Zukertort - Blackburne
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From James Minchin, (one of the authors of the book on this event); to World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz, to the acclaimed writer, GM A. Soltis. All have agreed this is one of the finest games ever played on a chess board. (The great writer, Irving Chernev also highly praised this game. It was also included in the list of 100 in the outstanding book: "The World's Greatest Chess Games," by GM John Nunn, GM John Emms, and FM Graham Burgess. © 1998.)
Perhaps this is the most beautiful and
profound game of the whole of the
19th century?
Maybe. But it certainly (easily) belongs in the list of:
"The Ten Most Beautiful and Brilliant
Games of The Nineteenth Century!"
(Zukertort ran away with this event, in perhaps the most dominating tournament performance ever!!).
***
Click HERE to see this game deeply annotated, but in (pure) text form only.
The
comments in brackets, (<<
Blah-blah-blah >>); refer to an earlier version of this game
... that I did for another chess server. These comments were added to this version
in November, 2004.
---> The variations that were added in the brackets are NOT replayable!
1.c4!?,
An English Opening. This was unusual for those days.
(White is heading for a standard
"Queen's Gambit Declined,"
position.)
[ More common is: 1.d4 ].
1...e6; 2.e3,
White's scheme of development will block in his QB, but in those days, this
was NOT considered a handicap. In fact, the line of thinking by just about every
master BEFORE Pillsbury was that the White (dark-squared) QB belonged on the
Queen-side.
Compare
this development to the modern move order:
1. d4, d5; 2. c4, e6;
3. Nc3, Nf6; 4. Bg5, "+/=" (The "Pillsbury
Attack.")
Here the QB is developed outside the pawn chain. But this mode of
development did not become popular until well after Hastings, 1895 - the tournament where
Pillsbury came in as a rank outsider, and walked away with first prize.
[ 2. d4!? ].
2...Nf6;
3.Nf3
b6;
{See the diagram - just below.}
This is definitely a hyper-modern looking
set-up.
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<< Fianchetto's were popular in the 16th and 17th centuries. Then for over 150 years masters
moved
away from this idea.
It was not until the advent of the hyper-moderns that Masters - once more - began to embrace the strategic ideas of placing
a Bishop on the long diagonal.
{Reti, Nimzovich, etc.} >>
4.Be2
Bb7; 5.0-0
d5; 6.d4
Bd6; ('!?')
<< Capturing on c4 was better. >>
7.Nc3
0-0; 8.b3,
(hmmm)
<< Trying to activate the QB, which is currently a very passive piece.
(It is hard to believe that this is the piece ... on the long diagonal
...
that will strike the decisive blow!!) >>
<< [ Interesting was: 8.Ne5!?, grabbing the Knight outpost. ] >>
8...Nbd7; 9.Bb2
Qe7!?;
{See the diagram - just below.}
Black develops quickly, but he might
have done better to play ...a6 first. (maybe dubious)
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<< Not the most accurate, Black will now lose his dark-squared Bishop.
(Masters of that period did not value Bishops as highly as most modern players do now.)
>>
<< [ Much better and more accurate was: >/= 9...a6; preserving the 2 Bishops. ] >>
White's next move gains the
advantage of the two Bishops.
10.Nb5!
Ne4!?; (hmmmm)
<< Possibly a dubious concept ... why not the simple ...P-QR3?
>>
<<
White wins the minor exchange ... and then proceeds to eject the strong Knight on the
e4-square. >>
11.Nxd6
cxd6; "~"
A closed position that the computer
says is nearly equal.
Now White smartly prepares to
rid himself of the annoying Black
Knight that is on the e4-square.
12.Nd2
Ndf6; 13.f3
Nxd2; 14.Qxd2
dxc4; 15.Bxc4!
d5!?;
Gaining a tempo, but turning Black's
QB into a rather bad piece.
(Really - '?!')
[ Much better was: >= 15...Rac8!; 16.e4 d5!; "=" with good play for Black. ].
16.Bd3
Rfc8!?;
{See the diagram - just below.}
Black grabs the file. (Natch)
<< White has only a slight edge in this position. >>
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[ 16...Rac8!? ].
17.Rae1!,
(Probably
- '!!')
A very deep move, preparing a
big central thrust.
"Typical Zukertort," says Andy Soltis in admiration.
'!!' - Irving Chernev. '!' - IM Andy Soltis. '!' - Nunn, Emms, and Burgess.
<< White ignores the c-file ... in favor of a powerful central Pawn advance. The strategical implications of this play are enormous ... and cannot be overstated. >>
[ The move 17.Rac1, {D?} will probably only result in mass exchanges, ... - and a draw. (- GM A. Soltis.) ].
17...Rc7;
Black prepares to double (dominate) on the
open c-file.
[ Maybe the subtle move of: 17...a5!?; might be slightly better. ].
18.e4
Rac8; 19.e5
Ne8!?;
<< Black prepares a defense/block on the f5-square, but it might have been slightly better to play the Knight to the d7square here.
>>
[ (>/=) 19...Nd7!? ].
White now begins a menacing "Pawn Storm" against the Black King.
20.f4!?
g6!?;
21.Re3!,
A very cunning (potent!) Rook luft. (Heading for h3.)
[ Maybe 21.Rc1!?, {Diagram?} with a slight advantage. ("+/=")
Or maybe White could play: 21.Kh1!?, {Diagram?} with the idea of g4 and f5. ].
(Now
Black tries to block the King-side.)
21...f5!?;
{See the diagram - just below.}
Several sources say this is forced - to prevent White from playing f5.
<< Some authors have stated that this was forced ... but it allows White to open a lot of lines. >>
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Now
- White naturally opens lines.
22.exf6
Nxf6; 23.f5!
Ne4;
According to some authors, this is nearly forced for Black.
