Background

This was the Fifth German Chess Congress of the Deutschen Schachbund (DSB - German Chess Federation). It took place in Frankfurt am Main in 1887, the venue being the Assembly Rooms of the Zoological Gardens (1)

German chess benefitted from the rapid expansion of the economy after 1880, the period known as "Gründerzeit" (Founding period) in which many large and soon to be prominent industrial companies were created such as: Krupp, Stinnes, Hoesch and Thyssen. A period of economic prosperity extending until the First World War provided the means for German chess to stage large international tournaments.

For our chess masters, Frankfurt would have been prosperous and confident city, it had built a new Stock Exchange (1879), an Opera House (1880), and its large new Central Station (1888) was nearing completion. (2)

Significance

Using Chessmetrics' data, the Fifth German Chess Congress was the strongest tournament held between 1885 and 1895 (3). With the exceptions of Wilhelm Steinitz (1st) and James Mason (8th), it involved all the ten top players of the time (4).

The next-strongest tournaments in this period, were New York 1889 and then Bradford 1888. The strength of Frankfurt's assemblage of leading masters was not surpassed until 1895 by Hastings (1895) (5).

The Congress

The tournament comprised: a Master Tournament, a Major Tournament ("Hauptturnier"), a First-Class Tournament, a Second-Class Tournament and a "Free tournament" for "for participants in the major and minor tournaments".

Due to a small number of players, the Hauptturnier was divided into two preliminary groups, the top players of each group then progressing into the final "Siegergruppe" (Winning group). Bauer won the Siegergruppe and so won the Hauptturnier.

There were also both Problem Composing and Problem Solving Tournaments, as well as Consultation Games (6).

The Congress was also significant as it functioned as the administrative congress for German Chess. The financial and bureaucratic issues of developing chess within the German Empire, were debated during the Congress. Happily, it was not all administration and regulations. There were many lively social events connected to the Congress.

The social life of the Congress

Despite a schedule of two games a day on most days, there was also a carefully organized social aspect to the congress.

"On Thursday, 21st, the unfinished games were played and Alexander Fritz gave his blindfold exhibition, in which he won 7, drew 2 and lost only one game." (7).

"Besides the many entertainments which have been arranged for the participants and visitors to this great gathering of chess players there will be a blindfold exhibition by one of the German Masters, who will play ten games without sight of board or men. And for the lovers of chess poetry there is provided a Problem and a Solution Tourney with prizes. Before the contest begins, a social festival will be held by the players and visitors at the Frankenbraeu, Goetheplatz, on Saturday, July 16th..." (8).

"On July 18, in the evening, a great banquet was held. The usually unpretentious Congress Room now offered a very different appearance. The numerous small tables where the chess master had spent their days in battle were deployed, and the sobriety of the battle field yielded to the Hall's festive decoration. The hall was resplendent in festive splendour. Four long, horseshoe shaped tables, with their dazzling white covers; flowers and enticing Mediterranean fruits invited guests to the banquet, while the most beautiful Rhine wines were agents of reconciliation for adversarial minds, and composure for those who had already suffered defeats. They peered out, their coloured caps emerging from the ice buckets wishing to make the further acquaintance of chess players". (9)

Time was set aside for sight-seeing trips:

"Saturday the 23rd of July...In the afternoon: free for the end of the unfinished games. In the evening: Cosy gathering in the Palmengarten or the Forsthaus. Sunday, July 24th. Excursion to the Rhine and the Niederwald (10).

"July 24th, being Sunday no play occurred Instead an excursion was made to Bingen, and in the evening a banquet was held at Frankfort, during which the (Congress- e.d) Secretary Zwanzig proposed the health of Johannes Zukertort. In his toast, he prominently mentioned the great efforts shown by Zukertort in the advancements made in chess during the last twenty years, encouraging him to be of good cheer, and not to be disheartened by the suffering caused by his bodily affliction." (11)

"Sunday, July 31st. Morning: sightseeing. In the afternoon: an excursion to the countryside around Frankfurt." (12)

The opening of the Congress

This was a prestigious event.

"Officially, the Conference was opened Sunday, afternoon 4 p.m., in the sumptuously decorated Hall of the Zoological Garden with a warm, cordial welcoming speech of the President of the local Committee, Mr J. Günther, who gained lively applause from the packed meeting. Matters closed with the draw for the Masters tournament." (13)

It was also obviously a tournament of the leading players of the time, which dissuaded some minor masters from endangering their reputations by participating.

"There was a proud number of ear-catching names. Never before had so many standard bearers from all nations flocked to a tournament. Dr. Schmid from Blasewitz, who was present, nevertheless preferred, not to join in the struggle. Similarly, Johannes Minckwitz and Arnold Schottlaender both for reasons of health, and in view of the prolonged length of the tournament, declined to play.

The two Russian players, as well as Theodor von Scheve, had to be put to a ballot of the masters as to whether the provisions of the German Chess Federation allowed them to be admitted to the Masters Tournament.

