Blackburne v. Zukertort.

Otago Witness, Issue 1862, 29 July 1887, Page 29

Blackburne v. Zukertort.

Game played; at the British Chess Club, on May 7. 1887. Giuoco Piano. White. Black. J. H. Blackburne. J. H. Zukertort. 1 P to X 4 P to X 4 2 Xt to X B 3 Xt to Q B 3 3 B to B 4 B to R 4 4 P to Q 3 (fl) Xt to B 3 5 B to X 3 H to Xt 3 6 Q Xt to Q 2 P to Q 3 7 Xt to B sq Xt to X 2 8 Xt, to Xt 3 P to B 3 9 Q to X 2 Castles 10 Castles Q R P fco Q 4 (b) 11 B to Xt 3 Xt to Xt 3 12 P to X R 3 (c) 11 to X sq 13 Xt to B 5 B tks Xt 14 P tks B Xt to B 5 15 Q to Q 2 (a!) B to R 4 (c) 16 P to B 3 P to Q 5 17 B tks Xt P tks P 18 P tkn P P tks B 19 X to Xt 2 Xt to Q 4 20 B tks Xt Q tks B (/) Ist hour. 21 X R to X sq (g) Q to Xt 4 eh 22 X to B 2 Q to R 5 eh 23 X to Xt 2 Q to Xt 4 eh 24 X to B 2 Q to R 5 eh 25 X to Xt 2 Drawn (A). NOTES. («) In his previous match with Zukertort, Blackburne playea here 4 P to B 3. In dispensing with this move in the present instance, he thought of gaining time ; but it does not seem to have been successful.

(6) Black haß the better development, and assumes, with this important move, the offensive.

(c) Partly for the purpose of an advance, and partly defensive. Supposing he had played at once 12 Xt to B 5, Black would have replied 12 B tks Xt ; 13 P tks B ; 15 Q to Q 2, Xt to Xt 5, with the better game for Black. (d) A weak move. 15 Qto B sq should have been played. The advantages of the move suggested are obvious.

(c) A clever-rejoinder, which Blackburne probably did not taUo into consideration. Of course he did not expect Zukertorfc to capture the X Xt P.

(/) Black missed a golden opportunity of obtaining here, probably, a winning advantage if he had played 20 P tks B. White's weak QB P could not have been defended successfully against all the forces Black could have brought to bear upon it (<7) Obviously White cannot capture the QBP, because of 21 II to X 7 eh ; 22 E to Q2, Q tks Q P, &c.

(A) Black could take the X B P, which would yield a draw in all probability, after a long nnd tedious ending, in spite of the pawn ahead. Both players not being at the time equal to along sitting, Blackburne readily accepted Zukertort's offer to draw the game.— The Fiold.