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Wilhelm Steinitz vs Johannes Zukertort
Steinitz - Zukertort World Championship Match (1886), New York, NY USA, rd 4, Jan-18
Spanish Game: Berlin Defense. Rio Gambit Accepted (C67)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-18-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: Steinitz who has had a better position throughout the game, blunders with a flawed N move combination on <37.Nxc4?> 37.Rd2 is simple and necessary.

It appears he forgot that if he took Zukertort's Q on move 38, that would lead him to being immediately mated by 38...Rd1.

Jul-18-05  OJC: You're right Chessical. From Horowitz in < The World Chess Championship: A History >

"Steinitz' play, apart from the results, appeared very shaky: not only did he throw away a strategically won position in the third game, but in the fourth he committed a horrible tactical blunder. Steinitz played 37 NxQBP, thinking the queen's pawn pinned. Only after 37 ... PxN did he realize that 38 QxQ allows mate on the back rank; play continued 38 RxR, NxR; 39 Q-K2, N-K3; Resigns."

Interestingly, there is no mention of time pressure so apparently it was just a "pure" horrible blunder.

Feb-26-08  Knight13: <37. Nxc4??> is more like an oversight.
Jul-22-08  Lutwidge: Seems more likely to me that what Steinitz missed, after 37. Nxc4??, was PxN, RxR, NxR!, defending the Q on b7.
Jun-01-11  hudgreen: bad play =(
Nov-10-13  Ulhumbrus: Instead of 17 Bd2, 17 Nxf6+ gains the bishop pair.
May-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  naresb: Good to see solid defense by Zukertort with a Bishop, a Knight alongwith Queenside bench. Right through the game Steinitz struggled to puncture this castle but was rightly guarded by Zukertort.

Last lapse by Steinitz at 37. Nxc4 apart, in deed a nice battle by two greats!

Nov-22-14  Ke2: This position up to 12. Qe1 in the database -

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

The line lay dormant for a hundred years! Then it got played in a world championship again!

Carlsen vs Anand, 2013

We don't give these guys enough credit. Very modern play in this game, which is marred by one of Steinitz's horrific blunders.

Apr-20-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  naresb: Black correctly used 'e8' and 'f8' squares for parking his knight and bishop for defence. He also used his 'Bg6' for defence purpose and avoided neutralizing with white's knight These two things are must while defence against all in king side attack.

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