The Steinitz-Lasker Match

Otago Witness, Issue 2111, 9 August 1894, Page 38

The Steinitz-Lasker Match

(From the Standard.)

The news of Sttinitz's defeat by Lasker is no surprise. It has been anticipated from day to day. 'lho-e who have followed the games in the match just concluded must have been painfully struck by the evidence of Stciuitz'^ waning power, and the dimness, through age and increasing infirmities, of his former clear sight. It was hoped before the Philadelphia series commenced that he would retrieve the lost ground and repeat his performance with Zukertort in 1880. He start' d then, too, with three games behind the St. Louis series; but it was soon apparent on this occasion that it was only a hope. Again, at Montreal it fecemed as if he were likely to recover, but Lasker's lead was then too great.

It is to be regretted that Steinitz should have engaged, at the age of 5-S years, in a contest of physical as well as mental endurance with a youth 32 years his junior, who possesses the cool and sober reason of mature age. Lasker has defeated Steinitz in this uneven contest — as farasplnsiime is concerned— not only by rra-on of hi.s youthful vigour, but also by tlie perfect knowledge of his opponent's idiosyncrasies. He knew well that he had only to wait patiently, and Steinitz would defeat himself

We have expressed the opinion before, in our remarks to the game, that if La.sker should defeat Steinitz, "it will not be a victory gained by .superiority over his opponent, for up to now there is not a single game which conveys such an impression." To this we adhere. Lasker has not shown a .single original variation or move. In one of the Ruy Lopez, he has even selected one of the oldest forms, dating back to the sixteenth century. His tactics were .simple enough : coneet development, aritt waiting, with a draw in hand. Steinitz did the running.

The games all through are of a lower standard. The combination'- are mesquin compared with Stuinitz's of former year-;, and with tho.se played by Zukertort in ISB3. Zukerturt, too, like La-sker, developed correctly; he bestowed the greatest care upon the openii.g move-., but he was not content to sit pa'iuntly and wait that homething might turn up, or that hi-> opponent might make a mistake. As soon a-> his force-* were strategically posted, lie t ok the initiative, and so did Anders^en anil Kolisi'h and Morphy. The rcbiilt was nhown in mch games as Andersen's "iniinortiil games," Zukertort's marvellous combination in 18S3 agiin-t Blac'diurnp, MorphyS not less brilliant combination in one of the games against Paulson, and Kolisch's gem of an endgame against Neumann in Paris, IS(>7. If we now consider that Steinitz ha- beaten Anderssen in a match, that he has won two matches of Zukertort, that he cuuld afford, only a frw years ago, to givo Tchigorin tlie odils of the variation of the .Evan's Gambit (ft ..Q-B ',]) and (he Two Knights' Defence, and still beathnn, and that he had till now an unbroken record of victories in matches, it will be readily admitted that he is no more the Steinitz of old. That La.sker shou'cl be superior to all Steinitz's former opponents is out of the question, for there is no evidence of it in the match just concluded. Perhaps there was not the necessity to exert himself to his full power with the Steinitz of to-day. All that can be .said is, that he plays correctly, knows the theory well, and makes few mistakes, and that in the latter sense he is the greater general.

N.Z. Chess Congress 1893-94. Game between Messrs A. Lelievro and J. Edwards. Kino's G.vmuit Declined. White. Black. (Lelievre.) (Edwards.) 1 P-K4 P-K4 2P-KB4 B-B4 3 Kt-K B 3 P-Q 4 4 P-Q B 3 Kt-Q B 3 SPxQ P O x P b P x P Xt x P 7 Q-K 2 B-Q 3 8 P-Q 4 B-K Xt 5 9 P x Xt B x Xt 10 I'xQß Q x P llQxy eh B x Q 12 U-Kt 2 0-0 13 O-O P-K B 3 14 P-Q 11 4 P-K Xt 4 15 Kt-K 3 P-Q B 3 16 P- KB 4 B-Q 3 17 P x P P-K B 4 18Kt-B4 B-B4ch IDK-lil Kt-K 2 20 P-Kt 4 B-Q 3 21 Xt x B li x Xt 22 li-h 4 li-Xt 3 2\\ B-K 5 KK-Ktl 24 B-B « Kt-Q 4 25 B x Xt P x B 2(5 11 x P P-K R 3 27 P-lt 4 P x P 28 1' x P K-Q 2 29 X x P eh K-K 3 ;.OK-Ksch K-B2 31 K-K 7 eh K-B 1 32 H x P P-Q 11 3 33 11-Q 1 Resigns. Thi a was the first game finished tit the congress. Tbe winner made his 3,5 moves in 11 minutes. Black made a mistake at his b'th move and lost a piece —a bad beginning of the tourney for Mr Edwards, who, however, made up for it by good play iv his other games. After the 6'th move his opponent " hurled him to destruction." Thoplay adopted in declining the gambit is not the best. White could have played 4 Xt x P, with the better game ; tor if 4 p x k p ; 5 Xt x X B P, followed by Q-R 5 eh, winning the b if Black takes tlie Xt; ami if Black plays 4 q-k 2 ; 5PQ 4, &c, or 5 P x Q P, &c, with the better game. Game between Messrs J. Edwards and Wm. Brown. Zukertoiit's Opening. White. Black. (Edwards ) (Brown.) 1 Kt-K B 3 P-Q 4 2 P-Q 4 Kt-K B 3 3 Kt-B 3 P-K 3 4 B-Kt 5 B-K 2 5 B-B 4 P-Q R 3 G P-K 3 P-B 4 7 B-K 2 Kt-B 3 8 Kt-K 5 0-0 9 P-Q 11 3 P-R 3 10 Q-Q 2 P-B 5 11 P-K R 4 Kt-Q 2 12 P-K Xt 4 Kt-(Q 2) x Xt 13 P x Xt P-Q Xt 4 14 P-Kt 5 P-Q 5 15 P x P Q x P lOPxP QxQ 17 B x Q P-Kt 3 18 Kt-K 4 Xt x P 19 P-K B 4 P-B 4 20 Kt-Kts B x Xt 21 RPxB Kt-Kts 2i P-R 7 eh K-K 1 23 B-B 3 eh P-K 4 24 B x Xt K-K 1 25 0-0-0 R-R 2 2b" B x P 6h R-Kt 2 27 B x R eh X x B 28 B-B 3 R-B 1 29 B-Kt 7 B-K 3 30 R-Q ti B-B 2 31 B-Q 5 B-K 1 32 P-RBqueen'sch Resigns. This Beems one of the be»t games played at the congress. If there are any blunders they do not lie at the surface. White obtained a strong attack after his 10th move and pressed it in masterly style. Black did not play well in taking the p at his 18th move, thereby opening the diagonal to his opponent's B; ktk 5 is better, but after this he had nothing better than what ho played.