The Anderssen-Kolisch Match,
London 1861
Researched by Nick Pope
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THE MATCH BETWEEN ANDERSSEN AND KOLISCH
An unusual interest and activity at present prevail
in the chess-playing resorts of the metropolis, owing to an unexpected
visit from Herr Anderssen, who arrived in London at the close of last
week.
We need hardly mention how welcome is his presence in our chess salons,
and are happy to be able to add that the stalwart German is just as
hearty
as he was in 1851, looking scarcely any older, and quite ready and
willing
as ever to test his skill at any time, for any number of games, and
against
all comers. Although enjoying very few opportunities for good
practice
in his favourite game, at Breslau, were he resides, Anderssen has
already
shown that his play cannot be said to have fallen off, and that when he
chooses he can play every whit as well as of yore ; in
proof
of which we need only direct attention to the first game given
below.
Soon after his arrival Anderssen played
a few smart off-hand games with Mr Lowenthal, and with Mr Kolisch, with
varying success ; but as these parties were confessedly
rather
skittling and unsteady, a short match was soon arranged by
the ever-zealous
and spirited London Chess Club, between Anderssen and the well-known
practitioner
Kolisch, who has now been resident some time on London. The match
was commenced on Tuesday last, the terms being simply that the games
should
take place daily, commencing at one oclock, in the rooks of the
London
Chess Club, at Purcells, in Cornhill, and that the first winner of
four
games should be declared victor, and entitled to a prize of 10l.,
subscribed by the club. The well-known prowess of both players has
invested this trial of skill with the highest interest, which the
admirable
boldness and accuracy of the play on both sides, in the very first game
of the match, has tended no little to enhance. Mr Anderssen, we
hear,
remains in London till next Saturday, and if the match at the London
Chess
Club be concluded sufficiently soon to allow of it, a return match
between
the same players, for the first three games, will probably come off at
Mr Ries great chess divan, in the Strand. At the time of our
going
to press, the score gives to Mr Anderssen 2, Mr Kolisch 2.
The Field, London,
1861.07.27
|
HERR ANDERSSENS ARRIVAL IN LONDON.
Our readers will perceive, with no small pleasure,
that
this distinguished German master has arrived in London, intending to
remain
here for a fortnight. Herr Anderssen has already visited the
various
Chess Clubs in the metroplis [sic], and he is now engaged in a
match
with Herr Kolisch, at the London Chess Club, whose members, we are bound
to say, never lose an opportunity of providing attraction at their
rooms.
The Committee, with that spirit and liberality which distinguish their
management of the affairs of the Club, have offered a handsome prize to
the winner. The match will consist of seven games, the winner of
the first
four to be declared the victor. By bringing about this interesting
contest,
the Committee of the London Chess Club will render a great service to
Chess
players, as the result of the encounter will satisfactorily establish
how
far Mr. Kolisch can lay claim to the high position which he has hitherto
occupied. This is the first set match in which he has ever engaged
in this
country with a player of first-rate reputation.
THE MATCH.
The first game was played on the 25th [sic]
ult.,
and was won by Herr Anderssen. This is one of the most remarkable
and interesting
games which we have had the pleasure of examining for some time.
It exhibits,
in a remarkable degree, the distinguishing characteristics of both
players.
While the play of the German master is full of dash and spirit, vigour
and originality, constantly pushing forward to the attack, that of Herr
Kolisch is deliberate, cautious and profound. The fortunes of the
players
during the game were constantly varying. Now Kolisch had the
advantagenow
Anderssen; and over and over again victory trembled so evenly in the
balance
that it was impossible to predict to which side it would eventually
fall.
It was a hardly-contested battle, no error of any importance having been
committed by either player. The two succeeding games were won by
Herr Kolisch.
It was admitted on all hands that these games were far inferior to the
first.
An additional feature of interest in this match
was the introduction of a limitation of time for the moves. Each
player
was allowed two hours for four-and-twenty moves. The time was
marked by
a sand-glass. This plan appeared to work well, and we hope to see
it generally
adopted on all future important occasions. If this should come to
pass,
the London Chess Club will be able to claim the honour of having added
a new and most beneficial law to the code of Chess.
Herr Andersssen has paid a visit to the St.
Jamess
Chess Club, and engaged in play with the president. Herr Anderssen
scored
the odd game, winning two to Mr. Loewenthals one. In a
second encounter
Mr. Loewenthal proved the victor. Mr. Anderssen has also played at
the
Divan, with Mr. Burden and other amateurs. We shall duly report
his movements
in our next.
The Dial, London,
1861.08.02
|
Match between Messrs. ANDERSSEN and KOLISCH
Under the patronage of the London Chess Club a short
contest, determinable by either party winning four games, has been
arranged
between the above noted players, and began on Tuesday. Up to the
time when
we write six games have been played, Mr. Anderssen winning two, Mr.
Kolisch
winning three, and the sixth being drawn. The following is the
first game:
The Illustrated London News,
1861.08.03
|
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Kolisch,IF Anderssen,KEA
|
(1)
|
B40/04 |
Sicilian: Anderssen
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|
1861.07.23 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.e4 c5
** |
Boden: Anderssen appears to
have faith in this début still, for the whole of the
opening
is played with the utmost care. |
2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Bd3
Nc6 6.Be3 d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.h3
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescore published in The Dial; 8.0-0 Bd6 9.h3 h6.
-[Pope] |
8...h6 9.0-0 Bd6
10.Qf3
** |
Boden: 10.Qe2 was better
probably,
for the attack of Blacks c6-knight presently occasions White to
lose a
move in retreating.
Löwenthal: Up to this moment the
opening is conducted with care and accuracy by both combatants.
This move,
however, appears weak; it loses time.
Staunton: This appears to have been a
lost move. |
10...0-0 11.Nc3
Ne5
** |
Löwenthal: An excellent
move, and finely conceived. The effect will become apparent as the
game
advances. The knight here occupies a most commanding position,
both for
attack and defense. The feature of Anderssens play, that is
most worthy
of notice, is the excellence of his openings. He invariably
disposes his
forces so as to be prepared for any emergency, and to take prompt
advantage
of the slightest error his adversary may commit. The move in the
text is
a good illustration of our remark. |
12.Qe2 a6 13.Rad1 Re8
14.Bf5
** |
Löwenthal: Finely
played.
The bishop is here advantageously placed. The move retards the
development
of Blacks forces, and at the same time protects White from any
aggression
on the part of his adversary. |
14...Bd7 15.Bxd7 Qxd7
16.Nf3
** |
Boden: Intending,
apparently,
to make Blacks isolated d-pawn a mark for attack. |
16...Rad8
** |
Staunton: Up to this point
the game presents no particularly interesting features.
