W. Steinitz - C. von Bardeleben
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(Ratings are only rough guesses {approximations} as to what these players may have been rated if they were alive today.)
Click HERE to see a complete explanation of the symbols I use.
Click HERE to see my "You-Tube" video on this game.
Easily one of the most beautiful and brilliant games that Steinitz ever played.
This game also
has to be one of the
...
"Ten Most Brilliant Games of
The Nineteenth (19th) Century."
When asked which game was the most brilliant or was the one game that had influenced him the most, (The famous Russian Historian, Issak Linder's - third question.) {former} World Champion Mikhail Tal picked this one game!!!!!
This game has appeared - literally dozens of times - in lists of games that various persons have picked as "The All-Time Best." Irving Chernev himself once said this game has to be in the list of the Top 100 games ever played!
A personal favorite. I have been very enamored of this game since a chap at chess club showed me this game, probably in the late 1960's. {A.J.G.}
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One of the myth's being circulated on chess servers and the Internet today is that Steinitz was a boring player and could not play tactics ... or combinational chess.
Of course NOTHING could be further from the truth!!
In his youth, Steinitz was such an explosive tactical player that he earned the nickname ......... "The Austrian Morphy."
The simple fact is that some of Wilhelm Steinitz's combinations' are some of the best and grandest in all of the annals of the chess. (This game is a case in point!)
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Another fairly little-known fact about this game was that Bardeleben WAS LEADING THE TOURNAMENT, (clear first, & undefeated! - 7.5 out of 9); when this game was played!! He had - thus far - played some of the best chess (overall) of the tournament. [But the poor Count von Bardeleben, who got his title from marriage. It seems he never recovered from this loss, and basically collapsed after this game was played. But even though he never got back to the form he had demonstrated in the first part of the tournament, he still finished well, tying for 7-8th places with Teichmann. (11.5 points.) BUT! ... he finished ahead of perhaps many better known names. Names like: Schlechter, Blackburne, Walbrodt, Burn, Janowski, (!) Mason, Bird, Gunsberg, Albin, ... (+ 5 more.), etc.]
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1. e4 e5; 2. Nf3 Nc6; 3. Bc4 Bc5; 4. c3 Nf6;
5. d4!?, (Probably - '!')
The most energetic.
It is also the move most in keeping with the sacred rules of the opening.
(CONTROL the Center!!)
[ 5.d3!? ].
5...exd4; 6.
cxd4
Bb4+; 7.
Nc3!?, (Maybe - '!')
This is the most thematic, and
the most energetic. It is also
the move which
most closely
follows opening principle. Yet
this move requires White to
play
a gambit.
I very much like this move ... yet theory probably slightly favors Black.
GM's Nunn and Huebner condemn
this move. (Nunn said all such
gambits are
basically unsound.). But Nunn is also a hypocrite. He
gave countryman GM
Mike Adams
an exclam for his 'revival' of the
King's Gambit in the early 90's.
[ Theory, instead recommends the rather limp-wristed:
7.Bd2
Bxd2+; 8.Nbxd2
d5;
9.exd5
Nxd5; 10.Qb3!?
Nce7; "~"
(10...Na5!?)
].
7...d5!?; (Maybe - '!')
According to 'PURE' opening
principle, (CONTROL THE
CENTER!!);
this move is easily
the most thematic.
I have also tested this move on
dozens of computer programs.
Most S.C.C.P.'s
chose the move
...d5; here ... especially when their
opening book is turned off.
(This includes the super-program, Deep Blue II. !!!!)
Yet this move has been roundly
condemned by many annotators.
They recommend instead, the
rather greedy pawn snatch,
the move 7... Nxe4!?
7... d5; is DUBIOUS according to
GM A. Soltis. (7...d5?! - Soltis.)
(Also, '?' - GM John Nunn.)
GM Robert Huebner calls the move,
....d5; "A very ugly move,"
and
... "really just a blunder."
(I am sure this is both overly wrong and far, far, too extreme.)
