Wilhelm Steinitz

Introduction: First Game in the Steinitz-Zukertort Match
from The Collected Works of Wilhelm Steinitz

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After the two contestants had been seated before the historical board and men (loaned for the occasion by Mr. Thomas Frere) at which Paul Morphy won many of his brilliant victories, the two Umpires, Messrs. Thomas Frere and Mr. Adolpli Moehle, after having adjusted the clocks, tossed up for the first move which fell in favor of Mr. Zukertort who, amid breathless expectation, opened with 1.d4 and then, in reply to the corresponding same move from the other side, proceeded with the regular Queen's Gambit which was already on the 2nd move of the defense taken out of its usual groove when Steinitz advanced 2...c6 instead of 2...e6. The game then, for a few moves, assumed a form almost identical with the position which occurred in the match between Messrs. Zukertort and Rosenthal and in a justly celebrated game which Zukertort won of Winawer in the London tournament. A change of plan by both parties became, however, soon apparent, for Zukertort, contrary to his former practice did not castle on the Kingside, but at once pressed an attack with his pawns on the Queen's wing, while Steinitz first operated with his pawns in the center and then wheeled round one of his Knights for an early attack against the adverse Kingside, after having, by an advance of the h-pawn, made room for the cooperation of his King's Rook. The crisis was readied on White's 15th move, when Zukertort, disdaining a defensive retreat of his King's Bishop to f1, which, we believe, would have been his best play, subjected himself to a sacrifice of a piece for which the opponent apparently only gained two pawns. But it seems that White had not taken into calculation that, with the help of the King's Rook, Black could force the gaining of another pawn, and that his own King would be confined for a long time to the detriment of his development while Steinitz was enabled to form an attack with the preponderance on his pawns. A great deal of fencing and maneuvering ensued, in which Zukertort aimed at sacrificing a piece or the Exchange for one or more pawns in order to extricate himself from his embarrassment. But Steinitz frustrated that plan and carefully nursed his pawns up to the adjournment of the game, at six o'clock, when he sealed his 32nd move. After the resumption of the game, at eight o'clock, his position became ripe for a final break-in with his f-pawn, which opened the file for his Rook, supported by the Queen, to such powerful action that Zukertort, on the 37th move, elected as a desperate resource to give up his Queen for a Rook. The game was then spun out for nine moves longer during which Zukertort laid some ingenious traps which, if not properly attended to, might have led to a draw or a protracted struggle. But seeing that his opponent finally preserved the advantage of Queen against Rook with an irresistible attack, Zukertort resigned on the 46th move, the game having lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes, of which time the clock of Steinitz recorded 2h. 45m., and that of Zukertort 2h. 30m. Captain Mackenzie regulated the moves on the suspended Chess board for the benefit of the spectators, Mr. Patterson acted as Teller during the afternoon and Dr. Simonson in during the evening sitting. ICM, February, 1886

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