Henceforward, however,
it abounds in critical positions, and is admirably fought on both
sides. |
17.Kh1
** |
Löwenthal: The position
here is one of great interest. It is so complicated that the
utmost skill
is required for both attack and defense.
Staunton: Had he taken the d-pawn
Anderssen
would have won the exchange. |
17...Bb8
** |
Boden: A move to which
Anderssen
is very partial.
Staunton: The ulterior importance of
this
move becomes apparent presently; its immediate object was, of course, to
save the d-pawn. |
18.Nxe5 Rxe5 19.f4 Ree8 20.Qd3
Qd6
** |
Löwenthal: At the first
glance, playing 20...Nh5 seems to promise some advantage to Black.
Looking
more closely, however, we find that on Whites replying 21.Bb6, he
avoids
all danger. |
21.Bd4 Ne4
** |
Löwenthal: Upon
examination,
this will be found far superior to 21...Nh5. |
22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Qg3
Qf8
** |
Löwenthal: Anderssen,
with his usual accuracy, selected the best move, having in view the
advance
of the f-pawn. |
24.Qe3
** |
Staunton: Threatening to win
the exchange by playing 25.Bc5. |
24...f5 25.Rg1
** |
Löwenthal: An excellent
move, the beginning of complicated positions. In fact, from this
point
to the end, the game abounds in situations of remarkable interest.
The
able manner in which the Hungarian conducted the game, against an
adversary
of preeminent qualities, entitles him to our highest praise.
Staunton: Preparatory to a bold and
well-conducted
attack upon the black king. |
25...Rd7
** |
Löwenthal: A good
retort;
Whites contemplated maneuver is thereby rendered perfectly
harmless. |
26.Rdf1
** |
Löwenthal: In order to
be enabled to advance the g-pawn with safety. |
26...Rf7 27.g4
** |
Boden: From this point the
game is played by both masters with the utmost boldness, determination,
and precision; and through a series of positions of the most difficult
possible class, their play is of the highest order. |
27...fxg4 28.Rxg4
g5
** |
Staunton: As daring as it
was
unforeseen. |
29.f5 Kh7
** |
Löwenthal: The position
here is very instructive, and all this is well calculated by the German
master. Either 29...Rxf5, or 29...Qd6, would have involved Black
in difficulties,
extrication from which would have been impossible, because, had Black
played
in the first place 29...Rxf5, White would have replied, with great
effect,
30.Qb3+, and if 29...Qd6, White would have rejoined with 30.Rxg5+,
etc.
Staunton: He dared not take the pawn,
as White would afterwards have checked with his queen at b3, with great
advantage. |
30.f6 Qd6
** |
Löwenthal: A move which
causes White great distress. |
31.Rf2 Qd5
** |
Löwenthal: Finely
played
again, it defends the pawn at e4, and at the same time opens the
diagonal
for the bishop, which is thus brought into active
cooperation. |
32.h4 Bf4 33.Qb3
Qd7
** |
Löwenthal: Exchanging
queens would have been bad play; it would have abandoned the advantage
in position already obtained by Black. |
34.hxg5 Bxg5 35.Rh2 Rg8
36.Rxe4
** |
Löwenthal: This move
loses
an important pawn, but there seems no better play. |
36...Rxf6
** |
Boden: It is long since we
have seen anything finer than all these moves; White dare not take
37.Bxf6.
Staunton: Very fine, and equally
sound. |
37.Qd3
** |
Löwenthal: It is
obvious
that White dared not capture 37.Bxf6, on account of Blacks
formidable
reply, 37...Qd1+, etc.
Staunton: Had he ventured to take the
rook he would have lost the game in a few moves, by Black playing
37...Qd1+,
etc. |
37...Rfg6
** |
Löwenthal: The play on
both sides throughout this critical endgame will well repay the student
for his time and labor in examining it. |
38.Rg2 Qc6 39.Reg4 Re8 40.Kg1
Re1+
41.Kf2 Rh1
** |
Löwenthal: Ingeniously
conceived. The move secured a speedy and successful
termination. |
42.Qe4
** |
Boden: Singularly enough,
this
move loses White the exchange, and costs Kolisch the gameof which,
however,
he has, notwithstanding, good reason to be proud.
Staunton: This loses White the
exchange. |
42...Qxe4 43.Rxe4
Bh4+
** |
The gamescore published in The
Dial terminates here. -[Pope] |
44.Rxh4
** |
Boden: If 44.Kf3, Black
clearly
gains a piece by playing 44...Rh3+, winning a rook. Young students
will
perceive that in the closing position White has no chance of drawing
with
his bishop and pawns against the adverse rook and pawns. |
44...Rxg2+ 45.Kxg2 Rxh4
0-1.
The Field,
London, 1861.07.27
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.02
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.03
|
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|
Anderssen,KEA Kolisch,IF
|
(2)
|
1861.07.24 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3
Nf6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.h3 h6 8.c4 c6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Be3
Nc6
** |
Boden: The positions on the
two sides are now perfectly similar.
Staunton: The opening has been played
irreproachably up to this point; and, curiously enough, the disposition
of the forces on one side is identical with that on the
other. |
12.Qd2 Re8
** |
Löwenthal: The game is
well opened on both sides, the moves being made in strict accordance
with
the theoretical analysis laid down by the authors. |
13.Rae1 Ne7 14.Ne5 Bf5 15.f4 Rc8
16.g4
** |
Boden: Now the game begins
to assume a very interesting aspect; this move, together with the one
following
it, are quite in Anderssens artistic style. |
16...Ne4 17.Qg2 Nxc3 18.gxf5 Ne4
19.Bxe4
** |
Löwenthal: Anderssen
explained
to us that he made this move without due deliberation, being of opinion
that 19.f6 would have given him a fine game. |
19...dxe4
20.Qxe4
** |
Boden: By making this
capture
White gains a pawn, but subjects himself to a most harassing series of
attacking moves from Blacks pieces. We believe 20.f6 would
have been far
better.
Löwenthal: We believe that 20.f6,
instead of the move in the text, would have led to at least an even
game.
Staunton: Here Anderssen appears to
have
overshot his mark. Instead of snatching at this pawn, he should
have played
20.f6. |
20...f6
** |
Boden: Black proceeds to
take
advantage of his situation in correct style, and all his moves,
hereabouts,
are most carefully considered. |
** |
Löwenthal: Kolisch does
not fail to take immediate advantage of his adversarys weak play;
Blacks
position is now very superior, and with due care victory must be
certain.
