French master who drew a match with Szen in 1835.

GAME 3

BON COURTSAINT-AMANT

Played in Paris, 1839.

Giuoco P i a n o

1. P K4 P K42. B B4 Kt KB3

3- P - Q 3

The normal gambit continuation of the King s Bishop'sOpening is P Q4. Now thegame transposes into a quiet

version of the Giuoco Piano.

3. B B44. Kt KB3K t B35. P B3 B Kt36. 0 0 0 0

7. B KKt5 P Q38. P QKt4

The advance of the Q sidepawns in this opening was laterstrongly commended by Bird.

8. B K3

9. QKt Q2 P KR310. B R4 K R2

Preparing to support a K sideattack with R K K ti.

11. P R4 P R312. K Ri R KK ti

13. QB2

While White prepares an attack in the centre with P Q4,

which would at present beanswered by 13 .. ., B x B ; 1414 Kt x B, Kt X KP.

13. P Kt414. B KKt3 P KR415- P R3 P R516. B KR2 Kt KR4

17. P Q4 P Kt5The game has suddenly be

come exceedingly critical. IfWhite replies 18 P Q5, Blackgets a very strong attack byP x K t ; i g K t x P , B x R P ; 20Px B, Q B3; 21 Q K2, Kt

K2 ; threatening Kt Kt6ch.

18. B x B

Or 18 RP xP, B x B ; 19 KtXB, R x P ; with variationssimilar to those in the actualgame.

18. P x B19. R P x P R x P20. P x P P x P21. Kt B4 Kt Kt6ch.


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BONCOURT SAINT-AMANT

A splendid continuation,ignoring the threatened loss ofthe KP and continuing theattack at all costs.

22. P x K t P x P23. QRQi

Now the form of Blacksattack is clear. If 23 Kt(4) x P,Kt x K t ; 24 Kt x Kt, R R5 ;25 Kt B3, R x B c h . ; 26 Kt

X R, Q R5 ; while if 23 Kt (3)xP , R R5 ; 24 K t x B , R xBch.; 25 K K ti, R R8ch. ;26 K x R , Q R5ch. The bestline was 23 K t x B , P x K t ; 24QR Qi, Q K2; 25 Q Q2 (notRQ3>R - R i ; 26 R(B) Qx,

KKt3; 27 RQ7, RxBch.;28 K K ti, R(Kt) R5, RQ i; 26 Q QB2, R R5.

23. 0 K224. P Kt5

(b l a c k ) s a i n t -a m a n t

(WHITE) BONCOURT


(D i a g r a m 5)

White also plays to win ; heis a piece ahead and hopes tocapture another while Blackgoes after the condemned

bishop. Nevertheless 24 Kt x Bstill gave him better chances.

24. R R525. KtxB

Of course not 25 P x Kt, whenRxBch., brings Blacks attackto one of its successful conclu

sions.25. RxBch.26. KKti QB4ch.27. R B2 P x Kt

Not PxR ch . ; 28 K x R , PxKt ; 29PxKt.

28. Kt X R

Now 28 P x Kt does not wina piece because R R3 in replyfollowed by the capture on hisKB2 leaves him the exchangedown. He must therefore take

the rook while it is still there.28. P x P29. P x P R KB i30. Kt B3

And now not 30 P x K t , R xR ; with a winning game, Black

brings all his pieces on to goodsquares before recovering thepiece.

30. Kt R431. Q K2 Kt B532. Kt Ktsch. K Kt333- Kt B3

If 33 K t x P , QxRch. ; 34Qx Q, PxQ ch. ; 35 K B i,Kt K6ch. ; winning.

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33- R B5

34- R - Q 3 PxRch.

35- Q x P QxQch.

36. K x Q R x P

37- R - Q

7 R B5

38. R x P

That this move, which looksperfectly good, actually losesshows how carefully Black hascalculated the whole of the preceding play. On the other hand

after the better 38 K Kt3, R B2 ; White can hardly save theending, for if 39 R Qi, P K5 ;

40 Kt Q4, P K4; 41 Kt K6, K B4 ; 42 Kt Q8, R Kt2ch. ; 43 K B2, P K6ch. ;44 K Ktx, P K7 ; 43 R Ki,R Q2 ; or 39 R x R , K x R ; 40 K Kt4, K B3 ; threatening Kt Q3.

38. P K539. K Kt3 P x K t

A brilliant conclusion to a

tremendous game.40. P x P P K4Resigns.

H. Staunton (1810-1874) was the only British player to becomworld champion, a position he was generally considered to haveattained after his victory over Saint-Amant in Paris in 1843. Hisrecord in match play is unequalled by any other British player,among his other conquests being Popert, Cochrane, Horwitz,Harrwitz and Jaenisch. He was a profound theorist, author of anumber of books, the editor of the first successful chess magazineand a great pioneer, organising the first game by telegraph andthe first international tournament. A weak heart limited hiscapacity for strenuous play after 1849.

GAME 4

STAUNTONSAINT-AMANT

2nd match game,London, 1843.

K i n g s B i s h o p s O p e n i n g

1. P K4 P K42. B B4 Kt KB3

3- P Q4 Q K2

Better was P x P at once.

