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Carl Schlechter vs Wilhelm Steinitz
Nuremberg (1896), Nuremberg GER, rd 18, Aug-08
Spanish Game: General (C60)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-03-03  ughaibu: Steinitz is considered to be the father of modern chess, codifier of positional principles, etc, in fact nobody since has played anything like Steinitz. This is a typical Steinitz game, enough to keep a person thinking for weeks.
Jan-04-03  drukenknight: well Im trying to figure out what is the winning line.
Jan-04-03  ughaibu: Exactly, spend a few weeks on it.
Jan-05-03  mdorothy: I don't think its any quick line, but black has 2 extra pawns, and they are much more advanced. his queen and rook are just waiting to spring into action to advance his b-pawn. And, its hard to find a defence of both the a-pawn and the c-pawn for white that I like. Ra2 could even be met by b3, threatening the rook, and through the pawn with Qc1#. Another pawn will be dropped.
Apr-02-04  arielbekarov: This is just a very spontaneous first reaction from a not very strong player. White sees that his c2 pawn is lost or at least costs too much to defend. White's rook will be too occupied by defending it. This pawn can't be lost. Otherwise black's b4 pawn will be more than dangerous. The whole pawn structure speaks for black, and Schlechter knew, when a game was lost. Upon that was he a real gentleman, and didn't want to spent Steinitz time. But, now I am going to study it.
Ariel
Apr-02-04  nikolaas: It's very simply; black loses a third pawn. Of course Schlechter knew that Steinitz knew how you must use your pawns and lead them to victory. He just didn't want to spend more time for a lost game.
Apr-02-04  Brian Watson: winning the c2 pawn isn't that straightforward: 30. Qh3

what was the idea behind 22.Qg4/23.Ne4/24.Ng3? I see why Schlecter returns the exchange at move 24, but why not 22.Nb3 or 22.Qf6?

Apr-04-04  nikolaas: <Brian Watson> If white plays 30.♕h3 Black can answer with 31.♖c8.
Apr-04-04  Brian Watson: 30.Qh3 Rc8 31.Qxh7+ Ke6 32.Qh3+ f5 Qb3+ and white has time to defend the c pawn. Seems to me white will either get perpetual check or the chance to win back some material and defend the c pawn.
Apr-05-04  Calli: Relax! :-) The final position is one where Steinitz would first consolidate. After all, black is two pawns up and has nothing to worry about if he doesn't immediately win another pawn. White's weak pawns at a4 and c2 will not run away. First, Black should play Kg7 and free his rook, then bring the rook to the center (c8 or d8) and advance the d5-d4. White is helpless to attempt anything which is why Schlecter resigned.
Apr-05-04  arielbekarov: Kg7 seems exactly to be the move !
As Calli writes ; there is nothing that Schlechter can do. Schlechter was also to refined to hope for a blunder from Steinitz.

I think the many draws from Schlechter is because of his character. Probably, was he oversensitive regarding his fellow- human being ! Just look at his face ! It's a face of a man, who loves people, and wanted always to be fair. BUT, I have seen games, where he like a wizard outplayed his opponent. It's too sad that he is so rarely mentioned.
Great to read your comments !
This site is really a marvellous one !
I know ! Keep to the game, but, I am still a newcomer, so I wanted just to express my thoughts. Ariel

Apr-05-04  nikolaas: <Brian Watson> Sorry! I'm really ashamed that I didn't see ♕h7+! Foolish, foolish me...In that case I agree with Calli and arielbekarov. Steinitz can indeed consolidate with ♔g7.
May-05-05  aw1988: Hmm, I don't know about ...f6 from Steinitz.
May-05-05  Milo: Someone calls this ...f6 the "Nuremburg" variation... perhaps after this game!
May-09-05  fred lennox: An interesting speciman of Steinitz massive vigor.
-the rooks do mot move, allowing for an interesting exchange sacrifice. -The queen moves like a king and radiates like a rook and bishop - Move 19 is the first time a bishop moves. The only piece to move more then one sq. at a time, doing so twice. Yet there is no vigor without sweep and that's a beauty often found in Steinitz.
Jun-30-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Back in those days the first time control was often at move 30, so it's possible Schlechter lost on time.
Jun-30-06  Everett: White is two pawns down with no compensation. Modern GM's would resign in such circumstances.
Oct-15-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <tamar>, who has the tournament book, reports that Schlechter did not forfeit on time; rather, he resigned.

This game was played in the 18th round, the next-to-last. Going into the round Steinitz and Schlechter each had 10, behind Lasker (12 1/2), Tarrasch (11), Pillsbury (11), and Maroczy (10 1/2). Janowski and Walbrodt each had 9 1/2. Fifth prize was 600 marks, sixth prize was 300 marks, and seventh prize was 200 marks, so this was a significant game. For these competitive reasons I assumed Schlechter had lost on time, since I thought otherwise he would have played to the bitter end. (Compare Pillsbury's late resignation in this round 18 game: Pillsbury vs Walbrodt, 1896.) But I was wrong.

In the last round, Schlechter made an 18-move draw with Blackburne, ending in a tie for seventh, while Steinitz lost to Pillsbury and wound up sixth.

I have spent quite a lot of time lately browsing though Benzol's collection of the tournament games (which he provides along with helpful additional information, including a table of all the contestants and their scores, a list of the prizes, dates, etc.) Kudos and thanks to Benzol and also to Tamar for looking so many things up in the tournament book!

Aug-24-08  Infohunter: I can't help but wonder what Steinitz was thinking when he played 3...f6.
Jul-11-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Honza Cervenka: <Infohunter: I can't help but wonder what Steinitz was thinking when he played 3...f6.> It is quite clear even without knowing anything about Steinitz's positional theories. He wanted to keep his Pawn on e5 and the centre closed. Of course, shortcomings of this move are quite apparent and they are quite probably prevailing over any positives that 3...f6 can have. But Steinitz never feared to test his theories in practice and go to the extreme in the process.
Jul-11-11  psmith: This was a really nice game by Steinitz, who was 59 or 60 at the time.

Looking at this with Fritz 5.32, there is a quicker win than the methodical 23...Bd4, with the tactical shot 23...f5 24. Qxf5 Rf8 25. Qg4 Rf4 winning a piece. But Steinitz has a plan...

Mar-21-17  scottygambit: Can someone please explain to me how Steinitz did not lose the game after move 11...Nb7. I would have continued 12. Bxb5 Pxb5 13. Nxb5. After that you can't stop the fork from the knight.
Mar-21-17  scottygambit: Actually, after move 11 Steinitz should have been checkmated with the move order 11.B×b5 a×b5 12.N×b5 Nb7 13.Nc7+ Kf7 14.Qd5 checkmate
Mar-21-17  Straclonoor: <Can someone please explain to me how Steinitz did not lose the game after move 11...Nb7. I would have continued 12. Bxb5 Pxb5 13. Nxb5.> What's about 13....Qa5 move?
<after move 11 Steinitz should have been checkmated with the move order 11.B×b5 a×b5 12.N×b5 Nb7 13.Nc7+ Kf7 14.Qd5> Definitely not - 13.Nc7+ Qxc7 (white pawn in this variation still in d5....)

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