Zukertort - Blackburne 









Johannes Zukertort   (2750)   -   Joseph Blackburne   (2695) 
[A13]
 London International Chess Tournament 
 Victoria Hall, London (England); (Rd. # 6),  05.05.1883 

[A.J. Goldsby I]

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!?, {Diagram?} 
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...e62.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, d52. c4, e63. Nc3, Nf64. 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...Nf63.Nf3 b6; {Diagram?} 
This is definitely a hyper-modern looking set-up.   

<< 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 Bb75.0-0 d56.d4 Bd6; ('!?')  
<< Capturing on c4 was better.  >>  

 

7.Nc3 0-08.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...Nbd79.Bb2 Qe7!?;  
Black develops quickly, but he might have done better to play ...a6 first.  (maybe dubious) 

<< 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;  "~"  {Diagram?} 
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 Ndf613.f3 Nxd214.Qxd2 dxc415.Bxc4! d5!?; {Diagram?}
Gaining a tempo, but turning Black's QB into a rather bad piece. (Really - '?!') 

      [  Much better was:  >= 15...Rac8!; 16.e4 d5!; "="  {Diagram?} 
          with good play for Black. ].  

16.Bd3 Rfc8!?; {Diagram?} 
Black grabs the file. (Natch) 

<< White has only a slight edge in this position. >>   

      [ 16...Rac8!? ].  

 

17.Rae1!(Probably - '!!')  {Diagram?} 
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 Rac819.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!, {Diagram?} 
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!?; {Diagram?} 
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. >>  

 

Now - White naturally opens lines. 
22.exf6 Nxf623.f5! Ne4;   
According to some authors, this is nearly forced for Black. 

24.Bxe4 dxe425.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!)   {Diagram?} 
This is forced. (Any other move loses horribly.) 

Now the long diagonal magically opens. 
27.d5+ e5; (Seemingly the obvious move?!?)  {Box? Diagram?} 
This is probably forced as well.  

  28.Qb4!!      (Maybe - '!!!')   {Diagram?} 
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; {Diagram?} 
<< 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+;  ("+/-") {Diagram?}
         with a mating attack for White.  ].  

30.Qxe4+ Kg7;   {See the diagram - just below.}   
<< Black is just managing to hold on. >>  

zuker-black_diag01.gif, 19 KB

     << 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+!? Qh636.Qf7+ Kh837.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+, Kh836.Bxe5+, and mate next move.)  ].  

 

<< White now finishes off sharply. >> 
      31...Kxf8
      This looks forced.

           [ After the continuation: 31...Qxe5?!; 32.Qxe5+, ("+/-") {Diagram?} 
              White mates in four. ].  

 

32.Bg7+!, {Diagram?} 
The most forceful execution. 

      [ 32.Qf3+!? ].  

 

32...Kg833.Qxe7{Diagram?}  ("+/-") 
Black Resigns. 1-0. 

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!)

  1. The book:  "The Great Chess Tournaments and Their Stories."  (© 1975) 
    By  IM Andy Soltis.  (This book was published before Andy got the GM title!) 

  2. 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 - 05/15/2006 .)  

***

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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