4- Kt QB3 P x P

5-

Q x P Kt B36. Q - k 3 Kt K4

7- BKt3 Pb 38. P -K R 3 P - Q 39 KKt K2 P KR3

10. P B4 co

&1

&

11. 0 0 B - K 312. p - b 5 B x B

13. R P x B Kt K414- R x P

As a result of Blacks in-


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STAUNTON SAINT-AMANT 21

different opening White has nowmuch the better game.

14. RQKti15. B Q2 Kt(4) Q2

16. KRRi QQi17. Kt R4 B K218. Kt Q4

Not 18 B R5,P QKt3.

18. 0019. B R5 Q Bi

20. Kt Kt6But now White rushes

matters too fast, and Black isable to counter the flank attack

with a thrust in the centre whichrecovers the pawn. 20 KtKB3 first was better.

20. KtxKt21. B x K t P B422. Kt B3 Q B323. B R5 K t x P24- P QKt4

Losing a pawn, but if 24 R

K i, P Q4; 25 P B4, BK t4 ; 26 K t x B , K t x K t ; andBlack controls the K file.

24- P Q425. P B3 KR K i26. P Kt5

Forced by the threat of P QKt3. Black could safely continue Q X P ; 27 B B7, QRB i ; 28 PB4, Q x B P ; 29R x P, Kt B3. The line chosenis less decisive but good enough.It is now Black who calls the

tune.

A/. X---XJ------------ U j

28. Q - 3 P -Q K t3

29. B K i P Q530. Kt Q2 KtxKt31. BxKt B Qi32. R K B i B Kt4

If B B2 ; 33 B B4, showing that he should have playedB Kt4 a move earlier.

33. B x B P x B34. PB6 PKt3

If PxP; 35 Q B5- N o w

Black threatens R K6.35. Q - K B 3 P Q636. Q Kt4 Q K4


(WHITE) STAUNTON


(D i a g r a m 6)

37* R x P

Just as Black appears to beconsolidating his advantage,

White returns to the attack

with a splendid fighting combination which all but securesthe draw. Black cannot reply37 . . ., K x R ; 38 Q Q7ch.,


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R K2 ; 39 P x R dis.ch., KK t i ; 40 Q Q8ch., K R2 ;41 R B^ch., K R3 ; 42 QB8ch., winning.

37- Q K6ch.38. K R i Q K739. R Kt7ch. K B i40. R B7ch. K x R4i- Q Q7ch. R K242. QxRch.

Of course if now 42 PxRdis.ch., Q x Rch.

42. QxQ43. PxQdis.ch. K x P44. KKti

If 44 R Qi, R Q i; 45

R Q2, R Q5; 46 PQKt3,K K3 ; 47 K Kti, K - K 4 ;48 K B2, K K5 ; 49 K K i,K K 6 ; with advantage.

44- R Qi45- R Qi R Q546. P -Q K t3 P Q747. K B2 R Q648. K K2 R x K t P49. R x P R QB650. R Q5 Rx BP51. RxKtP KB3

KB2, to hold the QKtP, is

correct, as he discovers.52. R -Q 5 K -K 353. R Kts K B254- R Q5 R QKt55 5 . R - Q 7 < * . K - K 356. RQB7 KB457. R B7ch. K Kt458. K Q3 R X P59. K B4 R Ktsch.60. K Q5 R Kt761. PKt4 RKt5

62. RB 7 RKt663. RKR7 RKts64. RQB7 P B565. KQ4 P Kt4

66. RB5ch.KR567. RB6 KKt468. RB5ch.


(WHITE) STAUNTON


(D i a g r a m 7)

68. K R3

Up to this point Black hasplayed with exemplary precision and has foiled all Whites

efforts to ensure the draw, butnow he errs in allowing White toobtain a passed pawn. The winning line was 68 . . ., K R5 ;69 R B6, P B6 dis.ch.; 70KxP, RB5ch.; 71 RxR,P x R ; 72 K x P , K x P ; 73

P Kts, K Kts.69. P R4 R Kt670. P R5 R Kt671. PxP


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STAUNTON SAINT-AMANT 23

Better than 71 RxKtP, RxPch. ; 72 K B3, P x P.

71

72

73

74

75

K B3

K Q4K K4KB5

R x Pch.R Kt6ch.

R Q6ch.R QKt6

Now the draw is certain.

82. R x K t P P B683. R -Q B 5 R QB8

84. K -Q 5 P -B 785. K B6

The way White now shufflesdown the file without allowingBlack a' check is amusing. Somagnificent a struggle in an offhand match made a later set

75- R Kt8match a virtual certainty.

76. K --B6 R B8ch. 85.

K - B 3

77- K --K6 R QKt8 86. R B4 K K478. K - -b 7 R B8ch. 87. K B5 K B4

79- K --K6 R K8ch. 88. R B3 K K580. K - -b 7 R B8ch. 89. K B4 K B581. K --K6 K x P 90. K Kt3 Drawn.

B. Horwitz was one of the most eminent of the famous andbrilliant school of seven German masters, known as the Pleiades,which flourished between 1836 and 1846. He resided in Englandafter 1845 and it was during this latter part of his career that he

was associated with Kling in the compilation of their famous bookof end-game studies.H. E. Bird (1830-1908), a genial and popular British master,

played regularly in international tournaments between 1851 and1899. A player of dashing originality, his success was limited bya predilection for risky and unusual openings, his best results being1st at London, 1879 and 1889, equal 2nd at Hereford, 1885, and3rd at Philadelphia, 1877. He met both Morphy and Anderssen,and contested matches with Steinitz and Lasker ; against Steinitzin 1866, just after that player had become world champion, heonly lost by the odd game in 17.