[ Modern opening theory prefers:
7...Nxe4!?; 8.0-0
Bxc3;
(8...Nxc3!?);
9.d5!,
This is the dreaded "Moeller
Attack," which breathed new life
into
this variation.
( 9.bxc3
d5!; "=/+" C. Devide states that
Bardeleben avoided
this line because he was afraid of 10. Ba3. He also says that Lasker has
since shown Black has nothing to fear in this variation. )
Now 9...Bf6!;
10.Re1
Ne7;
11.Rxe4
d6; 12.Bg5!, "/\" and White maintains a very
powerful initiative. He also has an advantage in space and a
big lead in
development. Yet
this is what opening theory
considers to be the very best.
(As Monsieur Ripley would say,
BELIEVE IT ... OR NOT!!) ].
8. exd5 (!) 8...Nxd5;
9.
0-0!,
This is definitely the best ... and
earns an exclam from GM A. Soltis.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ 9.Bxd5!? Qxd5; 10.0-0, "~" ].
9...Be6!, (Best.)
Once again this move is probably
the most accurate ... and also
earns an
exclam from GM A. Soltis.
[ Black should not play: 9...Nxc3!?;
10.bxc3
Bxc3?!;
11.Bxf7+
Kxf7;
12.Qb3+
Be6;
13.Qxc3;
"--->" when White will develop a
considerable
initiative against
the exposed Black King. ].
White continues to play very sharply,
... and with great energy.
10. Bg5!
Be7; ('!?')
11.
Bxd5!, (Nice.) {Diagram?}
Again the most forceful ... and
once again this move earns an
exclam
from GM A. Soltis.
[ Not:
11.Re1??
Nxc3; 12.bxc3
Bxc4;
"-/+"
White gets little from:
11.Nxd5
Bxd5!; 12.Bxd5
Qxd5;
13.Re1
f6;
14.Bf4
0-0-0!; "=" ].
11...Bxd5; 12.
Nxd5!?, (Maybe - '!')
Probably the most energetic.
[ 12.Bxe7!?
Nxe7; 13.Re1,
"/\" - Soviet Master, (GM?) Igor Zaitzev.
(13.Nxd5!?)
].
12...Qxd5; 13.
Bxe7
Nxe7; 14.
Re1, (Maybe -!')
{Diagram?}
More than likely, this is the most accurate move here. (And it really
deserves
an exclam. It does gets one on the book of the tournament!)
"The object of the foregoing exchanges now becomes clear. By this excellent
move, the first player obtains full command of the board. He prevents Black
from Castling, and also initiates a most powerful attack against the hostile King."
- W. Steinitz and/or C. Devide.
[ White could have also played 14. Qe2!?, or even 14.Rc1!? ]
14...f6;
15.
Qe2!?, (Maybe - '!')
Is this the most aggressive here?
Kasparov
questions this ... but his analysis is based on old analysis that was
done by Igor Zaitzev. (But I have punched holes in that work.)
[ Interesting is: 15.Qa4+!?, "+/=" - Soviet Master, Igor Zaitzev. ].
15...Qd7; 16.
Rac1!, (Nice.)
This is very sharp and very
aggressive.
(GM Razuvaev felt this was best.).
Yet White may have had an even
better move here.
(But after 20 years of analysis,
I am no longer convinced that
the
other move is clearly superior
to this one.)
[ According to all the people who have annotated this game, better is:
16.
Rad1!!, {Diagram?}
- Soviet Master, (GM?) Igor Zaitzev.
16...Rb8; This could be forced. (But it is not the only move
here.)
a.) 16...Kf7?!;
17.Qc4+
Kf8;
(17...Nd5!?;
18.Ne5+!!
fxe5; 19.dxe5,
"+/"
("Maybe "+/-") )
18.d5, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White is CLEARLY better here.
b.)
16...Rd8; This is almost forced.
Good for White is:
17.Qc4!, {Diagram}
The best, according to Soltis.