Staunton: This subjects White to a very
embarrassing attack upon his queen, and ought to have been
foreseen. |
21.Ng4 Bb4
** |
Staunton: A good move
preparatory
to playing his knight to d5. |
22.Re2 Nd5
23.Qd3
** |
Staunton: Is this move as
good
as 23.Qg2? |
23...Kh8 24.Bc1
** |
Boden: White has now a most
uncomfortable game to play.
Löwenthal: The best move under the
circumstances. |
24...Qd7
** |
Boden: At this juncture we
believe Kolisch might also have played 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nxf4 26.Rxe8+
Qxe8 and have come off with the better game.
Staunton: He might here have taken
24...Rxc1,
and then 25...Nxf4, and have had a fine game. |
25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Ne3 Ba5 27.a3
Nxe3
28.Bxe3 Bb6
** |
Staunton: Threatening
29...Rxe3,
etc. |
29.Bf2 Qd5 30.Kh2 Re4 31.Be3 Qxf5
32.b4
** |
Boden: Owing to
Anderssens
having a bad game, there is no opportunity for that high order of play
which characterized the first contest. |
32...Bc7
** |
Löwenthal: Played with
Kolischs usual ability; after this move the game is
irrecoverable. |
33.d5 Rxf4
** |
Staunton: Cleverly played.
Whites game is now past skillalmost past hope. |
34.Qxf5 Rxf5+ 35.Kg2 Rxd5 36.Bxa7
Rg5+ 37.Kf2 Rg3 38.Rd1 Rxa3 39.Bc5
** |
Löwenthal: 39.Rd7 would
have been unavailing, since Black would have replied with 39...Be5, and
if White had then taken 40.Rxb7, Black would have rejoined with
40...Rxa7,
and winning a piece. |
39...b6 40.Be3 Rb3 41.Rd4 Be5
42.Rd8+
Kh7 43.Bxb6 Rxb4 44.Be3 Rb2+ 45.Rd2 Rxd2+
** |
The gamescore published in The
Illustrated London News terminates here. -[Pope] |
46.Bxd2 Kg6
** |
The gamescore published in The
Field terminates here. -[Pope] |
47.Kf3 f5 48.Bb4 Kh5 49.Kg2 g5
50.Bd2
Kg6 51.Bc1 h5 52.Ba3 g4 53.Bc1 f4 54.Bd2 Kf5 55.Kf2 Ke4 56.Be1 g3+
57.Kg1
f3 (...), 0-1.
The Field,
London, 1861.07.27
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.09
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.10.26
|
|
|
Kolisch,IF Anderssen,KEA
|
(3)
|
B40/04 |
Sicilian: Anderssen
|
|
1861.07.25 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Nf6
** |
Löwenthal: An excellent
move; in fact, the best to counterbalance Whites attack of
Nb5. |
5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Be3 d5 7.exd5 exd5
8.0-0
Bd6 9.h3 h6 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rad1 Bc7 13.Rfe1
** |
Staunton: The opening on
both
sides is played with uncommon care. In a match of greater scope
White would
probably have exchanged knights and then have taken the h-pawn, gaining
a powerful though hazardous attack. |
13...Qd6 14.Nf3
a6
** |
Boden: To prevent Nb5, and
evidently intending to push 15...d4 next move. Anderssen, however,
ought
to have played 14...d4 at once, compelling White to move 15.Nb5, and
then,
after the exchanges, it will be found that Black would have come off
with
considerably the better position and equal force.
Löwenthal: Played by Anderssen, no
doubt, with the object of preventing White from playing Nb5. The
move,
however, was a bad one, as the sequel shows. The following
variation would
tend to show that Anderssen might have ventured on playing 14...d4, when
the ensuing continuation would probably have occurred: 14...d4
15.Qc1
(best; or 15.Nb5 dxe3 16.Nxd6 exd2 17.Rxe8+ Nxe8 18.Nxe8 Bf4 19.g3 Bb8
and the white knight has no escape) 15...dxe3 16.Bh7+ Kxh7 17.Rxd6 exf2+
18.Kxf2 Rxe1 19.Qxe1 Bxd6 and Black remains with more than an
equivalent
for his queen.
Staunton: He ought rather, we think, to
have played 14...d4. |
15.Bxh6
** |
Löwenthal: Kolisch
takes
prompt advantage of Blacks weak play. |
15...Rxe1+
** |
Boden: To this bold step
Kolisch
is, in a measure, driven by the threatened fork of
the adverse d-pawn. |
16.Rxe1 gxh6 17.Qxh6
Ne4
** |
Boden: It is difficult to
find
any move that looks better for Black at this juncture. |
18.Qh5
** |
Löwenthal: The attack
is well sustained by White, and the move made secures a speedy
victory. |
18...f5
** |
Boden: 18...Be6 was
preferable
here, as Anderssen himself observed afterwards.
Staunton: After this, Blacks
position
is indefensible. His best play appears to be 18...Be6. In
any case, however,
he would have had a difficult game. |
19.Nxd5
** |
Boden: The termination is
all
capitally played by Kolisch.
Löwenthal: Finally
conceived.
Staunton: Very well played. |
19...Qxd5 20.Bxe4 Qd7 21.Bd5+
Kg7
** |
Staunton: Taking the bishop
would have been equally disastrous. |
22.Qg5+ 1-0.
** |
Boden: We may just observe,
for the satisfaction of young players, that at the moment Black resigns
White threatens to play 23.Qg8+, and 24.Re6+, winning the queen,
etc. |
|
The Field,
London, 1861.08.03
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.09
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.10
|
|
|
|
Anderssen,KEA Kolisch,IF
|
(4)
|
1861.07.26 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.f4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Bb5+
Nc6
** |
Löwenthal: A very bad
move in principle, in fact, the loss of the game may be traced to this
defense. |
5.Bxc6+ bxc6
** |
Löwenthal: The two
pawns
on the c-file are both weak and unsupported. |
6.c4
** |
Löwenthal: The correct
move; White has thus early in the game obtained a very superior
position. |
6...Ba6 7.Na3
Bd6
** |
Löwenthal: It is
obvious
that 7...dxc4 instead would be of but little avail. |
8.0-0 Nf6 9.b3 0-0
10.Bb2
** |
Staunton: The importance of
this move in games of a close character is well exemplified in the
present
partie. |
10...Ne8 11.Qc2
** |
Boden: All this game is
played
with the greatest care and judgment on Andressens
part. |
11...f5 12.Rae1 Nf6 13.Nb1 Qa5
14.Bc3
Qc7 15.d3 Rae8 16.Bb2 Nd7 17.Nbd2 e5 18.g3 d4
** |
Boden: Kolisch sacrifices a
pawn or two here; and, against a less finished master, the open diagonal
which he obtains for his a6-bishop would have been a full
equivalent.
