Introduction

This match was played in Leipzig in 1866 between the Estonian-Russian master Eugen von Schmidt and the German player and chess journalist Johannes Minckwitz. The games were all reported in "Schachzeitung" beginning in the September issue. This suggests the match was played in August 1866. The match probably occurred around the time that Leipzig was occupied by the Prussian army during the Seven Weeks' War (June 1866 - August 23, 1866).

This was a match between colleagues; in 1866 Minckwitz and Schmidt were the joint editors of the "Schachzeitung der Berliner Schachgesellschaft" ("Chess newspaper of the Berlin Chess Society"). Schmidt returned to Russia later in 1866 with Minckwitz continuing on as the sole editor. (1)

Schmidt was the emphatic winner, despite their strength being nearly equivalent (2). He dominated the second half of the match winning five games in a row.

As Schmidt was vice-president of the prestigious Der Vorstand der Schachgesellschaft Augustea (Augustea Chess Society) (3) the games may have taken place on the club premises at Grimmaische Strasse 28.

Progress of the match

                        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 
——————————————————————————————————————————
Schmidt, Eugen	        0 ½ 0 1 1 1 1 1 5½ 	 
Minckwitz, Johannes     1 ½ 1 0 0 0 0 0 2½
——————————————————————————————————————————

                        1 2  3  4  5  6  7  8 
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Schmidt, Eugen	        0 ½  ½  1½ 2½ 3½ 4½ 5½	 
Minckwitz, Johannes	1 1½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½ 2½
——————————————————————————————————————————————

Game 1. Schmidt misplayed the Ponziani opening and allowed Minckwitz, as Black, the opportunity to launch a furious but accurate King-side attack. This won a piece and then very quickly the game.

Game 2. This was the only draw of the match, but once again it was a sharp battle. Schmidt defended with the French Defence and Minckwitz launched an early Queen attack taking his opponent's <g> pawn. Although Schmidt's King remained in the centre of the board, he came very close to winning.

Game 3. Schmidt held the initiative against the Sicilian Defence, but lost the thread of the game and then blundered a piece. This gave Minckwitz a two-point lead in the match after three games. It seemed that Schmidt was on the ropes, but this was not the case.

Game 4 Minckwitz, with the White pieces, chose the Spanish Exchange variation. The game was tactically sharp and Minckwitz blundered material. Eventually, he had only a pawn for a minor piece, but with three connected Queen-side pawns.

click for larger view

With best play, it seems Minckwitz could have drawn, but he could not find the saving line.

Game 5 Schmidt too chose the Spanish, and Minckwitz defended with the Berlin defence. This was a favourite variation of the leading German player Adolf Anderssen. Minckwitz played over-aggressively and could have lost in the opening. Instead, Schmidt missed the immediate win allowing Minckwitz to continue his very aggressive play. Minckwitz attempted a King-side pawn storm, but Schmidt emerged with an extra pawn in the ending which proved decisive.

Schmidt had now levelled the match.

Game 6 After the unsuccessful "sturm und drang" of the previous game and despite two consecutive losses, Minckwitz chose the Evans Gambit as White. Schmidt declined the gambit and the game transposed into a slow and solid variation of the Italian Game.

The game was balanced until Minckwitz gave his opponent the opportunity for a brilliant tactical coup.

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Schmidt's <24...Qe8!!> launches a fatal attack on the White Rooks

With his third win in a row, Schmidt for the first time took the lead in the match.

Game 7 As White, Schmidt returned to the same variation of the Ponziani opening which he had so misplayed in the first game of the match. Schmidt played an aggressive line which may have been an innovation. Minckwitz's reply was inadequate and soon he had an irredeemable position.

Game 8 Minckwitz chose a Queen's pawn opening for the first time in the match. He gave up a pawn to have two bishops raking his opponent's king, but he had overestimated his subsequent compensation. He played on into a hopeless endgame only to eventually blunder into mate.

The match ended here. "Schachzeitung" reported that:

"The match between messrs. E. Schmidt and J. Minckwitz in Leipzig has been concluded in favour of the former with five won games against two lost games with one draw. At the request of the latter, a second match has begun." (4).

It does not seem that this second match ever occurred.

Notes

(1). Wikipedia article: Deutsche Schachzeitung. This became the "Deutsche Schachzeitung" ("German Chess Paper") in 1872.

(2). http://www.edochess.ca/matches/m618... - Schmidt 2451 and Minckwitz 2425.

(3). Schmidt's official position in the club is mentioned in "Neue Berliner Schachzeitung",1866, p.44

(4). "Schachzeitung",1866, p.208"

The games were all annotated by "Schachzeitung":

Game 1 - no. 2280, p.246
Game 2 - no. 2281, p.247
Game 3 - no. 2291, p.278
Game 4 - no. 2291, p.279
Game 5 - no. 2294, p.298
Game 6 - no. 2295, p.299
Game 7 - no. 2296, p.300
Game 8 - no. 2297, p.301

Original collection and text by User: User: Chessical