(Also very good for White is:
17.Qe4!?
c6!?; 18.d5!
cxd5; 19.Rxd5!,
"+/" (Maybe "+/-")
with a
great game for White.)
17...Kf8; {Box?}
This could be forced.
(17...c6; 18.Rd3!?,
"+/=" 18...Kf8;
19.Ng5
fxg5; 20.Rf3+
Nf5;
21.Qc5+
Kg8; 22.Rxf5,
"+/") 18.Qb4
c6; 19.d5!
cxd5;
20.Nd4
Kf7;
21.Ne6
Rde8;
22.Qg4
Nf5; {Forced?} Soltis says this is forced.
(Possibly better was: 22...Reg8;
23.Ng5+
Ke8; 24.Qxd7+
Kxd7;
25.Nf7, "+/" Maybe "+/-"
) 23.Nxg7!,
"+/" (Maybe "+/-")
- Soviet Master, Igor Zaitzev.
c.)
16...Kf8; (Maybe -
'!') {Analysis Diagram?} This could be the best
defense
for Black.
17.d5!
Nxd5; 18.Ng5!
Re8;
(Not 18...fxg5?!;
19.Qf3+
Qf7; 20.Qxd5
Qxd5; 21.Rxd5
Kf7; 22.Rd7+
Kf6;
23.Rxc7, "+/=")
19.Qf3
c6; {Box?} Is this forced?
---->
( Possibly better was: 19...Rxe1+; 20.Rxe1
g6!?; "~" )
20.Qa3+
Kg8; 21.Ne4
b6;
22.b4
g6; 23.Qb3, {Diagram?}
The best?
( 23.Rxd5?
Rxe4!; "/+" )
23...Kg7; 24.b5,
"=/+" {Diagram?}
GM
A. Soltis indicates this is winning
for Black, but I am not
so sure.
(Black could be slightly better.)
17.Qe3, "+/="
White is probably a little better
here,
but 16...Kf8; could be
Black's best defense ... and may
deserve a
closer examination. ].
16...c6!?; (Maybe dubious?)
{Diagram?}
A very logical looking defense,
and it may even be forced.
Yet this move has been roundly
condemned by the pundits.
(GM Huebner bashes this move ...
but fails to provide a reasonable
alternative.)
GM Andy Soltis gives this move a
question mark, but ALSO fails to
give a
reasonable or playable
alternative. (As does Nunn.)
I should also point out that ...c6;
is the first choice of many strong
commercial
computer programs. (S.C.C.P.'s)
[ Burgess claims that the move:
16...Kf7!?, {Diagram?}
is better ... BUT
his analysis
is VERY unconvincing. (Devide also likes this move.)
(To be honest, the move ...Kf7; is at least just a little better than
the
move ...c6; as was actually
played in the game.) ].
Now White begins one of the
most remarkable combinations
in all of
the annals of chess.
17. d5!!, {Diagram?}
A remarkable clearance
(vacating) sacrifice.
(White needs the d4-square
for his Knight.)
'!!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ 17.Rc2!? ].
17...cxd5;
(Hmmm.) {Diagram?}
Is this forced? The computers seem to think so.
[Instead, Charles Devide recommends ...Kf7!?; here.]
18.
Nd4!,
The best, ... continuing with his plan.
"The beginning of a very grand combination."
- Charles Devide.
[ 18.Rc3!? ].
18...Kf7; {Box?}
This is forced here.
[ 18...Rc8??; 19.Rxc8+ Qxc8; 20.Qxe7# ].
19. Ne6!, {Actual
Diagram, in the original ChessBase doc.}
Steinitz referred to this Knight,
as ...
"A bone stuck in poor, old Bardeleben's throat!"
[ 19.Qh5+!? ].
19...Rhc8; 20.
Qg4!, (Maybe - '!!') {Diagram?}
The best. White now has about
a dozen threats, including to win
Black's
Queen with a discovered
check. (White also threatens mate in 2!)
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ 20.Nc5!? ].
