Blackburne tried the eccentric 4. Bd3 against Lee's Classical French Defense. Lee erred with 4...Bb4 (instead of the better 4...c5) allowing Blackburne the chance for 5. e5. But Blackburne missed this opportunity, contenting himself with the lackluster 5. exd5.

Blackburne tried something strange again with 9. Ne2, after which Lee might have messed up his King's side pawns with 9...BxN. But Lee played 9...Nbd7, not as good perhaps but sufficient to maintain approximate equality and following his apparent game plan of avoiding complications with his dangerous opponent.

Blackburne tried once again to complicate with the strange 18. Nh4?1, but Lee yet again headed for equality with 19...RxR+ rather than try to seize the initiative with 19...Ne4.

The resulting Q and Bishop against Queen and Knight ending seemed destined to end in what the Tournament Book describes as a "hopeless draw," but no position is ever boring with Blackburne.

After 27. QxN+, Lee had to be careful, since anything other than 27...Kh6 would have lost (e.g., 27...Kf8 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Bxg6!). But Lee played carefully and avoided this obvious trap.

With the game petering out to a draw, Blackburne threw in some minor fireworks at the conclusion, playing 34. g4 and after 34...fxg4 35. f5. After 35...gxf5 Blackburne got to chase Lee's King around with a series of Queen checks.