The other masters, of course, did not hesitate to give their consent, Master Mikhail Chigorin from Petersburg by letter, and Zukertort by announcing it directly. Moreover, they readily agreed to Mr.v. Scheve in view of his recent and favourable results in particular in German tournaments

Dr. Josef Noa, who was not yet present, had signalled his impending arrival by telegraph, so that the draw could be readily held. Twenty one master thus came to gallantly fight." (14)

Itinerary

"The official opening of the tournament was June 17th, 1887, but play did not begin until June 18th. The games were played between 9am and 1pm and then resumed after lunch from 4pm to 8pm. Alternate afternoons were left for adjourned games to be played out...The rate of play was 20 moves per hour. (15)

Sunday, July 17th. In the afternoon at 4 o'clock: Assembly of the participants in the congress hall in the Zoological Society Garden, issue of the congress tickets, welcoming of the guests, draws for the Master and Major tournaments..." (16)

The schedule was taxing, and certain players flagged conspicuously in later rounds: Berthold Englisch, 7½ at Round 10 and 11½ at the end of the tournament, Jean Taubenhaus 5 and 6½ and Curt von Bardeleben 8 and 13.

Provisions for the tournaments

Master Tournament

Each participant had to play all his games against the other masters. After paying an entrance fee of 25 marks, each master made a further deposit of 25 marks (about £123/$153 in 2016 values). This was their guarantee to the organizers against defaulting. It would only be returned to them after the completion of all their games.

1st prize: 1,000 Marks.
2nd prize: 750 Marks.
3rd prize: 500 Marks.
4th prize: 300 Marks.
5th prize: 200 Marks.
6th prize: 150 Marks.

A special prize "for the most beautiful game" of £5, donated by Mr. Frederic Lewis in London. (17)

Hauptturnier

"The Major Tournament was completed on the 27th, Mr. Johann Hermann Bauer winning the first prize of 300 mark and the mastership title... Mr. Bauer is 26 years old, and has proved to be a strong player only during the last two years. He won the first prize in two local tournaments (Vienna and Prague) in 1885. In the tournament of the Vienna Chess Club of 1886 he won the second prize, and in the tournament of the same club he won first prize in 1887." (18)

The Masters in the Master Tournament

"The appearance of the Englishman Amos Burn, an unknown personality in Germany but the winner of two English tournaments, was especially anxious. He had arrived worn out to exhaustion, he had walked from Cologne to Frankfurt (approx. 172 kms/107 miles e.d.) and could have to walk back. His prospects for success in the tournament, if not now impossible, had thereby deteriorated significantly." (19)

"Many are the gallant Knights who have entered the list. There is Louis Paulsen, the bellicose giant; Fritz and v. Scheve, the coming champions; Emil Schallopp, who split his lance in times of old with Adolf Anderssen and Ignatz von Kolisch. He is one of the greatest of blindfold players and a dangerous antagonist, but lacking steadiness which is indispensable to achieve the highest honours in tournament play.

Curt v. Bardeleben, the Victor in the Vizayanagaram, London (1883) and Editor of the German Schach-Zeitung. Hermann von Gottschall, his co-editor the son of the Poet and problem composer. Johannes Metger, from Kiel, a chess veteran of more than mere local fame, and Max Harmonist, one of the most promising Berlin players. Dr.Siegbert Tarrasch, who came near winning the first prize in the Hamburg Tournament, and who may be better favoured by fortune now, and last but not least the genial, but eccentric Schottlander.

From allied Austria there is Berthold Englisch, the "Great Drawing-Master", one of the strongest players in the world. The renowned Analyzer and Problemist, Prof Johann Berger, and also Max Weiss, who, easily satisfied with a draw, is dangerous to competitors with higher aims.

From Hungaria (sic) the only player is the chivalrous Dr. Noa He fights for sheer love of conquest. In two tournaments he played in the first round only, being too busy to play in the second, showing that he does not play from pecuniary motives. He is a dashing and brilliant player and some gems may be anticipated.

The English contingent is strong both in number and in calibre. Joseph Blackburne, the pride of "Haughty Albion", fresh with laurels from his recent victory; Zukertort, who has made the most wonderful record in tournament play in the London (1883) and although he had to lower his flag to both Steinitz and Blackburne, he may again force victory to his side. "Mephisto" Isidor Gunsberg may repeat his Hamburg triumph, and Amos Burn will, no doubt, prove a formidable opponent, as will Bird and Mason.

America is represented by your gallant Capt. George Mackenzie. Russia by her second strongest player, Semyon Alapin and by Emmanuel Schiffers. And France by Taubenhaus, who won the brilliancy prize in the 4th DSB Congress, Hamburg (1885).

Since Chess Congresses have been held none has been so important, and it may be safely predicted that in view of the number and the strength of the participants in the present Tournament, it will be the most eminent of all that have yet taken place, not only in Frankfort, nor in Germany alone, but surpassing all that have hitherto been held." (20)

Prizes

Mackenzie won the first prize of 1,000 Marks which in 2016 value represents £4,914.00/$6,100 (21). Despite the prestige of the tournament, the prize was modest.

For Mackenzie, this would give him $238 (1887 value) dollars. As a rough comparison, an American plumber in 1890 would earn about $3.37 a day, so this prize would represent about 71 days of an average plumber's wages. (22)

Blackburne and Weiss shared second and third prizes of 750 + 500 Marks.

Von Bardeleben fourth prize - 300 Marks.

