1889 World Chess Championship
Wilhelm Steinitz (USA) vs. Mikhail Tchigorin (Russia)
Havana, Cuba
January 20 - February 24, 1889

Conditions:  Best of 20 Games.  In the event of a 
10-10 tie, Steinitz retains the title.







  

    Cuba, 1889
    
    1
    
    2
    
    3
    
    4
    
    5
    
    6
    
    7
    
    8
    
    9
    
    10
    
    11
    
    12
    
    13
    
    14
    
    15
    
    16
    
    17
    
    
    
    Score
    
  




  

    Steinitz
    
    0
             
    1
             
    0
             
    1
             
    1
             
    0
             
    0
             
    1
             
    1
             
    1
             
    0
             
    1
             
    0
             
    1
             
    1
             
    1
             
    ½
             
    
    
    10½
    
  




  

    Tchigorin
    
    1
             
    0
             
    1
             
    0
             
    0
             
    1
             
    1
             
    0
             
    0
             
    0
             
    1
             
    0
             
    1
             
    0
             
    0
             
    0
             
    ½
             
    
    
    6½
    
  




Result:  William Steinitz retains the World Championship.

  • When the match ended after 17 games, the remaining three games were played as exhibition consultation games, with both players teaming up with local Havana chess officials. Tchigorin and Judge Alberto Ponce played the final three games against Steinitz and Dr. Antonio Gavilan. Since Steinitz desired to further test his Q-B3 line in the Evans Gambit, the colors were reversed for these three games, allowing Tchigorin to have White in two of them.
    

    


  
    
    Exhibition, 1889
    
    18
    
    19
    
    20
    
    
    
    Score
    
  
    


  
    
    Steinitz/Gavilan
    
    0
             
    ½
             
    1
             
    
    
    1½
    
  
    


  
    
    Tchigorin/Ponce
    
    1
             
    ½
             
    0
             
    
    
    1½

  • The 1889 Championship was unique in the history of chess. For the first and last time, match backers gave the World Champion carte blanche to choose his opponent. Steinitz chose Mikhail Tchigorin (or Chigorin), the champion of Imperial Russia, for two reasons:

  • 1) Tchigorin had a 3-1 record against Steinitz in previous encounters, a blot which Steinitz wished to erase from his record.

  • 2) Steinitz, as the Father of Positional Play, found his theories severely criticized by the Classical school. Tchigorin, as a bold gambiteer, brilliant attacking player, and greatest living exponent of the Evans Gambit, would play precisely the type of chess that Steinitz wanted to play against in order to illustrate his theories.

  • The highlight of this match is Steinitz's bizarre 6... Qf6 line in the Evans Gambit, and the outlandishly tangled positions he voluntarily accepted (sometimes successfully) to try to prove that Black could keep the Pawn and emerge with the better endgame. Henry Bird, speaking of Steinitz' style, once wrote "Place the contents of the chessbox in your hat, shake them vigorously, pour them on the board at the height of two feet, and you get the style of Steinitz." He could have easily been thinking about this variation when he said it.

  • The Qf6 appears in all the odd numbered games of the regular contest, save Game 3, and also in Exhibition Games 18 and 20.

  • Another highlight of this match is Game 17, the final game, and a strong contender for the worst game ever played in a World Championship match. Take a look in the viewer at the dream of a position after White's 30th move, in which Steinitz's entire position is practically being strangled where it stands, and try to imagine that 15 moves later, White will be scrambling to draw an inferior ending, and without having made any overt material-dropping blunders. Can't be done, you say? Well, play on and see.

  • Incidentally, Tchigorin's last-round woes didn't end here. Check out game 23 of the 1892 Match, to see the jaws of victory go hungry at Tchigorin's hands again.

  • Tchigorin's name is often Anglicized as Chigorin.

