Joseph Henry Blackburne vs Isidor Gunsberg (1887)

Joseph Henry Blackburne vs Isidor Gunsberg
DSB-05.Kongress Frankfurt ;HCL 21 1887 · Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation (D31) · 1-0

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explore this opening	find similar games	19 more Blackburne/Gunsberg games
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Feb-09-08		An Englishman: Good Evening: This is one game that should not be allowed to fall through the cracks, as Blackburne unleashes a torrent of sacrificial play that looks quite modern to me. This is of the most baffling series of sacrifices I've seen in a long time; is it possible that Blackburne didn't realize he was playing with one Rook less for much of the game? The compensation White gets for the piece sacrifice and then the Exchange sac looks nebulous at best, but he did overcome a challenger for the World Championship. Still, there has to be a defense in there somewhere...

Feb-09-08		Malawi Nick: What could Black see (that I cannot) that made him resign??

Feb-09-08		percyblakeney: <Malawi Nick> It looks strange, and black also blundered away the win before that, but I've read that Gunsberg touched his rook after Blackburne's final move. Since black's only move would be Rb7, leading to mate after 46. Re8+ Qd8 47. Qc6+ Kb8 48. Rxd8 he resigned.

Feb-09-08		percyblakeney: Blackburne could get out of almost anything with some wild attack that would make today's engines embarrassed, but at the same time he was a very stable top player for many years. In the tournament in which this game was played he shared 2nd of 21 participants, well ahead of for example Tarrasch and Zukertort.

Feb-11-08		eternaloptimist: <percyblakeney:It looks strange, and black also blundered away the win before that, but I've read that Gunsberg touched his rook after Blackburne's final move.> Before I read this I thought that Gunsberg had lost on time. I knew something was up. Gunsberg should have won this game as noted earlier. After 27.g4??, Gunsberg had a . Although after 44....Qf6?? he lost his . 44....Re5 was better. @ this point Blackburne had a perpetual check. If Gunsberg wouldn't have blundered, the game probably would have continued like this: 45.Qa6+ Kd8 46.dxc7+ Kxc7 47.Qxa7+ Kc6 48.Qa8+ Kb6 49.a5+ It looks like this is as far as the pawn is going to get because of the threat to f2. This is definitely one of the most exciting games i've played over in a while!!

Feb-11-08		InspiredByMorphy: I'm sure there are more complicated and efficient ways to win the game for black but the simple 44. ...Qxe1+ wins. For instance 45.Kxe1 Re5+ 46.Kd2 Rc6 click for larger view Black deserved to lose for being greedy.

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