Berger and Tarrasch shared fifth and sixth prizes of 200 + 150 Marks.

Englisch seventh prize - 100 Marks.

Paulsen and Schallopp shared eight prize of 80 Marks.

Conclusion

"In the banquet in honour of the victors President Günther the health of the successful masters. Capt. Mackenzie responded to the Toast of the Committee of the Congress, but the sensation of the evening was brought on by Secretary Zwanzig taking the floor and challenging, in the name of the German Chess Association, England to play a Team Match; 30 players on a side, and the match to be played on neutral ground, either in Belgium or in Holland, and to be fought for the glory attending victory, and the intrinsic value of the prizes to be of secondary consideration." (23)

Rounds

1st Round. Monday, July 18, morning. Dr. Tarrasch had the bye

2nd round. Monday, July 18, afternoon. Schiffers had the bye

3rd round. Tuesday, July 19, morning. Scallopp had the bye

4th round. Wednesday, July 20, morning. Metger had the bye

5th round. Wednesday, July 20, afternoon. Mackenzie had the bye

6th round. Thursday, July 21, morning. Weiss had the bye

7th round. Friday, July 22, morning. Alapin had the bye

8th round. Friday, July 22, afternoon. v. Scheve had the bye

9th round. Saturday, July 23, morning. Berger had the bye

10th round. Monday, July 25, morning. Dr. Noa had the bye

11th round. Monday, July 25, afternoon. L. Paulsen had the bye

12th round. Tuesday, July 26, morning. Burn had the bye

13th round. Wednesday, July 27, morning. English had the bye

14th round. Wednesday, July 27, afternoon. Taubenhaus had the bye

15th round. Thursday, July 28, morning. v Bardeleben had the bye

16th round. Friday, July 29, morning. V. Gottschall had the bye

17th round. Friday, July 29, afternoon. Blackburne had the bye

18th round. Saturday, July 30, morning. Zukertort had the bye

19th round. Monday 1st August morning. Gunsberg had the bye

20th round. Monday, August 1, afternoon. Harmonist had the bye

21st round. Tuesday, August 2, morning. Fritz had the bye

(24)

                        M B W B B T E P S S A B N G M Z V V T F H 
Mackenzie,George 	X 1 ½ ½	½ 1 0 1	1 1 1 1	0 1 1 ½	1 1 1 0	1 15
Blackburne,Joseph 	0 X 1 0	½ 1 1 0	½ ½ 1 1	1 1 ½ 1	1 1 1 ½	0 13½
Weiss,Miksa	        ½ 0 X 1	½ 1 ½ 1	1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 13½
Von Bardeleben,Curt	½ 1 0 X	½ ½ 0 1	1 ½ ½ ½	1 ½ ½ ½	1 1 1 ½	1 13
Berger,Johann 	        ½ ½ ½ ½	X ½ ½ ½	½ 0 ½ 1	1 ½ ½ 1	0 ½ 1 1	1 12
Tarrasch,Siegbert	0 0 0 ½ ½ X 0 1	0 1 1 0	1 1 1 1	1 1 1 0	1 12
Englisch,Berthold	1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 X 0	0 0 ½ 1	1 ½ ½ ½	1 1 ½ 0	1 11½
Paulsen,Louis	        0 1 0 0 ½ 0 1 X	1 1 ½ 1	1 1 0 1	0 0 0 1	1 11
Schallopp,Emil	        0 ½ 0 0 ½ 1 1 0	X 0 1 1	0 1 1 1	½ ½ 1 1	0 11
Schiffers,Emanuel 	0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 0	1 X ½ 0	0 1 0 1	½ 1 0 ½	1 10
Alapin,Simon	        0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½	0 ½ X 1	½ 0 0 ½	1 ½ 1 1	1 9½
Burn,Amos	        0 0 0 ½ 0 1 0 0	0 1 0 X	1 0 1 1	0 1 1 1	1 9½
Noa,Josef	        1 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0	1 1 ½ 0	X 0 ½ 1	1 0 1 ½	1 9
Gunsberg,Isidor   	0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0	0 0 1 1	1 X ½ ½	1 0 ½ 1	0 8½
Metger,Johannes	        0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1	0 1 1 0	½ ½ X 0	½ 0 ½ ½	½ 8½
Zukertort,Johannes 	½ 0 1 ½ 0 0 ½ 0	0 0 ½ 0	0 ½ 1 X	1 0 1 1	1 8½
Von Gottschall,Hermann	0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1	½ ½ 0 1 0 0 ½ 0	X 1 ½ 1	1 8
Von Scheve,Theodor	0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 1	½ 0 ½ 0	1 1 1 1	0 X 0 1	½ 8
Taubenhaus,Jean      	0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1	0 1 0 0	0 ½ ½ 0	½ 1 X 1	0 6½
Fritz,Alexander	        1 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 1 0	0 ½ 0 0	½ 0 ½ 0	0 0 0 X	½ 6
Harmonist,Max	        0 1 0 0	0 0 0 0	1 0 0 0	0 1 ½ 0	0 ½ 1 ½	X 5½