GAME 5

BIRDHORWITZ

2nd game, 1st round,London tournament, 1851.

Ru y Lo p e z

1. P K4 P K42. Kt KB3 Kt QB33. B Kts Kt B34. P Q4 K t x Q P


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BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD34

Allowing White too muchscope. P x P was better.

5. KtxKt PxKt6. P K5 Kt Q4

7. O O

An unnecessary gambit. Qx P was strong and took full

advantage of Blacks 4th move.

7. B B4

8. P-QB3 P-QR39. B QB4

B K2, playing to win thecentre pawn, is answered by

Q - R5.

9. Kt Kt310. B Kt3 P x P11. K t x P O O12. Kt K4

Now and in the followingmoves White plays for attack atall costs ; the more solid R K idoes not achieve all it might

because of his failure to take thepawn on the 7th move. Blackdefends skilfully after his initial

weak play.

12. Q K2

*3- Qr 5 PQ314- B Kt5 Q x P15- QR K i Kt Q4

By sacrificing another pawnWhite has developed a dangerous attack and threatens Kt B6ch., winning the queen.Black finds a brilliant defence.

16. Kt x B

Now Kt B6ch., would losea piece.

16. Kt B3

17- Q R4

If 17 Rx Q, K t x Q ; 18R moves, P x K t ; recoveringthe piece with a winning game.

17. QxKt18. B x K t P x B19. R K3 B B420. Q x P B Kt321. R Kt3 Q K4

22. Q R4 Q x P

Satisfied that he can hold thethreat to his bishop, for whichhe has an ingenious defence prepared. The likely looking KR K i only gives a draw after 23P B4, Q K2 ; 24 Q R6,Q B i ; 25 Q Kt5, Q K2(not P KR3; 26QxBch. ).

23. P B4 Q Q5ch.

Pinning the BP on the queen.

24. K Ri QR K i25- Q Kt5 Q B7

Beautifully conceived. Therook is to be forced off the KKtfile, so that the queen will beleft undefended and a furtherpin made possible on the diag

onal. White cannot replyR KKti because of R K8.

26. R -K B 3 Q -Q 727. P KR4 P B3

A waiting move, but K Kt2was better. He has anotherpretty defence against the advance of the RP, which alsohinges upon the pin of the KBP,

but he cannot put it into opera


25/40


26/40


K K ti was much stronger.Now Black comes almost withinreach of victory again.

45. P B446. R QKt8P Kt447. R Kt6 P B548. RxRP PB649. R-QB6 K-Q750. K B4 P K651. R Q6ch. K K7

If White had played 45 KK ti, and 50 K Bi, Blackwould have been forced into51 . . ., K B7 ; when 52 KK2, wins.

52. P Kt4 K B7

53. R KR6 P K754. R R2ch. K B855- K -B 3

The saving clause and apretty one. If now P K8=Qor P B7 ; 56 R R i Mate.

55. P K8=Ktch.56. K K3 Kt Kt7ch.

If PB7 ; 57 R Rich., K

Kt2 ; 58 R x Kt. A cut andthrust game of exceptional brilliance all through.

57. R x K t K x R 58. P Kt5 P Kts59. K Q3 Resigns.

von Heydebrandt und der Lasa (1819-1899), the most brilliantand the strongest of the German Pleiades/ was prevented after1840 from participating in competition play by his duties as an

Ambassador of the Prussian court. He always retained an interestin the game, but an unfinished series against Staunton in 1853 washis only play of a competitive nature.

GAME 6

VON DER LASA-STAUNTON

2nd match game,Brussels, 1853.

Ki n g s B i s h o p s O p e n i n g

1. P K4 P K42. P Q4 P x P3. B QB4 Kt KB34- P - K5

Modem practice is Kt KB3.Whites method of play is an

swered by Staunton with crushing logic.

4- P Q45. B Kt3 Kt K56. Kt K2 P QB47. O O Kt QB38. P KB3 Kt Kt4

9. KtB4 PB510. B R4 B QB411. K R i Kt K312. P QKt4 B Kt3


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VON DER LASA STAUNTON 27

I f B x P ; i 3 K t x K t , B x K t ;I4Q xP.

1 3 . K t x K t B x K t14. P B4 B KB4

15. B R3 O O16. Kt Q2 P Q617. P Kt5 Kt K2

Safe enough, but better wasvon der Lasas suggestion 17 . .P x P ; 18 B x P, B x B ; 19

Q xB , Kt Q5 ; 20 Q Qi,R K i. Staunton even recommended the sacrificial line17 . . Kt Q5 ; 18 B xR , KtK7 (threatening Q R5 andKt K t6); 19 Q K i, Q x B ;20 P x P, P x P ; 21 B Qi, B

Q5

> 22 R QKti, Q R6.18. P x P B x P19. R B3 R K i20. B B2 B X B

If B Kt3 ; 21P Kt4.

21. Q x B Kt Kt322. R Qi Q B i

K t x P was threatened.

