Blindfold Chess.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 36

Blindfold Chess.

On March 26 Mr Steinitz accepted the heavy task of conducting three games simultaneously, blindfold, against three of the strongest American first-class amateurs. The contest took place at the Brooklyn Chess Club, the champion gaining two and losing one of the games. The names of the players are a guarantee of the difficult task Mr Steinitz had set himself; these are Messrs Philip Richardson, A. E. Blackmar, and W. M. de Visser. His loss was with Mr Blackmar. The following is the game the champion won from Mr Richardson, who is one of New York's strongest players :—: — VIKN.W OPENINfI. White. Black. (Steinitz.) (Richardson.) 1 P-K 4 P-K 4 2 Kt-Q B 3 Kt-Q B 3 3 P-B 4 B-B 4 4PxP- B x Xt 5 R x B Xt x P 6 P-Q 4 Xt-Xt 3 7 B-K 3 P-Q 3 8 Q-B 3 X Kt-K 2 9 Castles Castles 10 P-K Xt 4 B-K 3 11 Q-Kt 3 P-Q 4 12 P-K R 4 P-Q B 3 13 P-R 5 Kt-R sq 14 P-R 6 Xt (R sq)Kt 3 15 R-R sq P-B 3 16 RPxP R-B2 17 B-Q 3 R x P 18 R-R 5 P-Kt 4 19 Q R-R sq Q-Q 2 20 Q-R 2 Kt-KBsq 21 P-Kt 5 P-K B 4 22 P-K 5 Xt (X 2)-Kt 3 23 Kt-K 2 P-R 4 24 R-R 6 R-R 2 25 Xt-Xt 3 X R-B 2 26 Kt-R 5 Q-K 2 27 Kt-B 6ch K-R sq 28 B-Q 2 P-Kt 5 29 Q-R 3 ' P-B 4 30 B x B P R-K Xt 2 31 P x P B x B 32QxB QxKP 33 Q-Q 3 P-Q 5 34 Q-B 4 Q R-K B 2 35RxPch RxR 36 R x R eh RxR 37 Q-Kt 8 mates This ending is very curious. Undoubtedly White had a won game on his 3ith move, but the last three moves represent a double accident, as Steinitz tries for a mate, which should not ha\e been possible if his opponent had not overlooked the right reply, namely, 35 Xt x R.