	        R1  R2	R3  R4	R5  R6  R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R12 R13 R14 R15 R16 R17 R18 R19 R20 R21
Mackenzie	½   1½	2½  3½	3½  4½  5  6  6	 6½  7½  8½  8½  9½  10½ 11  12  12  13  14  15
Blackburne 	1   2	3   4	5   6   7  7  8	 8½  8½	 9½  10	 10  11	 11  11	 12  12½ 13  13½
Weiss 	        0   ½	1½  2	2½  2½	3½ 4  5	 5½  6½	 6½  7½	 8½  9½	 10  11	 11  12	 12½ 13½
Von Bardeleben 	1   2	2½  3½	4½  5	6  6½ 7½ 8   8½  9   10	 10  10	 11  11½ 12  12½ 13  13
Berger 	        1   1	2   3	3½  4	4½ 5  5	 5½  6	 6½  7	 7½  8½	 8½  9   9½  10	 11  12
Tarrasch	0   0	0   1	1½  2½	2½ 3  3	 4   4	 5   6	 6   7	 8   8	 9   10	 11  12
Englisch	1   2	2½  3½  4   5	6  6  7	 7½  8	 8   8	 9   9	 9½  9½	 9½  10	 10½ 11½
Paulsen 	1   1	1   2	3   3	4  4  4½ 5   5	 6   6	 7   8	 9   10	 10  10	 10  11
Schallopp 	0   1	1   1	2   2½	2½ 3½ 3½ 4   5	 6   6	 7   7	 7½  7½	 8½  9½  10  11
Schiffers	½   ½	½   1	2   2	2  2  2½ 3½  4½	 4½  5½	 5½  6	 7   7	 8   8½	 9   10
Alapin 	        1   1½	2½  2½	2½  2½	2½ 3  3½ 4   4½	 4½  4½	 5½  6	 6   6½	 7   7½	 8½  9½
Burn	        0   0	½   ½	½   1½	2½ 3½ 3½ 4½  5½	 5½  6½	 6½  7½	 8½  9½	 9½  9½	 9½  9½
Noa 	        0   0	0   0	½   1½	2  2½ 2½ 2½  2½	 3½  4½	 5½  6½	 6½  7½	 8½  9	 9   9
Gunsberg 	½   1   1   2	3   3½	4½ 5  5	 5   5	 5   6	 6½  6½	 7   7½	 7½  7½	 8½  8½
Metger	        ½   1	2   2	2½  2½	3  3  3½ 4   4	 4½  4½	 4½  4½	 5½  6	 7   7½	 8   8½
Zukertort 	½   1	1   1	1½  2	2  2½ 3½ 3½  4½	 5½  5½	 5½  5½	 6½  7½	 7½  8½	 8½  8½
Von Gottschall 	0   1	2   2	2   2	2  3  3½ 4   4	 5   5	 6   6½	 6½  6½	 7½  7½	 8   8
Von Scheve 	0   0	1   2	2   3	3  3  4	 4   4	 4   5	 5½  5½	 6   6	 6½  7	 8   8
Taubenhaus	0   1	1½  1½	1½  2	3  4  4½ 5   6	 6   6	 6   6½	 6½  6½	 6½  6½	 6½  6½
Fritz	        ½   1	1   1	1½  1½	1  1½ 1½ 2   3	 3   4	 4   4	 4   5	 5½  6	 6   6
Harmonist 	1   1	1   1	1   1	1  2  3	 3½  3½	 4   4	 4½  4½	 4½  5½	 5½  5½	 5½  5½

In this tournament, 71% of the games were decisive. White won 42% of the games, 30% were drawn and Black won 28%.

Tarrasch's score is notable. After a very poor start, he played with great determination to come in with the second highest tally of wins (11) along with Blackburn. His loses, meant, however, that he could only secure a share of fifth and sixth places. Similarly, Paulsen with 10 wins and 8 losses could only come in to share eighth prize. Outside of the prize list, Burn had 9 wins but 10 loses.

	       "+"	"="	"-"	
Mackenzie	13	4	3	15
Blackburne 	11	5	4	13½
Weiss 	        9	9	2	13½
Von Bardeleben 	8	10	2	13
Berger 	        6	12	2	12
Tarrasch	11	2	7	12
Englisch	8	7	5	11½
Paulsen 	10	2	8	11
Schallopp 	9	4	7	11
Schiffers	7	6	7	10
Alapin 	        5	9	6	9½
Burn	        9	1	10	9½
Noa 	        7	4	9	9
Gunsberg 	5	7	8	8½
Metger	        3	11	6	8½
Zukertort 	6	5	9	8½
Von Gottschall 	6	4	10	8
Von Scheve 	6	4	10	8
Taubenhaus	4	5	11	6½
Fritz	        3	6	11	6
Harmonist 	4	3	13	5½

Openings

The openings were predominantly King-Pawn, the most popular variations being:

Played in 12 games:

Ruy Lopez (c77)

Played in 10 games:

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense (c65)

Vienna (c25)

French, Classical (c14)

Played in 7 games:

French, Exchange (c01)

Four Knights (c47)

Played in 6 games:

Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto (B34)

Queen's Pawn Game (D05)

Themes

This represents an analysis using SCID (25) of the recorded games :

Same side castling - 61%
Opposite side castling - 10%
Kingside pawn storm - 9%
Queen exchanged - 51%
Only one side has bishop pair - 7%
White isolated Queen pawn - 6%
Black isolated Queen Pawn - 12%
White pawn on 5/6/7/th rank - 54%
Black pawn on 5/6/7/th rank - 37%
Open c/d/e/ file - 44%

Shortest games

Tarrasch-Zukertort 1-0 (17)
Harmonist-Englisch 0-1 (15)
Harmonist-Burn 0-1 (17)
Metger-Mackenzie 0-1 (19)

The tournament book by Von Gottschall is incomplete. The tournament book states that various unspecified issues had delayed its timely publication.