  • Match Breakdown 
     #    White - Black        Locale  Date        ECO  Result
 1    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  01-20-1889  C52  1-0 
 2    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  01-22-1889  D02  1-0 
 3    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  01-24-1889  C62  1-0 
 4    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  01-26-1889  D02  1-0 
 5    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  01-27-1889  C52  0-1 
 6    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  01-29-1889  D02  0-1 
 7    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  01-31-1889  C52  1-0 
 8    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  02-04-1889  D46  1-0 
 9    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  02-05-1889  C52  0-1 
10    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  02-08-1889  D07  1-0 
11    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  02-10-1889  C52  1-0 
12    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  02-12-1889  D07  1-0 
13    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  02-16-1889  C52  1-0 
14    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  02-19-1889  D07  1-0 
15    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  02-21-1889  C52  0-1 
16    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana  02-23-1889  A85  1-0 
17    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana  02-24-1889  C52  ½-½
18    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana                   1-0
19    Steinitz - Tchigorin  Havana                   ½-½
18    Tchigorin - Steinitz  Havana                   0-1

    Steinitz describes his theories

    Steinitz introduces this match

    [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.20"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "1"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "115"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. Ng5 Nd8 9. f4 exd4 10. cxd4 Bb6 11. Be3 d5 12. Bxd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 O-O 14. Nc3 Re8 15. Nge4 Qg6 16. Bf2 c6 17. Re1 Bd7 18. Nc5 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Qd6 20. Qe3 cxd5 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. Nxd5 Nc6 23. Nxb6 axb6 24. Re1 h6 25. d5 Nb4 26. Rd1 Nxd5 27. Qe5 Rxa2 28. Rxd5 Ra1+ 29. Qxa1 Qxd5 30. Bxb6 Qe4 31. g3 h5 32. Qd4 Qf3 33. Qe3 Qd1+ 34. Kg2 Qc2+ 35. Qf2 Qc6+ 36. Kg1 h4 37. Qc5 hxg3 38. hxg3 Qe4 39. Kf2 Qh1 40. Qc8+ Kh7 41. Qg4 Qh2+ 42. Kf1 Qh1+ 43. Bg1 Qd5 44. Qh3+ Kg8 45. Qc8+ Kh7 46. Qc5 Qd3+ 47. Kg2 Qd7 48. Bd4 f6 49. Kf3 b5 50. g4 Qb7+ 51. Kg3 b4 52. Qf5+ Kg8 53. g5 fxg5 54. Qe6+ Kh7 55. fxg5 Qc7+ 56. Kg4 g6 57. Qf6 Qc8+ 58. Kh4 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.22"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "2"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "75"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. Ne5 Bh5 4. Qd3 Qc8 5. c4 f6 6. Nf3 e6 7. Nc3 Bg6 8. Qd1 c6 9. e3 Bd6 10. Bd2 Ne7 11. Rc1 Nd7 12. Nh4 f5 13. g4 Nf6 14. h3 Ne4 15. Bd3 fxg4 16. Nxg6 Nxg6 