Staunton: The sacrifice of a pawn or
pawns
here was not judicious; but Kolisch seems to have grown impatient of
defensive
tactics, and determined at all risks to make an opening. |
19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Nf3
Bf6 22.exd4 cxd4 23.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 24.Nxd4 c5
** |
Boden: Tempting White to win
the exchange with his knight, when Black would have moved 25...Qc6, and
then 26...Bb7, but Anderssen is too wary to be springed. |
25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.Nxf5
Bb7
27.Qf2
** |
Boden: An unlooked for and
beautiful move, which at once decides the game; if Black now play
27...Qc6,
he either loses his queen or is mated by Whites moving
28.Ne7+. From this
point to the end White played in a style worthy of the master.
Staunton: Irresistible! If in
reply Black
play the move he calculated on 27...Qc6 White wins at once
by 28.Ne7+. |
27...h6
** |
Löwenthal: Had Black
played
27...Qc6, White would have won speedily, by replying with 28.Ne7+,
etc. |
28.d4
** |
Löwenthal: Played with
Anderssens usual ability Black contemplated playing 28...Qc6,
threatening
mate, the move chosen was the best calculated not only to avert the
danger
but also to commence an embarrassing attack. |
28...cxd4 29.Qxd4 Re2 30.Nxh6+
Kh7
31.Rf7 (...), 1-0.
The Field,
London, 1861.08.03
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.10
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.16
|
|
|
Kolisch,IF Anderssen,KEA
|
(5)
|
C84/03 |
Spanish: Closed (Knight Attack)
|
|
1861.07.27 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.e4 e5
** |
Boden: An unusual luxury to
find the second player in such a short match risking all the attacks
contingent
upon an open game. |
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
a6
** |
Staunton: How long are we to
regret the want of some satisfactory defense to Whites third move?
As
we have repeatedly said, until one is found the second player in a short
match is hardly warranted in playing 1...e5. |
4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7
6.Nc3
** |
Boden: Played, doubtless,
for
variety, as being less hackneyed and well known than the customary lines
of attack. Nevertheless, we consider this move, in the present
opening,
to be a weak one; and, indeed, a few moves afterwards we find Anderssen
coming through the Ruy with a
secure and
equal game. |
6...b5
** |
Löwenthal: We do not
approve
of this line of play at this juncture. |
7.Bb3 d6
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescores published in The Dial and The Illustrated
London
News; 7...0-0 8.d3 d6. -[Pope] |
8.d3 0-0 9.Be3 h6 10.Qd2 Kh8
11.Ne2
** |
Löwenthal: 11.Nd5 would
also have been a good move. |
11...Qe8 12.Ng3
** |
Löwenthal: With a
splendid
game. |
12...Nh7
** |
Staunton: Fearing, probably,
that his adversary would take the h-pawn. |
13.Bd5 Rb8 14.Ne1 Bg5 15.f4 exf4
16.Bxf4 Ne7 17.Bxg5 Nxg5 18.Bb3 f5 19.Nf3 Nh7 20.Nh4
f4
** |
Staunton: This appears to
have
been the result of an erroneous calculation. |
21.Rxf4 Rxf4 22.Qxf4
g5
** |
Boden: All Blacks
ingenious
combination to obtain this fork is worse
than useless, for he clearly overlooks the resource which White has in
the move made with his queen.
Staunton: Upon this move Black relied,
apparently, when he sacrificed his f-pawn, overlooking the fact that
White
could save the piece by quietly retreating his queen to a square whence
she might check the adverse king. |
23.Qd2
** |
Boden: The winning move, and
excellently played; threatening, if Black take 23...gxh4, to move
24.Qc3+,
winning back the piece with a much better position. He having
previously
calculated upon all this wins the present game for Kolisch.
Löwenthal: All this is admirably
played by White; Blacks game is now very much compromised, his
king very
much exposed. |
23...Qc6
** |
Staunton: It is obvious that
had he taken the knight White would have won easily by
24.Qb3+. |
24.Qf2
** |
Staunton: We should have
preferred
playing 24.Rf1. If in answer Black took 24...gxh4, then by
25.Qxh6, and
afterwards moving Rf7, White must have won in a few moves. Indeed,
after
24.Rf1, it looks very difficult for Black to avert immediate
defeat. |
24...Qb6
** |
Boden: Black has nothing
better
now; and with his king so fearfully exposed, and with the adverse
knights
so strongly planted, he can only make up his mind to an hour or so of
hopeless
struggling. |
25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Nhf5 Bxf5 27.exf5
c5 28.Re1 Rb7 29.Re6
** |
Staunton: Good; but 29.Nh5
would, we believe, have been still better. Kolisch, however, plays
the
ending very skillfully. |
29...d5 30.f6 Nxf6 31.Rxf6 c4
32.dxc4
dxc4 33.Rxh6+ Kg7 34.Rxa6 cxb3 35.cxb3 Rc7 36.Re6 Kf7 37.Re5 Rc1+ 38.Kf2
Rc2+ 39.Re2 Rc5 40.Ne4 Rd5 41.Kg3 Nf5+ 42.Kf2 Kg6 43.Nc3 Rc5 44.b4 Rc4
45.Re6+ Kh5 46.Re4
** |
The gamescore published in The
Illustrated London News terminates here. -[Pope] |
46...Nd4 47.a3 Kg6 48.Ne2
1-0.
The Field,
London, 1861.08.10
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.16
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.17
|
|
|
Anderssen,KEA Kolisch,IF
|
(6)
|
1861.07.29 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.f4 f5
** |
Löwenthal: Anderssen
holds
this move to be the only safe one in this defense. How far
Anderssen is
justified in assuming this assertion we are not prepared to say at
present,
because the analysis would require more time than we can bestow upon it.
But Anderssen has no doubt based his opinion on a practical test of this
defense, and so far we can place reliance in his judgment and
skill. |
2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Be2 Be7 5.0-0
0-0 6.b3
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescore published in The Field; 6.g3 b6 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.Bf3 c6
9.Bg2 Qc7 10.Nc3 d6 11.Nd3 Nbd7 12.Nf2 Rae8 13.Nh3 e5 14.b3 d5 15.Qe2 e4
16.Bb2. -[Pope] |
6...b6 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.Bf3 c6 9.Nc3
Qc7 10.Bb2 d6 11.Nd3 Nbd7 12.Nf2 e5
** |
Staunton: Kolisch manages to
advance his center pawns so judiciously as to relieve himself in a few
moves from all the constraint the opening occasioned him. |
13.g3
** |
Löwenthal: Necessary,
in order to open a retreat for the f3-bishop. |
13...Rae8
14.Qe2
** |
Staunton: In violation of
the
wise saw which admonishes you
never to play
your queen in front of an adverse rook, though the rook may be ever so
much masked by intervening men. But nice rules courtesy to great
players. |
14...d5 15.Nh3
** |
Löwenthal: Loosing
valuable
time, which against a player of Kolischs force, must prove more or
less
serious.