The following seven games are missing without explanation from the tournament book:

Game:                     Result:   Round:

Blackburne vs. Burn	  1-0	    4
Englisch vs. Tarrasch     0-1	    7
Metger vs. Taubenhaus	  ½-½       9
Weiss vs. Von Gottschall  1-0	    11
Harmonist vs. Von Scheve  ½-½       14
Noa vs. Harmonist 	  1-0	    15
Blackburne vs. Schiffers  ½-½       20

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<41...g4> 42.Rfc2 g3 43.h3 Kxf5 44.Rb5 g5 45.Kg2 Rxh3 46.Kg1 Rh6 47.c5 Be5 48.Rc4 Bf4 49.Rb3 e3 50.d6 Rch8 51.Bg2 e2 52.Re4 Rh1+ 53.Bxh1 0-1 . (26)

Highlights of each Round

1st Round

In a winning position, Schallopp panicked himself into playing <28. Rfe2?>believing he was in danger of being mated by Harmonist.

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Instead, after <28. Rf3> Rh1+ 29. Kf2 Rxe1 30. Qxe4 Rxe4 31. Kxg3, he has won the game.

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After a careless by Von Scheve, Von Bardeleben played the crushing <22. Ng4!>

2nd round

After a 99 move loss in Round One, and no doubt still tired from his epic journey to the tournament, Burn played <30.Rh2?> only to further walk into a magnificent combination:

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30... Nfxd3+!!> 31. Bxd3 Nxd3+ 32. Qxd3 e4 33. Qxe4 Qxh2 winning.

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Von Gottschall was in good combinational form against Berger, <32. Qxe6+!!> Rxe6 33. Rd8+ Qf8 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. gxh7 1-0

3rd round Tarrasch lost a Bishop to Mackenzie by missing a simple two move combination. The game is interesting in that Tarrasch played an Accelerated Dragon in a very modern fashion.

Gunsberg also lost to a one move oversight, but some combinations have the recommendation of being less than obvious.

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Blackburne played <25. Rxd6!> with the point that <25...Rxd6> would be answered by 26. gxf4 exf4 27. Qe5+

4th round Schiffers oblivious to the fact that he had a winning position offered Weiss a draw. Gunsberg sacrificed a Rook to mate Noa,

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and Tarrasch found a neat way to win a piece.

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5th round Blackburne again showed his imaginative powers

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but was inaccurate in his execution: <34. Rxg6!> hxg6 35. Bxf4+ Kg8 36. Be5?! (36. Rxg6+ is stronger) as after <26...Rg7> Taubenhaus should have be able to draw.

6th round This round was marked by several egregious blunders deciding the games. Harmonist left a Rook en prise and lost as White to Englisch in only 15 moves. Noa too allowed his opponent, Schiffers, to win a piece in an otherwise equal position. Schallopp sacrificed a rook against Berger but then played imprecisely and could only draw when he should have won. Paulsen put his Queen in danger and had to give up two pawns to extricate her.

7th round Zukertort's poor form continued when barely out of the opening he blundered to a loss against Blackburne.

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After <23...Qd6?> he was felled by 24. Bxh7+! Kxh7 25. Ng5+

Gunsberg too was on form to call Von Gottschall's errors to account:

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24. Rxh5!! Bg4 (24...gxh5 25. Qg5+) 25. Rxh8+ 1-0 (25...Kxh8 26. Qh6+ Kg8 27. Qg7 mate)

Harmonist lost suddenly to Von Bardeleben by grabbing a pawn with unexpected but elegant consequences:

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30... Qxc4? 31. Qxe4!! (31. Qxe4 Qxe4 32. Ng5+ Kg7 33. Nxe4 ) 1-0

Burn won an effective attacking game against Metger, as did Mackenzie against Paulsen.

8th round Blackburne's run of seven successive wins suddenly ground to a halt. Surprisingly, this was at the hands of the back-marker Harmonist who had lost seven games in a row. Schiffers blundered a won ending into a draw against Von Gottschall.

9th round Blackburne showed his resilience and recovered from his unexpected loss in the previous round to win against Tarrasch using a trap he had through up over breakfast (27). Englisch outplayed Mackenzie in a long game consistently targeting his opponent's weak pawns.

Gunsberg and Harmonist played a game of successive blunders. Harmonist won his second successive game as Gunsberg saw phantoms and allowed his King to be driven to <e5> where it shortly expired. Thus, Harmonist won his second successive game after a disastrous start.

Schiffers should have beaten Von Gottschall in the ending:

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<g4 would cover <f2> and also win the <h> pawn. Instead, Schiffers played Kg6 allowing Von Gottschall to play his Rook to <a8> and draw.