23. B Kt2 Q QB424. Kt K ti QR=Qi25. Kt R3 Q K2

26. R R3 P KR327. R KB 1 Q B428. P K6

In a difficult position Whiteproduces a magnificent move tomake a fight of it. Clearly thepawn cannot be captured without loss of a piece, and BlacksKt x P would now be answered

by 29 P xPch., K x P ; 30 R xKtch. Moreover, White in turn

(BLACK) STAUNTON

(WHITE) VON DER LASA


(Diagram 9)

now threatens 29 P x Pch., K xP > 30 Q Bsch.

28. R Q329. Q B3 P B330. R Kt3

If 30 P B5, Kt B5 ; 31R Kt3, Kt Q6; 32 R xPch., K R i ; and now if 33QxKBP.QKt8ch.

30. R(3)xP

The saving clause and a splen

did one. 31 P B5 would nowbe answered by R K6, and 31R x K t by. the beautiful move0 - B 7.

31. Kt B2 Kt x P32. Q B3 Q B2

33. R Kt4Q x Kt would allow mate.

His brave effort is now over andStaunton winds up powerfully.


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33- p Kt4 37. Q Kt4ch. K B234. P Kt3 P KR4 38. Q x P Q x K t35. R x K t P x R 39. B x P Q Ksch.36. Q x R P Q R2 Resigns.


A. Anderssen (1818-1879) did not become prominent until he

was 30 years of age, but then rapidly became known as the mostbrilliant combinative player of his time, and was regarded as theworld champion from his victory at the London tournament of1851 until his loss of a match to Steinitz in 1866 ; the only breakin this period of supremacy was when Morphy was playing. Amonghis other great tournament victories were London, 1862, andBaden-Baden, 1870.

P. Morphy (1837-1884), the greatest master of the open game,has claims to be regarded as the greatest player of all time. Hiscareer was limited almost entirely to the years 1857 to 1859, *n

which time he defeated every player he met including Anderssen,Lowenthal and Harrwitz. In style he was sound and deep butcapable of exceptional brilliance when opportunity offered. Aftera meteoric career he retired completely, being afflicted with a form

of melancholia.

GAME 7

ANDERSSEN-MORPHY

2nd match game,Paris, 1858.

Ru y Lo p e z

1. P K4 P K42. Kt KB3 Kt QB33. B Kt5 P QR3

4. B R4 Kt B35- P Q3

Lines involving P B3 and

P Q4 were only developedlater.

5. B B46. P B3 P QKt47. B B2

Better was B Kt3 to hinderBlacks P Q4.

Introducing for the first time 7. P Q4the defence now named after 8. P x P K t x P him. 9. P KR3 O O


29/40

ANDERSSEN MORPHY 29

10. O O P R311. PQ4

Anderssen prepares to attackalong the diagonal. The diag

onal could be opened withoutallowing an isolated pawn by 11Kt x P, Kt x K t ; 12 P Q4,

but the pawn is a bait inAnderssens plan.

11. PxP12. P x P B Kt3

13. K t - B 3 Kt(Q) Kt514. B K ti B K3

Refusing to be tempted. If14..., K tx Q P (B xP ; 15KtK2, B Kt3 ; 16 P R3, KtO4; 17 Q B2, wins); 15 Kt x

Kt, B x Kt (Q x K t ; 16 Q B3,B K3 ; 17 P R3, Kt Q4 ; 18R Q i); 16 Q B3, B K 3; 17Q K4, and White has a verydangerous attack. Zukertorthas shown that Black can probably just weather it, but overthe board it would be a dangerous venture.

15. P R3 Kt Q416. Kt K2

Threatening Q B2. Thealternative 16 Kt x P would beanswered by Kt B3 ; 17 Kt

B3> K tx P .

16. Kt B317. B K3 R K i18. Kt Kt3 B B5

[Diagram 10]

19. KtB5

Morphy has now manoeuvredhimself into a position where theisolated pawn can be captured

(&LACK) MORPHY

(WHITE) ANDERSSEN


( D i a g r a m 10)

with impunity, for if 19 R K i,Kt x P ; 20 Kt x Kt, B x K t ;21 BxB, RxRch.; 22 QxR.,Q xB . White therefore takeshis courage in both hands andsacrifices the exchange. The onlyalternative was B Q3.

19. B x R20. Q x B Kt K221. Kt(3) R4 Kt x Kt22. Kt x Kt Q Q223. B x P

The counter-attack begins togather weight. A simple andgood reply was 23 ..., B x P.

23-24. Q - B i

P x BB x P

What was good a move earlieris now inferior, and on such

small nuances do success andfailure so often depend. Thecorrect line, given by Zukertort

was 24 . . Kt R2 ; 25 Q x


30/40


RP, P KB3 ; 26 B R2ch.,(Kt R4, R K8ch.; 27 KR2, Rx B), K Ri ; 27 KtR4, R K K ti ; 28 B x R ,K x B . Even so Morphys lineis not obviously inferior by anymeans.

25. Q x RP R K8ch.26. K R2 Kt K527. B x Kt

And it is only this brilliantcontinuation which shows upthe weakness of Blacks 24thmove. Now if 27 . . ., R x R ;

White can force a draw by 28Kt K7ch., Q x K t ; 29 BR7ch., or he can play an ending

with two minor pieces against a

rook after 28 Kt x B, Q Q3ch.;29 QxQ, PxQ; 30 BxR.Once again the simple textmove seems to leave White nofuture.

27. R x B28. QKt5ch.KBi29. Q R6ch. K K i30. K t x B

And once again White findsa surprise move to keep hisgame alive. If now 30 . . . , Q xKt (RxKt; 31 RKich.,

wins); 31 Q B6ch., K K2 ;32 Q xQR, with a probabledraw.

