Chess Archaeology HomeChess is a scientific game and its literature ought to be placed on the basis of the strictest truthfulness, which is the foundation of all scientific research.W. Steinitz

The Lasker-Steinitz Match,
World Championship 1894
Researched by Nick Pope

Steinitz,W — Lasker,Em
(18)
D67/01
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Capablanca
1894.05.22 & 23
CAN Montreal, PQ (Metropolitan Club)
Annotations by Jackson Showalter
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 c6 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.e4 Nf4 12.g3
** 12.0-0 followed by 13.Ne2 looks like a satisfactory continuation.
12...Ng6 13.0-0
** Here we prefer 13.h4 with flattering prospects of a kingside attack later.
13...Rd8 14.Qe2 b5 15.Bb3 Bb7 16.Qe3 a6 17.Ne2 Rac8 18.Rfd1 Re8
** For the obvious purpose of advancing and exchanging the rather weak c-pawn thus opening the diagonal for the bishop at the same time.
19.Ne1 c5 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Bc2 Rc7 22.f3 Rec8 23.Bb1
** 23.Nd3 permits of many exchanges and soon reduces to a probable draw. Black has thus early overcome the slight disadvantage of the move against him and the struggle for “points” for the ending has already begun.
23...Ne5 24.b3
** Necessary to prevent the threatened loss of a pawn by 24...Nc4, and at the same time keeping a hostile knight from a point of vantage at a4.
24...f6 25.Rc2 f5 26.exf5 exf5 27.Qf2
** Black threatens to win a pawn by 27...Nxf3+ etc.
27...g6 28.Nf4 Ncd7 29.Nd5 Qd6 30.Rcd2 Rc1 31.Ne3 Rxd1 32.Nxd1 Qe6 33.Kf1 Rc5 34.Qe3
** Threatening Rxd7 as well as pawn to f4.
34...Rd5 35.Rxd5 Qxd5 36.Nc3 Qc6 37.Kf2 Kg7 38.Ne2 Qd6 39.Nd4
** Again White was threatened with the loss of the f-pawn.
39...Qf6
** But now if 39...Bxf3 (neither knight can retake on account of 40...Ng4+) 40.Bxf5 with the better game.
40.Ng2 Nc6
** Why not 40...Bxf3 now is not clear. Both players seem to overlook points hereabouts, perhaps under pressure of time limit.
41.Ne6+ Kg8 42.Bc2 Qe5 43.Ngf4 Qxe3+ 44.Kxe3
** After this a draw is the rational and almost necessary outcome of the position.
44...Nb4 45.Bb1 Ne5 46.Nd4 Kf7 47.a3 Nd5+ 48.Nxd5 Bxd5 49.Bd3 Ke7
50.Be2 Kd6 51.f4 Nd7 52.g4 fxg4 53.Bxg4 (Adjourned) 53...Nb6 (Sealed)
** Forcing another exchange of pieces with a drawing certainty.
54.h4 Bb7 55.Be6 Nd5+ 56.Bxd5 Kxd5 57.Nf3 Bc8 58.Ng5 h5 59.Ne4 Bf5 60.Nc3+ Kc5 61.Ne4+ Kd5 ½-½.
The Sun, New York, 1894.05.23 & 24
New-York Daily Tribune, 1894.05.23 & 24
New York Recorder, 1894.05.24 & 07.29
 

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