20...g6; {Box?}
This is 100% forced now,
according to all the computers.
[ 20...Rxc1??; 21.Qxg7+ Ke8; 22.Qf8# ].
21. Ng5+!, (Maybe - '!')
This is best.
And many annotators
have missed the fact that White
had
a very playable alternative.
[ A story that one player, (He was
an expatriated Russian.); told
me at
the World Open, is that a
young Karpov was given this
position to analyze.
He {supposedly} found: 21.Rxc8!?
Rxc8; 22.Ng5+
Ke8;
23.Nxh7
Qxg4;
24.Nxf6+
Kf7;
25.Nxg4,
"+/=" White is up a pawn,
and he also has the
better
over-all structure. ].
21...Ke8; {Box.}
Black had to protect his Queen.
[ 21...Kf8??; 22.Qxd7, ("+/-") ].
22.
Rxe7+!!, (Maybe - '!!!')
{Actual Diagram.}
One of the most brilliant moves
ever played. Note that White has
everything
hanging, and now he
will be constantly threatened with
a back-rank mate.
"There were many critics of Steinitz,
who said he played penny-pinching
chess.
But if that were true, he would
have played 22. NxP!, which wins a
Pawn ...
and probably the endgame.
But he has more."
- GM Andrew Soltis.
<< Asked which game of the past
made a particularly strong
impression on
him, Mikhail Tal
cited
this one game. In particular he
praised, "The beautiful
and
picturesque stroll of the unprotected
White Rook along the seventh rank." >>
- From Page # 464. (Of the Landsberger book.)
After this move there was virtual
pandemonium in the audience and
in the
gallery ... one woman even fainted. (She may have been dating
Von Bardeleben ...
who was also
leading the tournament at this point.)
[ White could have probably
won with the rather simple:
22.Nxh7!,
"+/-"
with advantage. ].
22...Kf8!; {Diagram?}
Forced, and even a little sneaky.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
If White grabs the Black Queen, he will mated on his first row.
[ Not 22...Qxe7?; 23.Rxc8+
Rxc8;
24.Qxc8+
Qd8; 25.Qxd8+, etc.
White wins easily with his extra
piece. ("+/-");
Or 22...Kxe7?!; 23.Re1+
Kd6;
(
23...Kd8; 24.Ne6+
Ke7; 25.Nc5+, etc. ("+/-")
)
24.Qb4+
Rc5;
Forced. ( 24...Kc7?;
25.Ne6+
Qxe6;
( 25...Kb8;
26.Qf4+
Rc7; 27.Nxc7,
"+/-" ).
26.Rxe6, "+/-" )
Now the move, 25.Ne6,
wins easily for White. ("+/-") ].
23. Rf7+!, (Maybe - '!!')
The very best way to continue.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ 23.Rxc8+!?, "+/=" ].
23...Kg8; {Box}
This is forced.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ 23...Qxf7?; 24.Rxc8+
Rxc8;
25.Qxc8+
Qe8;
( 25...Kg7??;
26.Nxf7, "+/-" ).
26.Nxh7+!
Ke7; 27.Qxe8+
Kxe8;
28.Nxf6+
Kf7; 29.Nxd5,
"+/-" ].
24. Rg7+!, (Maybe - '!!')
Again, the very best move.
Most annotators don't even notice
that White could possibly play the
move Rf8+!? here and also win.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ Very interesting was the continuation:
24.Rf8+!?
Kxf8; 25.Nxh7+
Ke7;
26.Re1+
Kd8; 27.Qb4,
"+/-" ].
24...Kh8; {Box}
Taking the Rook leads to an
instant death.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ 24...Kxg7??; 25.Qxd7+, etc.
This is a ridiculously easy win
for White. ("+/-");
Or 24...Qxg7?; 25.Rxc8+
Rxc8;
26.Qxc8+
Qf8; 27.Qe6+
Kh8;
28.Nf7+
Kg7; 29.Nd6,
"+/-" ].
