Wilhelm Steinitz vs NN (1861)

Wilhelm Steinitz vs NN
Casual Game 1861 · Chess variants (000) · 1-0

[Event "Casual Game"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1861.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Wilhelm Steinitz"]
[Black "NN"]
[ECO "000"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.e4 {Notes by Prof. Nagesh Havanur based on the original
notes by Wilhelm Steinitz *** Such informal games are often
ignored by chess enthusiasts and anthologists alike. However,
some of them are masterpieces in their own right.} e5 2.Bc4
Bc5 3.b4 {A favorite opening with Steinitz when giving the
odds of the Queen's Knight.} Bxb4 4.f4 d6 {In his notes
Steiniz points out that 4...d5 would be still more dangerous
to the odds giver.} 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.fxe5 Ng4 {?! Black, an
experienced recipient of Knight-odds, has given up a pawn to
threaten 7...Ne3. For example, 7.c3 Ne3 8.dxe3 (8.Qa4+? Bd7
9.Qxb4?? Nc2+) Bxc3+, emerging with the exchange & a pawn
ahead, and an excellent game.} 7.O-O {The position is full of
pitfalls for both sides. If 7...Nxe5? 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Bxf7+. But
7...dxe5 is tricky. Now 8.Bxf7+? Kxf7 9.Nxe5+ Ke8 10.Nxg4 is
refuted by 10...Qd4+. So White should opt for 8.c3 Bc5+
9.d4.exd4 10.cxd4 Be7 (A necessity, for otherwise White would
obtain a strong attack, either by 11.Ba3 or 11.Bxf7+.) } Bc5+
8.Kh1 {! A novel trap, offering Black a strong temptation to
emerge a rook up.} Nf2+ 9.Rxf2 Bxf2 10.Qf1 {! The point. The
opening of the f- file should help White.} Bb6 {? 10...O-O is
necessary. Black should give up the temptation to retain the
bishop.} 11.Bxf7+ Ke7 {11...Kxf7? 12.Ng5+ Kg6 13.Qf7+ Kxg5 (
13...Kh6? 14.d4 threatening 15.Ne6++- ) 14.d4+ Kh4 (14...Kg4
15.Qxg7+ Kh4 16.Qh6+ Kg4 17.Qh3#) 15.g3+ Kg4 16.Kg2 and mates
next move with 17.Qf3 or 17.h3.} 12.d4 h6 13.Nh4 Kd7 {Other
alternatives also fail. 13...dxe5? 14.Ng6+ Kd7 15.Qf5+ Kc6
16.Bd5+ +-, or Or 13...Bxd4? 14.Ng6+ Kd7 15.Be6+ Kc6
(15...Kxe6 ?? 16.Qf5#) 16.Bd5+ +- } 14.e6+ Kc6 15.Rb1 {! If
15...d5 16.Qb5+ Kd6 17.Qxd5+ Ke7 18.Ng6+ Kf6 19.Qe5# or 19.Qf5
#.} 1-0

To move:

Last move:

Annotations by Wilhelm Steinitz. [129 more games annotated by Steinitz]

	find similar games	10 more NN/Steinitz games
sac: 7.O-O	PGN: download \| view	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

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Jun-26-08		whiteshark: <12...h6??> is just an invitation. <12...Qf8!> would have been a tough defence. After <13.Bd5> black could play <13...h6> as the f3 is pinned! click for larger view

Jan-30-09		WhiteRook48: and after 14 exd6+ cxd6 Black has a good game- except for the fact that his K's exposed

Jul-30-09		tentsewang: It noted wrong 15. Its 15.Rb1 d5 16.Qb5+ Kd6 and 17.Nf5#

Oct-17-09		The Famous Chess Cat: Very nice observation, tentsewang. I myself had missed it.

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