Von Bardeleben neatly liquidated into a won ending against Schallopp with:

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42.Qxd5!

10th round Noa defended with a Modern defence, he achieved a good position, but did not how to play, it and so collapsed ignominiously in only 20 moves. The game of the round ws Tarrasch's ferocious attack against Gunsberg piling his Rooks up against the pawns sheltering Gunsberg's King

11th round Blackburn (8½) lost to his rival Mackenzie (6½) despite having an appreciable advantage out of the opening. Late in the game, Blackburne allowed his pieces to lose control of key squares and his games rapidly fell apart.

"The very strong German Chess Federation Congress at Frankfurt-am-Main became the greatest success of G.M.Mackenzie's career. Yet until half-way Blackburne looked like winning first prize. He began with seven straight wins before losing to Harmonist. He recovered and beat Tarrasch and it was his heartbreak game with Mackenzie that spoilt his result; after that he lost two more games..." (28)

In contradistinction to his scintillating play in the previous round, Tarrasch obtained a miserable position with Black in a French defence and lost against Fritz. Metger presented Zukertort with an easy point by overlooking an obvious Knight fork. Harmonist believed he had won the exchange from Schiffers but overlooked that is so doing he exposed his King to an ineluctable attack.

Taubenhaus played a splendid combination against Von Scheve

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28...Rxb2+!! 29. Kxb2 Ba3+ !! 30. Kxa3 Qxc2 and wins.

12th round MacKenzie overwhelmed Gunsberg with a King-side attack culminating in mating sequence. Englisch, who had gradually lost impetus after a good start, lost a Bishop to Paulsen by underestimating the vulnerability of his King. Fritz allowed Schallopp's Queen to penetrate his King side late in the game and force a mate.

Schiffers held Tarrasch for a long time but overlooked a perpetual check and then lost. Taubenhaus sacrificed a Knight for two pawns and an attack, but misplayed and lost against Noa. Weiss lost to Zukertort in a long hard manoeuvring game. Burn once again played an effective King-side attack against which Taubenhaus could not stop the onrush of heavy pieces against his King.

13th round The surprise of the round was Fritz breaking through Mackenzie's Sicilian Defence to win in only 27 moves. Gunsberg stormed Alapin's French defence, and won his Queen for a Rook and a Knight which could not hold Alapin's position together. Tarrasch established a pawn on <d3> as Black against Metger. Instead of neutralising this advanced pawn Metger thought he had time to hunt another, allowing Tarrasch to win in short order. Noa defeated Von Gottschall whose King became trapped behind advancing <d> and <e> pawns which reached the 7th rank. Schallopp lost a drawn R+P ending to Schiffers by not knowing the theory. Zukertort listless performance continued, he was outplayed by Von Scheve and lost a Knight.

14th round Blackburne lost to Paulsen by pushing too hard for a win. Tarrasch lost with White against Weiss, from a promising position Tarrasch was outplayed; after losing a pawn he could not hold the endgame. Zukertort blundered and allowed Noa a passed <f> pawn which he then found he could not blockade.

15th round Blackburne neatly mated Englisch

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34. Rxg6 fxg6 35. Rh4+ Kg8 36.Rh8 mate.

Zukertort's poor form continued and he lasted only 19 moves against Burn. As in his game with Blackburne he overlooked a tactical threat to his King-side. Gunsberg attempted, as White, to storm Paulsen's King in a sharp Sicilian defence. Paulsen managed to swap off material to enervate the attack and then won the endgame. Metger self-mated himself against Mackenzie just out of the opening. Von Gottschall was content to draw a very advantageous position against Taubenhaus

16th round In a losing position, Berger overlooked the immediate loss of a Knight when he moved its guardian Rook away. Englisch let Gunsberg off the hook most probably under the mistaken impression he was winning a piece. Instead, he overlooked a subtle retreat and Gunsberg secured a draw.

Burn,as Black, destroyed Harmonist with a subtle but powerful combination.

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13...Bh3!! 14. Kf1 (if 14. gxh3 Qf3 15. Rg1 Nxd3+) 14... Bxg2+ 15. Kxg2 Qf3+ 16. Kg1 Qg4+ 17. Kf1 Qh3+ (17...Qh3+ 18.Ke1 Nf3 mate) 0-1

Schallopp missed his way in a winning ending and allowed Von Scheve to draw. Blackburne miscalculated and lost by playing a completely unsound Bishop sacrifice against Von Bardeleben.

17th round Burn beat Tarrasch in a game that swung wildly between the players. Tarrasch mishandled his King-side attack and Burn was able to smash his way through to Tarrasch's King on the opposite wing. Taubenhaus lost to Harmonist after misplaying a King-side attack and then completely losing the thread of the game. Zukertort found some of his old form to defeat Von Gottschall in a proficient style as Black. MacKenzie also won as Black after Von Scheve sacrificed a Bishop for a King-side initiative which never materialised.

18th round

This was the round of the great controversy concerning - Blackburne vs Gunsberg, 1887.

