<<<<"[I]t is a rare treat to meet a chessplayer like Mr. Blackburne. Cheerful and unassuming in manner, a master of the game, ever willing to play and to impart to others some of the knowledge he possesses, it is no wonder he is a favourite.
Amongst other antagonists that have tackled him Mr. C. M. Fisher has tried his best to lower his flag, but without better success than a drawn battle occasionally.">Appended is one of their games annotated by Mr. Blackburne.>
Two Knight's Defence.>
<4. P to Q 3 <4.d3>This is considered by many as being too slow ; however, it is quite as good as the orthodox move of Kt to Kt 5 <Ng5>.>
<5. Castles <5.O-O>Somewhat premature ; the modern method in this kind of opening is to develop the Queen's Knight and delay Castling as long as possible.>
<6... B to Kt 3 <6...Bb6>Fearing P to Q 4 <d4>, but there was nothing to apprehend from that move ; therefore it were better to have Castled at once.>
<9... Q to Q 2 <9...Qd7>It is the usual and better plan to bring the Queen's Knight round to K Kt 3 <g6> via K 2 <e7> before playing the Queen, so as to give her choice of K 2 <e7> or Q 2 <d7> according to circumstances.>
<11... P to B 3 <11...c6>Leaving the Q P <d-pawn> weak ; perhaps Kt to Kt 3 <Ng6> instead would have been stronger.>
<13. Kt takes P <13.Nxd4>So as to enable him to bring the Rooks to bear on the weak Pawn.>
<13... P to Q 4 <13...d5>This is immediately fatal, but Black, however, has already a bad position.>
<16. P to K B 4 <16.f4>First driving the Knight back to R 3 <Na6> by P to Q Kt 4 <b4> before advancing this Pawn would have been preferable.>
<21... B to B 2 <21...Bc7>The Knight's Pawn <g5> cannot safely be captured on account of P to B 6 <f6>, and then, if P takes P <gxf6>, Kt to Kt 4 <Ng4>.>
<23... B to K R 4 <23...Bh5>Again, he cannot take the Knight's Pawn <g5> for the same reason as given in the previous note.>
Adelaide Observer (SA), Saturday 18 April 1885, page 43>
Kibitzing