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Be7 19. hxg4 e5 20. d5 Qd7 21. Bc3 Rd8 22. Rh5 cxd5 23. cxd5 O-O 24. d6 Qe6 25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. axb3 Bxd6 27. Nxd6 Rxd6 28. Bb4 Rb6 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. Rc8+ Kf7 31. Rc7+ Kf6 32. Rf5+ Ke6 33. Rff7 Rb4 34. Rxb7 Rxg4 35. Rxg7 h5 36. Rxa7 Kf5 37. f3 Rg2 38. Ra6 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.24"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "3"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C62"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "165"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 Nge7 8. Bg5 f6 9. Be3 O-O 10. Bc4+ Kh8 11. Nb5 Nc8 12. Qd2 Qe8 13. Rad1 Bg4 14. Be2 Nd8 15. c4 Ne6 16. h3 Bh5 17. c5 Be7 18. Qd5 Qc6 19. Bc4 Be8 20. a4 Nxc5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc6 Bxc6 23. Nxc7 Nd6 24. Bb3 Bxe4 25. Nxa8 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rxa8 27. Rd5 b6 28. Rfd1 Rd8 29. Kg2 a5 30. Bc2 g6 31. h4 Kg7 32. f4 exf4 33. Kf3 f5 34. Kxf4 Kf6 35. Bb3 h6 36. h5 gxh5 37. Bc2 Ke7 38. Re5+ Kf8 39. Rxf5+ Ke7 40. Re5+ Kd7 41. f3 h4 42. Kg4 Rg8+ 43. Kxh4 Rg2 44. Bf5+ Kc6 45. b3 Bf2+ 46. Kh3 Rg3+ 47. Kh2 Rxf3 48. Kg2 Rf4 49. Be6 Bc5 50. Bd5+ Kd7 51. Re6 Nf5 52. Bc4+ Kc7 53. Rd3 h5 54. Bb5 Rg4+ 55. Kh2 Rh4+ 56. Rh3 Bd6+ 57. Kg2 Rg4+ 58. Kf1 Ng3+ 59. Kf2 h4 60. Rh6 Rf4+ 61. Kg2 Be7 62. Rc6+ Kb7 63. Rc4 Rf8 64. Rd4 Kc8 65. Rd7 Bd8 66. Rh2 Ne4 67. Rg7 Nc5 68. Rh3 Bf6 69. Rg6 Bd8 70. Bc4 Rf4 71. Rf3 Rd4 72. Rg7 Kb8 73. Rff7 Rd6 74. Kh3 Rd2 75. Rh7 Rd6 76. Bf1 Ne6 77. Rd7 Rc6 78. Kg4 Rc7 79. Bc4 Rxc4+ 80. bxc4 Kc8 81. Rd6 Nc5 82. Rc6+ Kb8 83. Rh8 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.26"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "4"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "43"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3 4. gxf3 e6 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. Bd2 Nc6 9. d5 exd5 10. a3 Nd4 11. Bd3 O-O-O 12. axb4 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Qxa1+ 14. Ke2 Qxb2 15. Rb1 Qa3 16. Nb5 Qa6 17. Qxf7 Qb6 18. Rc1 Nh6 19. Qxg7 dxe4 20. Qxc7+ Qxc7 21. Rxc7+ Kb8 22. Bxe4 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.27"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "5"] [Result "0-1"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "52"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. Bg5 Qd6 9. Qb3 O-O 10. Rd1 Bb6 11. dxe5 Qg6 12. Qa3 Re8 13. Nbd2 d6 14. exd6 cxd6 15. Bf4 Bc5 16. Qc1 Bg4 17. Bg3 Rad8 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Qxg3 20. Kh1 Qg6 21. Rd3 Qf6 22. Qd2 Ng6 23. Ng5 Nce5 24. Rf3 Nxf3 25. Bxf7+ Qxf7 26. gxf3 Qc4 0-1 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.29"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "6"] [Result "0-1"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "74"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3 4. gxf3 dxc4 5. e4 e5 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Nc6 8. f4 Rd8+ 9. Bd2 Bc5 10. Rg1 Nge7 11. Bxc4 Ng6 12. Kc1 Bxf2 13. Rg2 Bb6 14. Nc3 Nd4 15. Nd5 Nf3 16. Nxb6 Nxd2 17. Rxd2 axb6 