Staunton: White is beginning to suffer
a little from the same sort of limitation under which his opponent
labored
in the outset. |
15...e4 16.Bg2
Nc5
** |
Löwenthal: Very well
played.
Blacks game at this point looks much better than his
antagonists.
Staunton: Threatening an ugly attack
upon
the queen by 17...Ba6. |
17.Qd1 Ba6
18.Ne2
** |
Boden: Throughout the whole
of this difficult game Anderssen has good need to take care, for be it
remembered that at present he has only to lose one game to decide the
match
in favor of his antagonist. |
18...Ne6
** |
Löwenthal: Kolisch
plays
all this with remarkable precision and skill. |
19.Rc1 Qd7
** |
Löwenthal: On
examination
this will be found to be the means of deterring Black from advancing his
c-pawn. |
20.Nf2
** |
Löwenthal: It will be
seen that the remarks we made on Anderssens 15th move are now
corroborated
by this one. |
20...d4
** |
Löwenthal: The care and
exactitude of calculation displayed nearly to the end of the game can
hardly
be exceeded. This move is a very good one, and leads to highly
interesting
combinations. |
21.exd4 Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Nxd4 23.Qc4+
Ne6 24.Rcd1 Nd5 25.Rfe1 Bf6 26.c3 Kh8
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescore published in The Field; 26...Qf7 27.Qe2 Kh8.
-[Pope] |
27.Qe2 Qf7
** |
Löwenthal: The game is
here extremely complicated and difficult, and the greatest nicety of
play
is required. |
28.d4 Rd8
29.Nd3
** |
Löwenthal: This looks
promising; it is a combination which might no doubt have proved
advantageous
to may an amateur; but mark how admirably Kolisch turned the tables upon
his opponent.
Staunton: Regardless of the clever
combination
Black has been maturing, and which results in the gain by him of a clear
pawn. |
29...Nxc3
** |
Löwenthal: This
sacrifice
is one of Kolischs brilliant conceptions. It is as ingenious
as it is
sound.
Staunton: Kolisch is fairly entitled to
all the honors of the play in this game, and they ought to have secured
him those of victory as well. |
30.Bxc3 Bxd4+
** |
Löwenthal: Taking
30...Nxd4
instead would have been bad play; because in that case White would have
replied with 31.Bxd4 , and if Black then took 31...Bxd4+, White could
have
interposed 32.Nf2 and thus retained the piece. |
31.Bxd4 Nxd4
32.Qf1
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescore published in The Field; 32.Qf2 exd3 33.Rxd3 c5
34.Rde3
Rde8 35.Re5 Rxe5 36.Rxe5 h6 37.Qe1. -[Pope] |
32...exd3 33.Rxd3 c5 34.Rde3 Rde8
35.Re5 Rxe5 36.Rxe5 h6 37.Qe1 Qh5
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescore published in The Field; 37...Rd8 38.Re7 Qh5.
-[Pope] |
38.Re7 Rd8 39.Qe5 Qd1+ 40.Kf2
Qc2+
** |
Staunton: If 40...Ne6, White
would have replied with 41.Bf3. |
41.Kf1 Qb1+
42.Qe1
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescore published in The Field; 42.Kf2 Qxa2+ 43.Kf1 Qb1+
44.Qe1
Nxb3 45.Qxb1 Nd2+ 46.Ke1 Nxb1 47.Rxa7 Nc3 48.Bf3 b5 49.Rc7 c4 50.Rc5 Rb8
51.h3 Kg8 52.Rxf5 Nb1 53.h4 b4 54.Bd5+ (...), ½-½.
-[Pope] |
42...Nxb3
** |
Löwenthal: Followed up
in splendid style.
Staunton: Another proof that the best
play in this game is on the side of Black. |
43.Qxb1
** |
Staunton: If he had taken
the
knight, it would evidently have cost him his queen for a rook and
knight. |
43...Nd2+ 44.Ke1 Nxb1 45.Rxa7 Nc3
46.Bf3 b5 47.Rc7 c4
** |
Löwenthal: We call the
attention of the student to the position at this stage.
Whites game is
utterly hopeless, and with but ordinary care on the part of Black
victory
is certain. Kolisch, however, after conducting the game in a
manner which
commands the highest admiration, and after having obtained such an
advantage
in position as to render victory an easy matter, threw the game
away. His
genius deserted him altogether. In fact, the play is conducted in
a manner
totally at variance with what we should expect from a player like
Kolisch. |
48.Rc5 Rb8
** |
Staunton: Apprehensive of
49.a4. |
49.a3 Kg8
** |
Löwenthal: To what end
this move was directed we have not been able to discover.
Staunton: A pitiable error; when
49...Nb1
must have won the day. |
50.Rxf5 Nb1
** |
Löwenthal: Making
matters
worse. |
51.a4 b4 52.Bd5+ Kh8 53.Bxc4 b3
54.Rb5
** |
Löwenthal: We believe
that 54.Bxb3 would have been a more scientific way of conducting the
game,
leading to the same result much more speedily. |
54...Re8+ 55.Kf2 Na3 56.Rb4 Nxc4
57.Rxc4 Rb8 58.Rc1 Rb4 59.Rb1 Rxa4 60.Rxb3
** |
The gamescore published in The
Illustrated London News terminates here. -[Pope] |
60...Ra2+ 61.Kg1 Kh7
½-½.
The Field,
London, 1861.08.10
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.30
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.09.14
|
|
|
Kolisch,IF Anderssen,KEA
|
(7)
|
B40/04 |
Sicilian: Anderssen
|
|
1861.07.30 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Nf6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Be3 d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.0-0 Bd6 9.h3 h6 10.c4
0-0
** |
Boden: By taking
Whites c-pawn,
Black would have given his antagonist a very fine game. |
11.Nc3 Be5
12.Nf3
** |
Boden: 12.Nce2 strikes us a
being better play.
