So far Black has played faultlessly. However, the evaluation shift resulting from this move is from 3.17 to 0.99, a shift of 2.18 from an easily won position for Black to a difficult but defensible position for White. <32…Bh3> and <32…Qf6> both win easily, retaining the +3 (extra piece equivalent) evaluation for Black.>

I think it is a good example of problems with purely mechanical use of engine's evaluations in assessment of quality of human play. While it is true that Steinitz had two alternatives, which were objectively tactically stronger and more convincing than the text continuation, 32...f5 is not per se a bad move and in fact it is natural and logical continuation of Steinitz's strategical plan of attack, which started with sac of the Knight in the 16th move. Despite of drop in engine's eval (especially at low ply level) I don't think that after 33.Nh2 Qe6 34.Nxg4 fxg4 (diagram) white has any chance to save the game against reasonably precise play of black. It is not Steinitz's fault that engine cannot see far enough to recognize that three monster passers on the Kingside in long run will win the game for black. To call 32...f5 a blunder I see as unfounded.

click for larger view

The first mistake comes on move 3. e3; weak play allowing a Baltic Defense minus the weaknesses for Black. Unarguably 3. Nf3 is better.

6. a3 also makes one wonder why the contender for the First WC Match would display such cowardice. 6. Bb4 is hardly frightening enough to delay development with a Flank Entrenchment.

And it is on Move 7 which we first come upon a gross distortion of Strategic understanding which Zukertort is fervently supportive of: 7. c5??, breaking the tension in the center and overextending the White stronghold in the center is a horribly poor choice. Observe how in this, and every ensuing game which Zukertort adheres to this horrid idea, Steintz begins a wholesale demolition of White's center, and activates the entirety of his forces.

From move 10, we can safely conclude that Black plays with the advantage. He has a powerful hold across the horizon, and the White Bishop on b2 is prisoner in his own diocese.

The rest is technique.

This being generally acknowledged as the first ever official World Championship game, for the sake of symbolism, I consider the wave-like pawn chain a warning, as in:

19.Qf1 Qd7 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Nb5! Bb8 22. Nd6+ Bxd6 23. cxd6 Rh6 24. Ba3.

click for larger view

Mr Mohle decided the first move in Mr Zukertort's favour by the toss of a copper which bright little coin was enhanced in value a thousandfold as it flew through the air $5 being bid for it as a souvenir of the great event before it reached the floor. It is worthy of note that the same Chess board was employed upon which Morphy fought his famous battles a quarter of a century ago, the veteran Mr Patterson who called off the moves for Morphy again acting as teller upon the present occasion.

There was a great gathering of Chess veterans and there were many hearty hand shakings between players who had not met for over a score and a half of years who were again attracted by the fame of the present players. There were many eminent divines members of the legal profession and men of letters present who gravely discussed the features of the results and compared the skill of the champions with the marvellous genius of Morphy and his brilliant début at the first American Chess Congress which they so well remembered.

The ingenious little tumbling clocks which marked the time and regulated the fifteen moves which each player had to make per hour were new to most of the spectators and the mammoth bulletin board with movable pieces which exhibited the game as it progressed was a decided novelty due to the inventive genius of President Green.

Representative delegates were present from all parts of the country who were kept busy telegraphing the various stages of the game to their respective clubs. The moves were also cabled immediately to Europe where the result was probably known at all the clubs simultaneously with New York. The right of the first move was decided by lot and fell to Zukertort who boldly offered the Queen's Gambit which is one of his favourite openings".

He might not be winning, but I never got the feeling that Zukertort had a chance. Although I like the little traps he tries at the end.

https://www.google.de/books/edition...