"The whole Meistertürnier (Masters' tournament - e.d.) proceeded without a major disruption. A small difference between Prof. Berger and Burn - Burn vs J Berger, 1887 - was of no great significance. The only discernible dissonance was the unexpected outcome of Blackburne vs Gunsberg, 1887 Gunsberg wasted a big advantage from his adjourned game under aggravating circumstances, whereby Blackburne received a better chance of a prize. There has been much debate about this incident, the matter can in any case allows for manifold interpretation." (29)

It seems quite clear that the Germans believed that Gunsberg threw his game in favour of Blackburn, so that the latter could secure a top prize. Gunsberg quickly dissipated an advantage, despite having an adjournment to study the position. He then blundered into a straightforward perpetual check, but still lost the game with a further blunder.

The authors of the tournament book decide to use comments taken from "Deutschen Schachzeitung" ("German Chess Magazine") which are acid in tone:

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"There now follows a series of inept moves of Gunsberg. It is hardly necessary to mention that the black game is easily won even for a far weaker players than Gunsberg. The unexpected result of this game and the way it ended created a stir, as Blackburne by winning this game now had a chance for a prize, had he drawn with Gunsberg at the time, (18th round), he had no chance for a prize at all....

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. <Move 44> Rde1

"The rook move is actually a severe error. If Blackburne ever wanted to continue playing at all, he had to take the Rook on <c7>, he, however, seems to have been inspired by some higher influence and to have suspected that his opponent would make the worst possible response.

It is difficult to find the appropriate epithet for such an error. The obvious move <44...Re5> would have secured the second player the material superiority of Rook and knight with good position. Even <44....Qf7> would have won the game". (30)

Blackburne's score sheet stated:

"Black having touched the rook must interpose it at <b7> where upon mate follows in 3 moves." (31)

"In October's issue of the "International Chess Magazine" Steinitz published the Blackburne-Gunsberg game from the Frankfurt tournament...on page 41. Steinitz gives the comments of the "Deutschen Schachzeitung" in literal translation and then adds, that in his view, it should not be not permitted that any player, even if he has made the grossest blunders should then be suspected of a lack of fair play...i.e. the facts that Gunsberg resigned a drawn game, and that Blackburne himself had sought to clarify this by means of a written declaration on his scoresheet that Gunsberg had "touched a piece", a claim, contrary to the perceptions of the very large number of spectators gathered around who believed the direct opposite.

On another page in the same issue (p. 297), Steinitz notes that the game Blackburne-Gunsberg was lengthy and finds that Gunsberg's weak play was only due to his excessive effort. On this occasion, Steinitz takes recourse to a comparison which is so strange that we cannot avoid mentioning it. He thinks that the game Blackburne-Mackenzie has an almost equivalent number of serious mistakes on Blackburne's part to those Gunsberg made in the Blackburne-Gunsberg game. Steinitz is an authority of the first rank in chess... (but) even with the best will, we cannot endorse Steinitz's opinion..." (32)

In the other games, the flagging Englisch was dispatched by a stylish Bishop sacrifice by Schiffers. Von Gottschall played very inventively to destroy Harmonist in only 22 moves. Burn and Schallop attacked each other furiously, until Burn overlooked a Queen sacrifice and Schallop forcing mate. Taubenhaus blundered away a won then a drawn endgame against Tarrasch

19th round Blackburn missed a win against Fritz, just when every half point counted. Mackenzie sacrificed his Queen for a rich harvest of a Rook and two minor pieces against Burn.Von Bardeleben agreed a draw in a completely winning position against Schiffers. Tarrasch allowed Von Gottschall a fleeting chance to draw in the ending, but the opportunity was missed. Zukertort defeated Harmonist in a brisk attack and Weiss played a beautiful combinational break-through attack against Paulsen:

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39. g5! fxg5 40. f6! Ra7 41. Rf1 41. fxg7+ Qxg7 42. Rxh6+ Kg8 43. Qe8+ Qf8 44. Rh8+!!

20th round Burn lost with three pawns against a rook, he could have drawn but

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but pushed the wrong pawn letting Alapin's King in. Berger sacrificed the exchange to leave Noa without any useful moves. Fritz sacrificed a Knight against Gunsberg only to discover he had no resulting attack. Von Scheve broke through on the King-side to skewer Paulsen's Queen to his King. Zukertort's recovery of form proved to be transitory as he blundered a piece away on move 11 to Tarrasch by <11...Qd7?>

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12. Nxe6 fxe6 (12...Qxe6 13. Rxe4) 13. Rxe4

21st round Burn made one careless move and Noa took immediate and decisive advantage

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35...Nd3!

Harmonist once again went wrong in opening but Tarrasch made heavy weather of winning the game. Taubenhaus too went badly wrong in the opening and Schiffers won in elegant fashion with his Knights. Zukertort's miserable tournament ended with a defeat at the hands of Schallopp

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18...Ne3!!

MacKenzie defeated Von Gottschall and so become the first American chess player to win an international tournament.

Problems

"The above two problems were presented to the solvers of the Frankfort International Tournament. The three-mover was first solved by H. v. Gottschall and the four-mover by Jacques Mieses, after laborious work of one hour and twenty minutes."