30. Q Q3ch.

31. Q xQ P x Q32. R Qi K B i

Black has fought his waythrough all Whites brillianciesinto an ending where he is theexchange ahead, only to findthat White can neverthelesshold everything.

33- R -Q 2 R(R) K i34- PKKt4 R(i)K435- Pb 3 RK836. PKR4 R - Q 437- KKt3 P R4

38. PR5 K K t i39- K B2 R K i40. K Kt3 K R24i- KB4 RK242. KKt3 pb 343- K B4 R K i44- K Kt3 R K2

Drawn.

Black has no target for hisrooks and he cannot play K R3 because of Kt Bsch.Equally White can do nothing

with his K side pawns so long asBlack sits tight.


31/40

ANDERSSEN STEINITZ 31

W. Steinitz (1836-1900), a Bohemian Jew, was world championfrom 1866 to 1894, and the first great master of position play. He

was an outstanding match player, and besides winning againstAnderssen he won among others three matches against Blackbume,two against Zukertort, two against Tchigorin, one againstMackenzie and one against Gunsberg; he was finally beaten byLasker. His tournament record, though slightly less impressive,included 1st prizes at London, 1871, Vienna, 1873, and New York,1894, an equal 1st at Vienna, 1882, and 2nd prizes at Dundee, 1867,Baden-Baden, 1870, London, 1883, and St. Petersburg, 1896.

GAME 8

ANDERSSENSTEINITZ

3rd match game,London, 1866.

Ev a n s G a m b i t

1. P K4 P K42. KtKB3KtQB33. B B4 B B4

4. PQKt4BxP5. P B3 B B46. P Q4 P x P7. 0 0 PQ6

The Compromised Defenceby 7 . . . , P x P, though possiblyplayable, leads to too difficult agame for over-the-board play.The text move has the advantage that White is denied thesquare QB3 for his knight, aform of development whichseems essential if White is to getup a good attack.

8. Q x P

But this makes even less ofthe position than usual. Either

Q Kt3 or Kt Kt5 was preferable, hindering Blacks castling.

8. P - Q39- B KKts KK t K2

10. QKtQ2 P k r 311. BR4 0 012. Kt Kt3 BKt313- P KR3 B k 314- Q R - Q i

Preventing P-Q4.

14- Q - Q 215- B - Q5 KtKt316. BKt3 Q R - K i17- P B4 B x B18. K P x B QKt K4

19. K t x K t K t x K t20. Q -Q B 3 KtKt3[Diagram n ]

21. Pb 5

White has slightly the betterdevelopment for his pawn and

now starts an ingenious attackwhich turns a material disadvantage to a material advantage.


32/40


(b l a c k ) s t b i n i t z

(w h i t e ) a n d e r s s e n

Position before White's 21st move.

(D i a g r a m i i )

21. PxP22. K t x P Q B4

If 22 . . ., B x K t ; 23 Q xB ,R B i (R K2 ; 24 P Q6,P x P ; 25 Bx P) ; 24QXRP.

23. K t x P R K7

Both players go all out forattack ; Black allows White to

win a pawn on the Q side ratherthan indulge in difficult andelaborate defensive measures.

24. P Q6 P x P

25. K t x P Q K326. P QR4 B Qi

If 26 . . ., P QR4 ; 27 KtKt5, threatening 28 R Q6.

27. q - b 5 p b 428. Q x R P P B5

29. B R2 Kt R530. Q Kt7 Q Kt331. R Q4

The position is extremely

critical now owing to Blacksmating threat. The text provesto be merely loss of time whichputs his knight in chancery,though the alternative 31 QQ5ch., is not entirely satisfactory after 31 . . ., K R i(K R2 ; 32 Q Q3) ; 32 KtB7ch., K R2 ; 33 Q Q3 (Ktx B , Rx Kt) , R K5 ; 34 PKt4, B K2 (PxPe.p.; 35 B xP, or R x K t ; 35 QxB) ; 35

KtQ6, BxKt; 36 QxB.KtB6ch.; 37 KRi, RB 3 ; 38 Q Q7. Kt K4 ; 39QKt5,PKR4; for Whitesextra pawn is of less value thanBlacks attacking chances.

31. BKt332. R(4) Qi

RKt4 would allow B xPch.; 33 R x B , R x R ; 34 KX R, Q B7ch. ; 35 K B i,Q Q6ch. (not P B6 ; 36 RKt2); 36 K K ti, Q x K t ;

with advantage.32. R K3

Now Whites troubles aresevere, for if 33 Kt Kt5, RQB3 ; 34 P KKt3, P x P ; 35B x P , QxBch. White there

fore offers the QRP to draw theBlack bishop off the dangerousdiagonal.

33. P R5 B B4[Diagram 12]

34- P - R 6

Black is not to be drawn, butnow White has a chance of utilising his pawn which he seizesin splendid style. If in reply


33/40

ANDERSSEN STEINITZ 3 3

(BLACK) STEINITZ

(WHITE) ANDERSSEN


(Diagram 12)

3 4 .. ., B x K t ; 35 P R7, RK2 ; 36 P R8=Q, winning.

34- RK2

K t ; 38 R K6, Q x Pch .; 39Qx Q, K t x Q ; 40 R(6)xB,Kt R5 ; 41 R Q8, and thethreat to Blacks BP enables

White to draw.