25. Rxh7+!; (Maybe - '!!') Black Resigns, 1-0.
'!' - GM Garry Kasparov
[ White could have also played: 25.Rxc8+!?, "+/"
The main line of the win ...
which Steinitz gladly showed
after the game, (!)
was:
25.Rxh7+!!
Kg8; I have repeatedly demonstrated
that Black cannot
capture the Rook.
26.Rg7+!
Kh8; This looks
to be - pretty much - forced.
(26...Kf8?;
27.Nh7+,
("+/-") wins easily for White.)
27.Qh4+!
Kxg7;
28.Qh7+
Kf8; 29.Qh8+
Ke7; 30.Qg7+
Ke8;
31.Qg8+
Ke7; 32.Qf7+
Kd8;
(32...Kd6?;
33.Qxf6+
Qe6[]; 34.Qxe6#).
33.Qf8+
Qe8; 34.Nf7+
Kd7;
35.Qd6#, {Diagram?}
A stunningly beautiful ...
epaulette mate. ]
A very brilliant, final parting shot. (The move, 25. Rxh7+!)
(At this point, poor Bardeleben could not bring himself to continue, and allowed his time to expire.)
GM Andrew Soltis calls this game, .... "The Pearl of Hastings."
Easily one of the most brilliant games of the 19th century!
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(I have seen this game in more books and magazines over the years than I can count, but below are a list of some of the better ones.)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
# 1.) "The Great Chess
Tournaments & Their Stories." By GM Andrew Soltis.
(Copyright, 1975; Chilton Books.)
(To see the Amazon.com
page on this book, click here.)
# 2.) '[The Mammoth Book Of:]' "The World's
Greatest Chess
Games," by GM John Nunn, GM J. Emms,
and FM Graham Burgess.
(To see the Amazon.com
page on this book, click here.)
# 3.) "Hastings, 1895." (The Grand International Chess
Congress.)
The official book of the tournament.
By ALL the players, ...
and Mr. H.F. Cheshire.
(To see the Amazon.com
page on this book, click here.)
# 4.) "The Games of (the
immortal) Wilhelm Steinitz, The First World Chess Champion."
Annotated by W. Steinitz.
(Edited by FM Sid Pickard.) ( This book is not available on Amazon.com.
)
# 5.) "William Steinitz, World Chess
Champion." "A Biography of the
Bohemian Caesar." by Kurt Landsberger.
(Intro and game analysis ...
by GM Andy Soltis.)
(To see the Amazon.com
page on this book, click here.)
#
6.) (Garry Kasparov on) "My Great Predecessors,
Part I."
(As of this writing, I don't have the book - yet. But I did download the free sample excerpt that is available from the publisher.)
(I also saw this game in a book
on tactics many years ago, but I
could not find it now. Additionally, I also consulted the book,
"William Steinitz, Selected Chess Games,"
by Charles Devide. But the notes in this book were VERY skimpy.)
#7.) An alternative analysis of this game. (By L. Kavalek.)
1 - 0
Game first posted on my web site, March 28th, 2002.
(Last major update ... late summer, 2013. Last edit on Thursday, February 27, 2014 12:49 PM .)
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The original copy of this game on my hard drive contains the following: Many of the best traps of the Giuoco Piano; an in-depth opening survey, (with many new ideas); about 10-20 of the best games of current opening theory; - - - lightly annotated; a very deep analysis of this game, diagrams after every move ... plus dozens of analysis diagrams; etc, etc, etc. I did a (print) PREVIEW of the possible print-out, it ran well OVER 175 pages!!! I hope I can be forgiven for not trying to reproduce that document in its entirety here.
This game is a much shortened version of the game as it exists in my database. (I have shortened it for publication. Even this shortened version took around 10-14 hours of work to prepare and ready it for publication on my web page. The long version would have required days - or even weeks - to finish!!) If you would like a copy of the full, deeply annotated version of this game to study, please contact me.
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Copyright
(c) A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby,
1985 - 2012.
Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2013. All rights reserved.
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