Staunton: As this involves the
isolation
of a pawn, he had better, possibly, have played 12.Nce2. |
12...Bxc3
** |
Löwenthal: 12...d4
would
not have been good play. White would have rejoined with
13.Nxe5. |
13.bxc3 Be6 14.cxd5 Nxd5
15.Qd2
** |
Boden: Menacing the same
sort
of attack as gained him a victory in the third game, by sacrificing his
e3-bishop. |
15...Qf6 16.Nd4
Ne5
** |
Löwenthal: This gives
Black a good game. |
17.Bc2 Rfd8
** |
Boden: Had Black played
17...Nc4
attacking the queen and bishop, White would have replied with 18.Qd3,
winning
a piece in a few moves.
Staunton: 17...Nc4 would have been
imprudent,
on account of White answering with 18.Qd3, etc. |
18.Nxe6
** |
Boden: Whites knight
stands
so well at d4 that we should think it much better to keep him there than
change him off.
Staunton: This is not a good move, as
we shall presently see. |
18...fxe6
** |
Staunton: We should have
preferred
playing 18...Nf4; for, suppose 18...Nf4 19.Bd4 (any other move
would be
fatal to White) 19...Nf3+ (If, instead of this, Black play 19...Rxd4,
his
adversarys best plan is to move 20.Qe3; for, should he take
20.Nxd4, Black
must win the queen by playing 20...Qg5; and, if he take 20.cxd4, Black
will first check with 20...Nf6+, then take 21...fxe6, and afterwards win
easily) 20.Kh1 (If he take 20.gxf3, Black may take 20...Rxd4, and win)
20...Nxe6 21.Bxf6 Rxd2 and Black has much the better game. |
19.Bd4
** |
Löwenthal: A slip which
loses a valuable pawn. |
19...Nxc3
** |
Boden: Beautifully played
and
evidently quite unforeseen by White.
Löwenthal: This seems to have been
quite overlooked by White.
Staunton: A fine move; 19...Nf4,
however
would have been at least as effective. |
20.Qxc3 Rxd4
21.Rae1
** |
Boden: The best move on the
board; he would of course have lost his queen by capturing the
rook.
Staunton: It is hardly necessary to
show
that he would have lost his queen by capturing, the rook. |
21...Rc4 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.Rxe5
Rxc2
24.Rxe6 Rxa2
** |
Boden: Up to this point
Anderssens
play is excellent, but his next few moves are incorrect; for Kolisch
might
have drawn the game, but for the mistake of his 31st move. |
25.Re7 b5 26.Rc1 Rf8 27.Rcc7
Rfxf2
28.Rxg7+ Kf8 29.Rxa7 Rxg2+ 30.Rxg2 Rxa7 31.Rg6
** |
Löwenthal: What a
mistake,
and in a match game! But for this error the game must have been
drawn. |
31...Rg7 0-1.
The Field,
London, 1861.08.17
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.23
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.24
|
|
|
Anderssen,KEA Kolisch,IF
|
(8)
|
B20/01 |
Sicilian: Philidor
|
|
1861.07.31 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden, Löwenthal &
Staunton
1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.a4
Nc6
5.d3 Nge7 6.Bf4
** |
Löwenthal: The best
mode
of bringing the bishop into active operation. |
6...d5 7.Ba2
** |
Boden: 7.Bb3, as
appears
from the sequel, would have been better. |
7...Ng6 8.Bg3 Nb4
9.Bb3
** |
Löwenthal: It would now
appear that Whites 7th move was not a good one; he should then
have retreated
the bishop to b3, instead of a2. |
9...Bd6 10.Nge2 0-0 11.0-0 Bb8
12.f3
** |
Staunton: The opening is
played
on both sides very timidly, which is not surprising when victory depends
on either party winning only four games. |
12...Kh8
** |
Löwenthal: Kolisch, no
doubt, intended to advance the f-pawn; the move in the text facilitated
that object, since the commanding diagonal of Whites f-pawn might
have
become embarrassing. |
13.a5 d4 14.Nb1 f5 15.Nd2 f4
16.Be1
Bc7 17.Nc4 Nc6 18.Bd2 Qg5 19.Kh1 Qh5
** |
Boden: Kolisch is now
commencing
an attack which promises to prove a terribly strong wrong one; the
present
move is preparatory to doubling the action of queen and f8-rook upon
Whites
h-pawn. |
20.Rf2 Rf6
21.Qg1
** |
Staunton: Foreseeing where
the pressure will be ere long.
Löwenthal: Anderssens game
was not
a good one, Black having already obtained a very superior and attacking
position; it therefore required great accuracy and correctness in the
defense,
by which alone immediate danger could be averted. The move adopted
by White,
followed by the next series, was the best under the
circumstances. |
21...Bd7
** |
Staunton: 21...Nh4 would
perhaps
have been better play. |
22.g3 fxg3 23.Nxg3 Qh3 24.Qf1
Qh4
** |
Boden: Threatening to take
20...Bxg3. |
25.Qg1 Raf8
26.Raf1
26..Qh3
** |
Löwenthal: Black has
failed
to profit by the fine position he had so ably obtained, he should have
played 26...Nge5; had that move been made Black would have acquired a
decided
superiority in position. Let us suppose 26...Nge5 27.Qg2
(If 27.f4 Ng4
winning, at least, a pawn; 27.Nxe5 would not have led to any better
result)
27...Rg6 28.Nxe5 (we see no better move) 28...Nxe5 29.f4 (the only move,
as Black threatens ...Nxd3, and then ...Rxg3) 29...Ng4 30.Rf3 (best)
30...Rh6
with a winning position. |
27.Ba4
** |
Boden: White defends himself
with great skill throughout a difficult game; he wisely prepares to cut
off Blacks d7-bishop, which would otherwise ultimately have proved
a thorn
in his side.
