City of Vienna - City of Paris
Correspondence, 1884-1885
(Annotated by Wilhelm Steinitz)
The following game is one of two annotated by Wilhelm Steinitz in the January 1886 issue of the International Chess Magazine. Here we may see Steinitz at work as a chess journalist, facing deadlines and other pressures - yet observe the care and thoroughness taken with his analysis. Both games are given in ChessBase format for download on the web page given in The Collected Works of Wilhelm Steinitz CD, for which complete details may be found there.
City of Vienna - City of Paris
Correspondence, 1884-1885
(Annotated by Wilhelm Steinitz)
1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7
5.e3 0-0 6.Be2
But we believe that it is more advantageous in most cases for the first player to place the King's Bishop at d3. In the present game White has subsequently to lose a move with this Bishop.
6...b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.b3
Usually 8...c5 is played at this point, followed by 9...Nc6. But M. Rosenthal opines that the Queen's Knight is better placed at d7 with the view of bringing it to g6 via f8 after removing ...Re8, or else in order to support a center attack at f6 after playing ...Ne4.
9.Bb2 c5 10.Bd3
Which is already a confession of error on the sixth move, for which, however, there was no necessity. We believe that White in this and similar positions may safely exchange both center pawns, commencing with 10.cxd5. If then Black, in the usual way, retake both pawns with a pawn 10...exd5 11.dxc5 bxc5, then White might proceed with 12.Ne1 followed by 13.Nd3 and 14.Bd3, after which White may strengthen the attack accordingly by Nf4 and Rc1. If Black can be compelled to advance one of the center pawns, it can then either be isolated by exchanging, or else it may be left in a weak condition without exchanging according to circumstances.
10...Ne4 11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Bxd5
We prefer 13.Qe2 in which case Black could not well advance 13...f5 for then the game might proceed thus: 14.Nd2 Nf6 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.e4, with the better game.
13...Bb7 14.Re1
If 14.Qe2 cxd4 15.Bxd4 Nc5 16.Bxc5 (best, for they can still less afford to allow the exchange of their King's Bishop for the Knight, nor can they well retreat 16.Bc2 on account of the reply 16...Ba6) 16...Bxc5 with the better game. (Rosenthal.)
14...cxd4 15.Bxd4 Bc5 16.Bb2 Qe7
A weak move which is the cause of great trouble to Vienna. We understand from M. Rosenthal's remarks that Vienna wished to avoid drawn positions in the present game at all hazards, as seemingly the other game was lost for them at this stage. We, however, believe that they would have run no risk at all and would have kept a good game in hand with a prospect of attack by 17.e5 when the following was a probable continuation: 17...Bb4 18.Re3
17...a5
Nor does this meet with our approval. We think that 17...e5 was the only correct play, and if then 18.b4 Bd6 followed by 19...Rfd8 or 19...a5, with an excellent game.
18.Qe2
18.e5 was even now preferable.
18...Rfd8 19.a4
19...Nf8 20.Bc1
We agree with M. Rosenthal who disapproves of this move and maintains that the Bishop was necessary on his previous diagonal in support of and eventual advance of the e-pawn.
20...h6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Qxe3 Nd7 23.Bc4 Nc5
Disastrous. 24.e5 followed, should Black answer 24...Bd5 by 25.Nd4 would have given them a defensible game. (Rosenthal.)
24...Rd7 25.Nf3
No doubt the Vienna party had a difficult game, but we do not think that the sacrifice of the pawn was absolutely necessary. We would have preferred defending by 25.f3 followed by 26.Nb1 and then accordingly either by Na3 or Nc3.
25...Bxe4 26.Ne5
26...Rdd8
If 26...Rd6 27.Qf4 Bg6 (best; if the Bishop retreat anywhere else, White may answer 28.Nxf7, for instance, if 27...Bf5 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 29.Qxf5+ etc.) 28.Nxg6 and Black's superiority of pawns is no more as compact as before.