37. KR K i RxRch.38. R x R K R2

A move as subtle as Whitesdefence has been fine. He seesthat the forced exchange of

queens is imminent and evolvesa plan to continue the attackwithout the queen ; the immediate threat of R Qi is onlysubsidiary to his real plan.

39. Q K4 R B340. Kt Kt5 R K3

The point, temporarily givingup the bishop. The playboth sides is most brilliant.

on

The thrusts and counterthrusts are most exciting. Black

delays the capture of the knightuntil he has attended to thethreat of P R7, White beingalways hampered by the necessity of keeping his queen on thelong diagonal.

35- Q Q5ch. K R i

36. P R7White still cannot rescue his

knight because of the answer36 . . ., R Q 2; forcing thequeen off the diagonal. Hetherefore sacrifices the QRP inorder to break out of Blacksgrip-

36. B x P

I f R x P ; 37 KR K i , B x

4i- QxQch. R x Q42. K t x B RxPch.43- K R i RxBch.44- K x R Kt B6ch45- K Kt2 Kt X Rch.46. K B i Kt Q647- KtB6

Now follows a difficult knightend-game in which it is doubtful whether Blacks extra pawnis sufficient to win.

474849

50

51

KKt3K K2 Kt B4KB3 KtK3KtK5ch. KB4K t - Q 3

A serious error, as P. W. Sergeant has shown, for the knightis soon reduced to abject helplessness, whereas after Kt B4


34/40


it would retain its freedom ofaction. From this moment

Whites chances of saving thegame vanish.

Si-52. Kt K i53. KKt254- K Bx55- K Ktx56. K R257. K -K t3

58. K R259- P x P60. K K ti

Even now the White knightcannot come back into play, forif 60 Kt B2, K Q6 ; 61 KtKt4ch., K K7 ; 62 K K ti,

P Kt6 ; winning.60. K -Q 561. Kt B2ch. K Q662. Kt R3

Atkins has shown that no

better was 62 Kt Kt4ch., because of K K7 ; 63 Kt Q5,P Kt6; 64 Kt B4ch KK8 ; 65 Kt Kt2ch P x K t ;66 P x P, Kt K 6 ; 67 P Kt4,K K7 ; 68 P Kt5, K B6 ;69 P Kt6, Kt B4 ; winning.

62. P Kt663. K t - K t 5

Of course not 63 PxP, K k 7.

63. P Kt7and wins.

For after 64 K R2 (Kt R3,Kt Kt6), K K7; 65 K K ti,K K8 ; 66 Kt R3 (Kt B3,Kt Kt6 preventing Kt K4),Kt K6 (preventing KtB2ch.); 67 Kt K ti (Kt Kt5, Kt Kts ; 68 Kt B3, K txP), Kt Kt5 ; 68 Kt R3, KtX P ; 69 Kt B2ch., K Q7 ;

winning.

P Kt3KtQsch.K - K 5PB6P Kt4PR4KtB4ch.

P - K t 5P x P

J. H. Zukertort (1842-1888) was a Pole who lived in Englandfrom 1871. He was a very gifted and very brilliant player but ofa nervous temperament and indifferent stamina. He scored quite

remarkable wins in tournament play, including 1st prizes at thegreat tournament at Paris, 1878, and London, 1883, 2nd prizeat Berlin, 1881, and equal 2nd at Leipzig, 1877. He was for a longtime regarded as Steinitzs only great rival but in their twomatches, in 1872 and 1886, his stamina proved insufficient, thoughhe never understood why he failed to win.

GAME 9 Giuoco P i a n o

ZUKERTORTSTEINITZ I - P ^ 4 P K 42. KtKB3KtQB3

1st match game, London, 1872. 3. B B4 B B4


35/40

ZUKERTORT STEINITZ 35

4. PB3 K t - B 35. P Q4 P x P6. P x P B Kt3

Less aggressivethan the usualB Kt5ch. as White can nowplay 7 Kt B3 and Black mustgive up all hope of playing theQP forward two squares. Itshould be remembered that theMoller Attack, preventingBlacks P Q4 even after 6 .. .,

B Ktsch. ; had not yet beeninvented.

7. 00

Preferring to precipitate animmediate crisis in the centrerather than follow orthodoxlines.

7 . KtxKP8. R K i 0 0

Less favourable would beP Q4 ; 9 BxP- Q x B ; 10

Kt B3, as the Black king isthen still in the centre.

9. R x K t P Q410. B x P Q xB11. Kt B3 Q Qi12. P Q5 Kt K2

13. BKt5 PKB314. Q Kt3

The force of Whites attackbegins to be revealed. If 14 . . . ,P x B ; 15 P Q6 dis.ch., RB2 ; 16 P x Kt, Q K i ; 17 KtxP , B KB4; 18 R Ks.with

advantage. The simplest replyis 14 . . ., K R i ; avoiding allcomplications on the dangerousdiagonal, but Black allows

Whites attack to continue inthe belief that the pressure cannot be maintained.

14. R B2

15. QRKi K B i

(BLACK) STEINITZ

(WHITE) ZUKERTORT


( D i a g ra m 13)

16. P Q6Continuing the attack with

unabated energy. If 1 6 . . . , Q xP ; 17 R Qi, threatening RQ8 Mate.