Löwenthal: The best move to
prevent
the combination just indicated. |
27...Nce5
28.Bxd7
** |
Löwenthal: Getting rid
of Blacks d7-bishop, which threatened to become a dangerous
auxiliary
to Blacks future operations. |
28...Nxd7 29.b4
** |
Löwenthal: Very well
played;
it breaks up the force of the advanced pawns. |
29...Nde5 30.Nxe5 Nxe5 31.Qg2
Qxg2+
32.Kxg2 cxb4 33.Bxb4 Rc8 34.Rb1 Nc6 35.Bd2 Rb8 36.Ra1 Rff8
37.f4
** |
Staunton: White has pretty
well overcome his difficulties now, but at one period the attack on his
kings quarters looked very serious, and, had it been well followed
up,
might have proved so. |
37...g6 38.c4 dxc3 39.Bxc3+ Kg8
40.Ne2 Rf7
** |
Boden: The latter part of
this
game is not particularly well played on either side; for Kolisch, after
acquiring the better position with a pawn more, as will be seen, only
draws
after all. |
41.d4 Rbf8 42.e5 Rd8
43.Kf3
** |
The following sequence is given in
the gamescores published in The Field and The Illustrated
London
News; 43.Ng3 Rd5 44.Ne4 Bxa5 45.Bxa5 Rxa5 46.Rxa5 Nxa5
[Staunton:
Black, with a pawn more than his adversary, and with two passed pawns,
has apparently the advantage, but he plays the ending, as he played the
beginning, with little of his usual spirit.] 47.Nc3 Rc7 48.Na4 Rc4
49.Nc5
Kf7 50.Rb2 b5 [Staunton: The better course, we apprehend, would
have been to take the d-pawn, and then play 51..Nc4.] 51.Nxa6 Nc6 52.Rd2
b4 53.Nc5 Nxd4 [Staunton: After this the game was prolonged for
several moves, and finally terminated as a drawn battle.] |
43...Rd5 44.Ke4 Bxa5 45.Bxa5 Rxa5
46.Rxa5 Nxa5 47.Nc3 Rc7 48.Na4 Rc4 49.Nc5 Kf7 50.Rb2 b5 51.Nxa6 Nc6
52.Rd2
b4 53.Nc5 Nxd4 54.Rxd4 Rxc5 55.Rxb4 Rc7 (...),
½-½.
The Field,
London, 1861.08.17
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.24
|
The Dial,
London,
1861.08.30
|
|
|
Kolisch,IF Anderssen,KEA
|
(9)
|
1861.08.01 |
GBR London (London Chess
Club)
|
|
Annotations by Boden &
Staunton
1.f4 f5
** |
Staunton: In this opening
the
second player, perhaps, does better in replying 1...d5. |
2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Be2 Be7 5.0-0
0-0 6.b3 d6 7.Bb2 c5
** |
Boden: Anderssen has a knack
of varying these dull openings, which evinces the ingenuity of a
master. |
8.h3
** |
Staunton: The primary cause,
apparently, of Kolischs subsequent difficulties. |
8...Nc6 9.c4
Ne4
** |
Boden: This is beautifully
played; the knight threatens to move next to g3, which Kolisch must
prevent,
and afterwards, as will be seen, Anderssen gives his adversary no time
to dislodge the knight, but compels him at once to play d4. |
10.Kh2 Bf6
** |
Staunton: Very well
conceived.
Play as he may, White must now get a constrained position. |
11.d4 cxd4 12.exd4 Bd7
13.Na3
** |
Boden: This is a bad move,
and appears even to cause the loss of so much time as to involve the
game.
Why not move 13.Nc3? |
13...Qe8 14.Nb5 Qg6 15.Qe1 Qh6
16.Bd3
** |
Staunton: Well played; if
Black
now capture 16...Qxf4+, his queen will be driven back by 17.g3, and
White
can then take 18.Bxe4, and win a pawn in return for the one
sacrificed. |
16...a6 17.Na3
** |
Boden: He evidently cannot
retreat 17.Nc3 without losing his d-pawn. |
17...Be8
** |
Boden: Black seizes the
right
moment for bringing this bishop into effective service. By taking
17...Qxf4+,
he could not win a pawn, as White would cover 18.g3, and then, on the
queen
retreating, take 19.Bxe4, etc., regaining the pawn.
Staunton: This bishop now becomes a
formidable
auxiliary in Blacks attack. |
18.Nc2 d5 19.g3 Bh5 20.Ne5
Be7
** |
Boden: Intending to take
21...Nxe5,
and then push 22...g5; but it so happens that, on his very next move,
Kolisch
makes a slip which enables Anderssen to obtain a winning position with
this bishop, deciding the game and the match at a blow.
Staunton: The object of this move was
to take 21...Nxe5, and then throw forward 22...g5; but Whites next
stepa
manifest slipenables Black to turn the move to much more account
than
he had reckoned on. |
21.Ne3
** |
Staunton: The fatal
consequence
of this move are so obvious that it is amazing they were not
foreseen. |
21...Bb4 22.Qc1
** |
Boden: If 22.Qb1, he loses
the exchange, and gets a bad game.
Staunton: He had nothing better
left. |
22...Bd2 23.Qc2
Nxe5
** |
Boden: Foreseeing that, if
23...Bxe3, White will take 24.Nxc6, and then move 25.Rae1, regaining the
piece, as Blacks bishop would have no escape; nevertheless, we are
not
certain that the mode of play rejected would not have been a certain
road
to victory, as he would have had time to obtain an irresistible attack
on Whites king.
Staunton: Had he taken 23...Bxe3, White would
first have captured 24.Nxc6, and then have played 25.Rae1, winning the
bishop. |
24.Bxe4
** |
Boden: All these positions
are extremely difficult, and Kolisch plays admirably to avoid the loss
of a piece, but to regain the lost ground is impossible. |
24...fxe4
** |
Boden: The right move; had
Black instead taken 24...Bxe3, White would have retreated
25.Bg2and if
Black retire with 25...Nc6, White plays 26.Qd3, winning back the
bishop.
Staunton: Suppose 24...Bxe3 25.Bg2 Nc6
26.Qd3, etc. |
25.Qxd2 Nf3+ 26.Rxf3 Bxf3 27.cxd5
exd5 28.Nxd5 Rad8 29.Ne3 Rd6
** |
Boden: Threatening mate in
two moves, by 30...Qxh3+, and 31...Rh6#.
Staunton: A terrible advance, by which
Black threatens to take the h-pawn with his queen, and mate next
move. |
30.h4 Rxf4
** |
Staunton: Quite sound; if
White
take it he will be mated in a very short time. |
31.Qe1 Rg6
32.Bc1
** |
Boden: Now Anderssen
announced
mate in five moves.
Staunton: After this step Anderssen
announced
that he should give checkmate in five move. |
32...Rxh4+ 33.gxh4 Qf4+ 34.Kh3
Bg2+
35.Nxg2
** |
The gamescore published in The
Field terminates here. -[Pope] |
35...Qf3+ ( # in 1),
0-1.
The Field,
London, 1861.08.24
|
The Illustrated
London News, 1861.08.31
|
|
MATCH BETWEEN ANDERSSEN AND KOLISCH.
This match was concluded on Thursday, the 1st inst.,
the victory falling to Herr Anderssen. Final score;Herr
Anderssen, 4;
Herr Kolisch, 3; drawn, 2. The contest excited immense interest
throughout,
and particularly near the close, when each combatant had won three
games.
The rooms were well attended on each day by members and visitors, who
followed
the moves with the greatest interest and attention. As we have
previously
stated, it was not merely a question whether Mr. Anderssen or Mr.