24.Bxe4
dxe4; 25.fxg6!!,
An ultra-brilliant move ... as stated by many writers and sources. (White initially offers a piece ... then a whole lot more.)
<< An extremely bold and brilliant idea. (One of the most brilliant OTB strokes for over a 100-year period!!!)
{In my opinion, this is even more brilliant than the Q-to-b4 sacrifice!} >>
[ Fritz (greatly) prefers the move of: 25.f6!?,
{Diagram?}
which is OK, but not nearly as effective
as the play chosen by Zukertort. ].
25...Rc2;
At first blush, this appears winning.
<< "Doesn't this move win a piece?" (The question that ALL my students always ask in this position.)
[Was the continuation of: (>/=)
25...h5; 26.Re2, '±' a better defense for Blackburne?] >>
26.gxh7+
Kh8[];
(Poor
Blackburne!)
This is forced. (Any other move loses horribly.)
Now the long diagonal magically
opens.
27.d5+
e5;
(Seemingly
the obvious move?!?) {Box?}
{See the diagram - just below.}
This is probably forced as well.
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28.Qb4!!
(Maybe - '!!!')
One of the most shocking and
profound moves ever played.
James Minchin - in the official book of the tournament - says this is easily one of the most beautiful moves ever executed on a chess board.
Wilhelm Steinitz called it a master's stroke.
********
<< Yet another stunning play ... and the one that the spectators really appreciated the most. >>
[ Probably poor Blackburne only expected {the inferior}
28.d6!?, {Diag?}
when ...Qg5; might give Black play. ]
28...R8c5;
<< The great Joeseph Henry Blackburne felt that this was forced ... and many
people later agreed with him.
[ According to several computer programs, ...Re8;
might be a slightly better play here. ] >>
********************************************************************************
[ Black is mated if he grabs the
free Queen. </= 28...Qxb4?; 29.Bxe5+
Kxh7;
30.Rh3+
Kg6;
31.Rf6+
Kg5;
32.Rg3+
Kh5; 33.Rf5+
Kh6;
34.Bf4+
Kh7; 35.Rh5#. {Diagram?}
An amazing concept,
Black's pieces just stand idly by.
Black could also try: 28...Qg7!?;
{Diagram?} Several programs seem to think this is forced.
But White is still
probably winning after Rg3. ].
<<
White now founds an astounding Rook sacrifice ... all for the sake of a single tempo, (and to decoy
the Black Queen from the defense of the Black foot-soldier on e5).
>>
29.Rf8+!!,
Yet another stunner of a move.
[ White could play: 29.Qxe4!?, {Diag?} Or 29.Rf2!?, {D?} Or even 29.Ba1!? ].
29...Kxh7;
This is completely forced according
to several sources.
[ Black loses horribly after: 29...Qxf8!?; 30.Bxe5+ Kxh7; 31.Qxe4+; ("+/-") with a mating attack for White. ].
30.Qxe4+
Kg7;
{See the diagram - just below.}
<< Black is just managing to hold on. >>
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<< The position is interesting ... and well worth a diagram here. >>
31.Bxe5+!,
A beautiful move, given an exclam
by dozens of writers and in many books.
'!' - Andy Soltis.
<< Seemingly the best move ... and most books or authors do not even offer a comment at this point in this
historic contest. (However, most books give this move an exclam in
this position.) But did White miss a
much better move in this position?
'!' - GM Andrew Soltis. [ See the book, "The Great Chess Tournaments & Their Stories."] >>
[ Maybe better was:
>= 31.Rg8+!!, {Diagram?}
Definitely unexpected.
Now White wins after the
continuation: 31...Kxg8[];
32.Qg6+!
Qg7[]; 33.Qe8+!
Qf8;
34.Rg3+
Kh7[]; 35.Qh5+!?
Qh6; 36.Qf7+
Kh8; 37.Rg8#
{Diagram?}
This is my discovery, as
far as I know - no one before had ever even considered this. {A.J.G.}
(White
can also win with 35.Qg6+, Kh8; 36.Bxe5+, and mate
next move.) ].
<<
White now finishes off sharply. >>
31...Kxf8;
This looks forced.
[ After the continuation: 31...Qxe5?!; 32.Qxe5+, ("+/-") White mates in four. ].
32.Bg7+!,
The most forceful execution.
[ 32.Qf3+!? ].
32...Kg8; 33.Qxe7,
("+/-") {See the diagram - just below.}
Black Resigns. 1-0.
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One of the most attractive combinations ever played!!!
One of the most brilliant games ever played!!!
<<
One of the great brilliancies of that period ... perhaps Zukertort's best and greatest game?
(Even Steinitz called this, "one of the prettiest and
most brilliant games on record.") >>
***
Bibliography: (As well as the books mentioned in the intro!)
The book: "The Great Chess Tournaments
and Their Stories." (© 1975)
By IM Andy Soltis. (This book was published before Andy got the GM
title!)
The most excellent volume,
<< Johannes ZUKERTORT, "Artist of
The Chessboard." >>
By Jimmy Adams, published in 1989. (Caissa Editions.)
(I also have a {complete} photo-copy of the original book of the tournament.)
1 - 0
Game
posted {here} on my web-site: Saturday / August 10th, 2002.
(Last updated on: Sunday - 11/02/2011
.)
***
This game is a GREATLY shortened version of the game as I originally did it in my "cb" files. This is because that version, (the long one) - with a diagram after every move, and plenty of analysis diagrams to boot - runs more than thirty pages.
I plan (perhaps) on later adding a complete TEXT-SCORE of this game. That way, if you are interested, you can see how detailed the notes are, and maybe better appreciate just what a fantastic game this really is.
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A.J. Goldsby I; © A.J. Goldsby; 1985 - 2010.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2011. All rights
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