16. P x P

17. KtQ5 KtxKtIf now 1 7 . . . , P x B ; 18 R x

Kt, R x R (against R K8ch.) ;19 K t x R , B Q2 ; 20 K t x P ,

with advantage.

18. QxKt

Now not 18 R K8ch., Q x R ;19 RxQ ch., K x R ; 20 Q x Kt,P x B ; and Black has two rooksand a minor piece for the queen.


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3 6 BATTLES-ROYAL OF THE CHESSBOARD

Moreover, White cannot continue 21 K tx P because of R x P. After the text move Whitethreatens 19 QxPch., and ifQ x Q ; 20 R K8 Mate.

18. B Q2

Black has nothing better thanto sacrifice the QP, for 18 . . .,B QB4 is answered by 19 Kt K5, and 18 . . . , B B2 by 19 R K8ch., Q x R ; 20 RxQch., K x R ; 21 B B4, with severepressure on Blacks position.

19. QxPch. K Kti20. Kt K5 BxPch.

A counter-attack just in timeand a very pretty one. If in

reply 21 K x B, P x Kt dis.ch. ;22 K Kti, Q X B ; winning.

21. K Ri B x R22. Kt x R K x Kt23- Q Q5ch. K Kt3

The key move of Blacks de

fence. 23 . . ., K Bi would failagainst 24 B B4, threateningB Q6 Mate.

24. R x B B B3

But here Black misses thebest line. P x B could at last be

played for if 25 R Qi, R B i; 26QXB, Q x Q ; 27 Rx Q, R B8ch.

25. Q xQ R x Q26. B K3

The bishop has been en pri sefor 12 moves, but the time hascome to withdraw it at last.Black has emerged from hishammering a pawn ahead but

the bishops of opposite coloursindicate a probable draw.

26. K B227. K Kti P KKt4

28. R K2 P QR329. R Q2 R Ki

An exchange of rooks wouldbe a surrender of his last thinchance of winning, and sureenough White makes an erroron his very next move, allowingBlack to win another pawn orforce the bishops off.

30. KB2 B x PSi- B x P P x B32. K x B k - b 333- K - B 3 PKR4

34-PKR4

In a technically lost positionWhite is not prepared to allowBlack to proceed along knownlines. Instead he throws everypossible complication inBlacks way. If 34 . . ., P Kt

5ch. ; 35 K B4, and Black'sprogress is barred, for if 35 . . .,R KKti ; 36 R Kt2, or if35 .. ., K Kt 3 ; 36 R Q5, orif 35 .. K -K 3 ; 36 K Kt5.

34. P x P

35. RQ4 K Kt436. R Qsch. K Kt337. R Q6ch. K B4

38. RQ4

Now if R Qsch., R K4.Blacks king has therefore ad

vanced one rank as a result of the

manoeuvre of the last threemoves.

38. P R639. R KR4 K Kt4


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MASON ZUKERTORT 37

40. R x P P R541. K B2

The only move to get therook back into play, for if 41R R2 then R Bich. ; 42 KKt2, KKts.

41. RBi42. R Kt3 R B7ch43. K K ti P Kt444. P R 4

The second rooks pawn to besacrificed.

44. P x P45. R Kt4 R B8ch.46. K R2 R QKt847. R x QRP R x Pch.

48. K R3 R Kt6ch.

49. K R2 R Kt350. K R3 K B4

Successfully and elegantlyforcing the issue at last. R R3

was a much slower process.51. K x P R Kt352. K R5 R K353. R Rsch. K K554- K - K t 5

A blunder, but the result is

inevitable after 54 K Kt4,R Kt3ch.; 55 K R5, RQB3 ; 56 K Kt4, K Q5 ;57 K B4, K B5; 58 KK4, K Kt5 ; 59 R R i, PR4.

54. R K4ch.

Resigns.

J. Mason (1849-1905), bom in Ireland but taken to America ininfancy, sprang into prominence when he won the Americanchampionship in 1877. His style was simple and elegant and on hisday he was the equal of the strongest players. His play was, however, uneven, his best results being 2nd at London, 1892, equal2nd at Hamburg, 1885, 3rd at Vienna, 1882, and equal 3rd atBradford, 1888. He won matches against Bird, Mackenzie andBlackbume. He was an extremely popular chess author.

GAME 10

MASON-ZUKERTORT

London tournament, 1883.

Q u e e n s G a m b i t D e c l i n e d

1. POB4 PK32. PK3 KtKB33. KtKB3 PQ4

4- P - Q4 BK25- KtB3 0 06. B - Q3 P - Q K t 37- P x P P x P8. Kt K5 BKt29

-0 0 PB4

10. B -Q 2

A better development is byP QKt3 and B Kt2.


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10. KtB311. KtxKt

Better would be P B4. Thetext merely helps Black to mo

bilise his Q side by enabling himto dispense with the usual PQR3 on his 13th move.

11 . BxKt12. RBi

B Kt5 will not delay Black,for then B Kt2 ; 13 R Bi,P -Q R 3 ; 14 B Q3, P B5 ;leading in one move more to theposition reached in the actualgame.

r2. PB5

13. B K ti P QKt414. Kt K2 P Kt515. Kt Kt3 P QR416. R K i

The natural reaction toBlacks Q side push is to playP K4 as soon as possible, butthe text surprisingly loses theexchange by preventing the QRfrom going to K i later. Muchbetter was Q K2.