Kolisch
was the better player, but the result was looked forward as a gauge of
Mr. Kolischs ability to contend with Mr. Morphy. Whether, in
this contest,
Mr. Kolisch exhibited such an amount of skill and ability as would
warrant
the hope of his being successful against the American player, we must
leave
those who witnessed and perused the games to determine. We must
say, however,
that both gentlemen exerted themselves to the utmost of their ability to
play their best. At the conclusion of the match, Herr Anderssen
was warmly
congratulated, and Herr Kolisch was much complimented on the able manner
in which he conducted the contest. The games, taken collectively,
are the
most interesting we have seen for some time.
The Dial, London,
1861.08.09
|
Match between Messrs. ANDERSSEN and KOLISCH.
The joust between these distinguished players has
terminatedMr.
Anderssen winning four games, his opponent three, and two having been
drawn.
The result is not satisfactory. We are glad, of course, to obtain
even
a few games contested by such masters, but it is not by a few games that
the superiority of either can be fairly established, and that really was
what we wanted to see. If Mr. Anderssen or Mr. Kolisch had won the
first
four games without his opponent scoring one, that fact, in the absence
of any remarkable disparity in the skill displayed by the two
combatants,
would not have sufficed to prove that the victor was a better
player,teste
a dozen instances where the winner of the first few games has afterwards
been signally defeated,à fortiori, the difference of
a single
game between them ought not to be considered to have settled the
question.
Our own opinion is that Mr. Anderssen in his best day attained a much
higher
eminence than Mr. Kolisch has ever reached; but we cannot admit that the
result of the present brief encounter proves that he is a stronger
player
at this time. Let another match be arranged between them of some
forty
or fifty games. Mr. Anderssen may not be able to play it here, but
Mr.
Kolisch can easily go to Breslau; and when that fair trial has taken
place
it will not be difficult to pronounce definitively upon their relative
capabilities. Till then, we take leave to reserve judgment.
The Illustrated London News,
1861.08.10
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MESSRS. ANDERSSEN AND KOLISCHS
MATCH.M. St. Amant,
publishes the following sketch in the Sport:During a
late visit
to London, towards the end of July, we witnessed at the City Chess Club
a very interesting match between M. Kolisch and M. Anderssen. The
latter
gentleman, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Breslau, had
availed
himself of his yearly vacation to make a trip to London in order to try
his strength with M. Kolisch, who had become the terror of chess-players
on the banks of the Thames, and whom the laurels of the admirable Morphy
also prevent from sleeping. These able players, both Germans,
began by
a skirmish of four games, the honours of which were equally divided, and
then, in order to decide a more serious match, the prize for which (10
guineas) was subscribed by the members of the club, they began a series
of games, in which he who should first gain four was to be declared the
victor. After various alternations of loss and gain, as well as
drawn games,
hough only one game was played each day, beginning at noon precisely,
the
score on the 1st inst. showed the following result: Two drawn
games, three
games won by M. Kolisch, and four by M. Anderssen, who was consequently
declared the winner. Though Kolisch was beaten by losing the last
game
(which ended by an announced checkmate in five moves), he is young, and
has plenty of time to take his revenge against the veteran Anderssen,
who
this time bravely came to challenge him, and displayed great skill,
especially
in the two concluding games, which he gained rapidly, having previously
appeared somewhat inferior to this antagonist. The games played
were certainly
fine ones, though often disparaged by mistakes unworthy of such able
champions,
and they also showed a feeling of mutual apprehension. What
particularly
pleased us in this match was an innovation, a real progress, without
which
it is no longer possible to undertake a serious struggle. This
innovation,
which we have always advocated in the Palamède, and still
more recently in the Sport, consists in fixing a maximum
of time for the moves; for it is necessary that a game should not be
interminable,
and that the conditions should be equal for both parties, which they
were
not when one of the players was allowed by intentional slowness to weary
out the patience and faculties of his antagonist. As long ago as
1836 (see
Palamède,
t. 1, p. 189), we ourselves were authorised to propose to the English,
in the name of Deschapelles (our illustrious and regretted master), on
the occasion of his challenge, to establish a measure of time. The
practical
means of execution selected was the hourglass of old Saturn, which we
borrowed
from the mythological deity to recommend it for adoption by our insular
neighbours, who take for their device, Time is money. A
quarter of a
century has elapsed before our idea had prevailed, simple and excellent
as it is. The London Chess Club has now adopted the emblem of the
fabled
god, and we found Kolisch and Anderssen separated by two gigantic
clypsedras,
or rather sand-glasses, each made to measure the space of two
hours. While
the sand is running through, the player is bound to make twenty-four
moves,
which gives an average of five minutes for each; but the player is at
liberty
to give more or less time to any move he pleases, provided the
twenty-four
moves are made in 120 minutes. We are happy to state that this
first trial
was most satisfactory. The two antagonists, though a little moved
at first
on account of this sword of Damocles suspended over their combinations,
soon got used to it, and not the slightest inconvenience was
experienced.
Seeing that a great many moves, especially at the opening, may be played
rapidly, as much as half an hour, or even an hour, may be taken for a
decisive
move at the close. In the match we have just witnessed, the
shortest game
took two hours and the longest seven.
The Field, London,
1861.08.10
|
A few remarks on this highly interesting trial of
skill may be acceptable to some of our readers. Although
Kolisch was
defeated, the match was so closely contested (4 to 3, with 2 draws),
that
the score cannot be taken as deciding the relative powers of the two
players.
Undoubtedly a match of at least twenty-one games is necessary to enable
us to form a judgment as to skill, from the number of the games lost and
won on each side. Judging from the games themselves, however, we
are inclined
to consider Anderssen at present decidedly the more finished and
accomplished
player. This is quite natural, and incident to an experience
longer by
some twenty years than that of Mr Kolisch. As, however, the latter
is yet
quite a young player (of only twenty-three years of age we believe),
there
is every probability that a continuance of play with such a master as
Anderssen
would render him at least equal to his late victor. Mr
Kolischs play evidences
great confidence, keen research, and immense tenacity, but is inferior
in discipline, systematic connection, and caution to that of
Anderssen.
We may observer that the last-mentioned player is acknowledgedly the
quicker,
and that the admirable time-limitation used in this match (twenty moves
to two hours) is said to have told rather against Mr Kolisch, who may
nevertheless
play as readily as his opponent did when he has had half his
experience.
On the whole the late match has produced very instructive, excellent,
and
valuable games, and has clearly proved, were there only the first and
fourth
games, that the German master is in the full possession of his very best
play whenever he chooses to exert himself, and that he had full need of
it against such a formidable antagonist.
The Field, London,
1861.08.24
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