Steinitz-Martinez, 1883
Local and regional newspapers are becoming fruitful in adding to the number of chess games recorded of Wilhelm Steinitz. Chess columns in any city's newspaper would record a visit by the champion, often giving game scores from any exhibitions performed by Steinitz. These papers need only to be read.
For example, in the years 1882 and 1883 Steinitz played three separate 7-game informal "training matches" against Dion Martinez, which allowed Steinitz to test some favorite opening ideas. We have game scores for the first match and most of the second match, both played in 1882. Until now, however, none of the 3rd match games were known. But then researcher Patsy D'Eramo read the New Orleans Times Picayune (citing an unavailable Philadelphia Times chess column for October and November 1883), and there in print were three new Steinitz games from this lost match.
Thanks to Patsy D'Eramo's research we can say that the mysterious missing match is being recovered, and games 1 through 5 are now identified. Further details about this match and the "Collected Works" CD can be found at www.WilhelmSteinitz.com where we look forward to further finds in the historic papers! Here let's focus on an example of Steinitz in action, the previously unknown first game of the third Steinitz-Martinez match begun on October 30, 1888.
A Steiniz game can still instruct and entertain, even one that has been lost in the archives for 130 years!