16. PR517- KtB5

Loss of material being inevitable, he plays for a K sideattack.

17. P R618. P K4

Not 18 P x P , P B 6 ; andwins.

Whites 16th move comeshome to roost at last.

20. P K5 Kt K i

20 . . ., B x R; 21 BxB,would merely be a transpositionof moves. The text is the onlyknight move to win the exchange, although other movesstill give Black an advantage,as for instance Kt K 5 ; 21Q Kt4, P Kt3 ; 22 B R6,B x R ; 23 BxR, KBxB; 24BxB , RxP.

21. QKt4 BxR22. B xB RR3

Deciding after all that discretion is the better part of

valour. He plays to return theexchange in order to break up

Whites dangerous attack.

23. KtR6ch. R x K t

He would be better off playing to hold his material ad

vantage by K R i ; 24 Q B5,P Kt3 ; 25 K txP ch ., K K t1.; 26 K txQ , P x Q ; 27 KtKt7, R x P ; 28 B R6, K tKt2.

24. B x R QR4

25. RK B iWhite is forced back. He cannot play B Q2because of PKt6; 26 BxQ, P x B ; winning.

25. Q x P26. Q B5 P Kt3

[Diagram 14]

27- QQ7

18. RPxP19. R B2 B R5

In this apparently desperatepredicament White still finds


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MASON ZUKERTORT 39

(BLACK) ZUKERTORT

(WHITE) MASON

Position before Whites 27th move.

(Diagram 14)

means of attack. Black cannotsave his bishop, for if B R5 ;28 P Kt3, P K t6 ; 29 BKti. In addition the rook isattacked.

27. P Kt6

28. Q x B Kt Kt229. B K ti P B6

Pretty play. White cannotanswer 30 B x Q because of PX B ; 31 Q Kt4, P R8= Q ;32QXBP, QxRc h. Now Blackrecovers his bishop at least.

30. Q B5 P B731. B x P Kt K3

He finds after all that P x Bprobably only draws after 32QxB P, R K t i ; 33 R K ti,Kt K3 ; 34BK3, KtB2 ;35 B B i, or 32 . . . , R R i (toanswer R K ti with Q x Rch.);33 P Kt3, Kt K3 ; 34 BK 3, Kt B2 ; 35 K Kt2, Kt

Kt4; 36 R QKti. Hetherefore tries another tack, to

which White finds another neatanswer.

32. Q x P P x BForced, if he is not to remain

a piece down.

33. Q xQ R K ti34- P Q5

If R K ti, then 34 . . ., PKt4 cutting off the bishop andthreatening P B8=Qch. ButWhite is out of the wood nowand actually a pawn ahead.

34. PKt8=Q35. Q B4 Kt Kt2

36. P K6But this attempt to exploit

his advantage is premature andloses the pawn at once. Something like RBi first is indicated.

36. P x P37. P x P Q Kt638. Q B7 KtxP

A violent battle has ended inequality. By rights the analystshould be able to draw a line

and write Drawn, but Whitewith stubborn obstinacy persists tediously in trying to pursue the vanished win and, as sooften happens, makes a slip andloses. The game continued 39Q K7, Q Q4 ; 40 P KR4,Q B3 ; 41 R K i, R K i ;42 Q R3, R Q i; 43 QQKt3, K B2 ; 44B K 3, RQBi ; 45 B B i, Q B5 ; 46Q B3ch., KKti; 47 Q


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KB6, Kt Kt2 ; 48 B K t2,.Q KB2 ; 49 Q Q4, P R4 ;50 R QBi, K R2 ; 51 Q

Q3. Q B4; 52 Q Q4. QB2 ; 53 Q K5, Q B2 ; 54Q -B 6, R - Q i ; 55 Q- KB3,Kt B4 ; 56 Q K2, R QBi ;57 P Kt3. And here is the slipthough it is not necessarilyfatal.

57. KtxKtP

58. Q -Q 3Best was P x Kt, Q Kt3ch.;

59 K Kt2, Q X B ; and Blackcan hardly hope to win. Now

White must lose a secondpawn.

58. Kt B459. Q K4 Q QB560. Q Kt7ch. R B261. Q Kt8

White is still fighting and nowthreatens mate.

61. Q Ktsch.62. K Ri

If K Bi, then Q Q8ch. ;63 K Kt2, with the same position as after the 65th move inthe game.

62. Q x Pch.

63. K Kt2 Q Ktsch.64. K R i

If K R2, Q B5ch.; 65 K Kti, Kt Kt2; 66 K Kt2,

R B2 ; 67 Q Kt6, Kt B4 ;winning.

64. Q Q8ch.65. K Kt2 Kt Rsch.66. K R2

Playing the king to the 3rd

rank would allow mate in two.

66. Q Q3ch.67. K K ti Kt B6ch.68. K Bi

Now if K Kt2, Q R7ch.;69 K Bi (K x Kt, R B2ch. ;

and wins), Kt Q7ch. ; 70 Kmoves, R K2ch.; winning.

68. Q R3ch.69. K Kt2 Kt Rsch.70. K R2 Q B i

After this, which breaks

Whites mating threat, positional and material superioritymust tell.

71. Q Kt6 Kt B6ch.72. K Kt2 Q Ktsch.73. K Bi R K2Resigns.

Documents

Battles Royal of the Chessboard by R.N. Coles Part.1