"Mate in 3"

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This is actually a mate in 5

1. Qe6 Bb8 2. d6 Bxd6 3. Bxd6 exd6 4. Qxd6+ Ke4 5. Qxe5 mate

"Mate in 4"

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1. Bxa3+ Kd4 2. Nb4 Be4 3. Nxe4 Ke5 4. Qd5 mate

(33)

Conclusion

"The victory of Capt.Mackenzie at Frankfort is of course very popular in America , as it is also in Europe. Mr.Steinitz in his magazine seems rather annoyed at the title of "Champion" being applied to the Captain and challenges him for a match of then games up for a minimum of $1,000 a side, allowing him two games to start with." (34)

Zukertort, was in obvious decline. He had lost a match to Blackburne just before Franfurt Congress - Blackburne - Zukertort (1887)

"It is only five years ago that, after winning the London International Tournament, Dr. Zukertort was universally admitted to be pre-eminent as a chess player. The great strain of that contest, however, undoubtedly had an injurious effect upon his delicate constitution, and this effect was increased by the match he played with Steinitz in 1885. He engaged in this contest in spite of urgent medical advice to the contrary, and he returned from America after his defeat in a seriously debilitated state of health. After that time he showed a marked falling off in his powers of chess combination..." (35)

On the 20th June,1888, Zukertort collapsed and died suddenly at the age of only 46.

"...Dr. Frank Jeeves...had since made a post-mortem examination, and found that death was due to cerebral haemorrhage. The kidneys of the deceased were slightly unhealthy ...and the arteries and the base of the brain were diseased....the jury accordingly returned a verdict of death from natural causes."(36)

Blackburne and Gunsberg returned to England and in September fought out a match - Blackburne - Gunsberg (1887) - which Gunsberg won 8-5. This was an important step on his progress to a world championship match with Steinitz - Steinitz - Gunsberg World Championship Match (1890)

Frankfurt was an early sign of the emergence of a new generation of players. The greatest progress was to be made by Tarrasch. The next few years were to be a peak period of success for him - as he won four consecutive international tournaments: 6th DSB Congress, Breslau (1889) , Manchester in 1890, Dresden (1892) and 9th DSB Congress, Leipzig (1894).

Notes

1. See "British Chess Magazine", 1887, p.339. The modern address for the Zoological Gardens is: Bernhard-Grzimek-Allee 1, 60316 Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany.

2. http://www.frankfurt.de/sixcms/deta...

3. http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/...

4. http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/...

5. http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/... .See also http://www.edochess.ca/tournaments/...

6. "Der Fünfte Kongress Des Deutschen Schachbundes, Frankfurt A. M. 1887. Herausgegeben (edited by) Von С. V. Bardeleben, H. V. Gottschall und J. Mieses. Leipzig, Verlag Von Veit & Comp. 1889", p. 5-6. (Hereafter referred to as the "Tournament Book").

7. "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, August 6, 1887. No. 6, p.42.

8. "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, July 30, 1887. No. 5, p.34.

9. Tournament Book, p.25.

10. Tournament book, p.4. The Niederwald park, was then famous for its recently completed monument to commemorate the Unification of Germany, see Wikipedia article: Niederwalddenkmal

11. "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, August 6, 1887. No. 6, p.50.)

12. Tournament Book, p.4.

13. Tournament Book, p.7.

14. Tournament Book, p.8.

15. "British Chess Magazine", vol. 7, August 1887, p.339.

16. Tournament Book, p.3.

17. Details provided in the Tournament Book, p.3.

18. "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, August 13 1887. No. 7, p.50.

19. Tournament Book, p.7.

20 "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, July 30th, 1887. No. 5, p.33-34.

21. £1 being valued at 20.43 goldmarks = £49 at the contemporaneous exchange rate. . See "Currency Conversion Tables" R L Bidwell p.22 - 23. see also: Wikipedia article: German gold mark

The exchange rate for pound to dollar in 1887 was about $4.864 to the pound. See "Handbook of World Exchange Rates 1590 - 1914", Marcus A Denzel p.420.

A 2016 value is £4,914.00 using the percentage increase in the RPI from 1887 to 2015. See - https://www.measuringworth.com

22. Earnings data from "Wages and Earnings in the United States, 1860-1890", Clarence D. Long. Princeton University Press (1960). See - http://www.nber.org/chapters/c2500

23. "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, August 20th, 1887. No. 8, p.64.

24. Tournament Book p. 9-11.

25. "Shane's Chess Information Database" (Scid) is an open source chess database management system.

26. Source "Harding - Blackburn G-522, p.247. / "The Field" 1887.08.06 / Graham G-228"

27. "Blackburne's Chess Games", Dover, p.114.

28."Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography", Tim Harding p.246.

29. Tournament book, p.12.

30. Tournament book, p.211-214.

31. "Deutsche Schachzeitung", No.12, December 1887, p.377 - 378.

32. "Deutsche Schachzeitung", No.12, December 1887, p.377 - 378.

33. "Columbia Chess Chronicle", Vol. 1. Saturday, August 20th 1887. No. 8, p.64.

34. "British Chess Magazine", "Foreign News", vol. 7, October 1887, p.381.

35. "Morning Post", Thursday 21st June 1888, p.3.

36. "Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser", Monday 25th June 188, p.8.

. . . .

Text

Original text and tables by User: Chessical

This collection was compiled by cloning a previous game collection of User: suenteus po 147 - this significant work is acknowledged and greatly appreciated.

One further game E Schallopp vs J Metger, 1887 has been added.