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Bxf7 Nxf4 20. Kd2 Rf8 21. Bb3 Ng6 22. e6 Ke7 23. Rg1 Rf2+ 24. Ke3 Rxh2 25. Rg5 Rh3+ 26. Kd4 Rf3 27. Rb5 Nf4 28. a4 h5 29. a5 h4 30. axb6 c6 31. Rf5 Ne2+ 32. Kc5 Rxf5+ 33. exf5 h3 34. Ba4 h2 35. Bxc6 bxc6 36. b7 h1=Q 37. b8=Q Qc1+ 0-1 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.01.31"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "7"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "67"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. Bg5 Qd6 9. d5 Nd8 10. Qa4 Bb6 11. Na3 Qg6 12. Bxe7 Kxe7 13. Nxe5 Qf6 14. Nf3 Qxc3 15. e5 c6 16. d6+ Kf8 17. Bb3 h6 18. Qh4 g5 19. Qh5 Qd3 20. Rad1 Qh7 21. Nc2 Kg7 22. Ncd4 Qg6 23. Qg4 h5 24. Nf5+ Kf8 25. Qxg5 Qxg5 26. Nxg5 h4 27. Kh1 Rh5 28. f4 Ne6 29. g4 hxg3 30. Nxg3 Rh6 31. Nxf7 Kxf7 32. f5 Ke8 33. fxe6 dxe6 34. Ne4 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.04"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "8"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D46"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "75"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 h6 11. Bc2 Re8 12. Re1 Qf6 13. Bd2 Nf8 14. Bc3 Bd7 15. c5 Bb8 16. d5 Qd8 17. d6 b6 18. b4 f6 19. Qd3 a5 20. a3 e5 21. Nh4 bxc5 22. bxc5 Ba7 23. Rad1 Bxc5 24. Qc4+ Ne6 25. Qe4 Nf8 26. Qc4+ Ne6 27. Bg6 Qb6 28. Re2 Reb8 29. Rb2 Qa7 30. Bf5 Kf7 31. Re2 Qa6 32. Qg4 Nf4 33. Rxe5 fxe5 34. Bxe5 g5 35. Bg6+ Kf8 36. Qxd7 Qa7 37. Qf5+ Kg8 38. d7 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.05"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "9"] [Result "0-1"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "112"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. Bg5 Qd6 9. d5 Nd8 10. Qa4 b6 11. Na3 a6 12. Bb3 Bxc3 13. Rac1 Qb4 14. Nb5 Qxb5 15. Qxb5 axb5 16. Rxc3 c5 17. dxc6 Ndxc6 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 19. Bd5 f6 20. Bxc6 dxc6 21. Rxc6 Bd7 22. Rxb6 Rhb8 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Rb1 Bc6 25. Re1 Ra8 26. Re2 Ra4 27. Rb2 Rxe4 28. h3 Kd6 29. Nd2 Ra4 30. f3 f5 31. Kf2 Ra3 32. Nb1 Rd3 33. Ke2 e4 34. Nd2 Ra3 35. fxe4 fxe4 36. Nb1 Rg3 37. Kf2 Rd3 38. Ke2 h5 39. Nd2 Rg3 40. Kf2 Ra3 41. Nf1 Bd5 42. Rxb5 Rxa2+ 43. Ke3 Rxg2 44. Kd4 Bc6 45. Rxh5 Ra2 46. Ne3 Rd2+ 47. Kc4 Bd7 48. Rg5 Be6+ 49. Kb4 Rd4+ 50. Kb5 Rd3 51. Nc4+ Bxc4+ 52. Kxc4 Rd1 53. Rxg7 e3 54. Rb7 Ke5 55. Kc3 Ke4 56. Kc2 Rf1 0-1 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.07"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "10"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "53"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Nc6 4. e3 e5 5. Qb3 Bxf3 6. gxf3 exd4 7. cxd5 Ne5 8. exd4 Nd7 9. Nc3 Qe7+ 10. Be3 Qb4 11. Qc2 Ngf6 12. Bb5 Rd8 13. O-O-O a6 14. Ba4 Be7 15. Rhg1 g6 16. Bh6 b5 17. Bb3 Nb6 18. Rge1 Kd7 19. Bf4 Rc8 20. a3 Qa5 21. Bg5 Ng8 22. Bxe7 Nxe7 23. Ne4 Rb8 24. Nf6+ Kd8 25. Rxe7 Kxe7 26. Qxc7+ Nd7 27. Qxa5 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.10"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "11"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "61"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. Bg5 Qd6 9. d5 Nd8 10. Qa4 b6 11. Na3 a6 12. Bd3 Bxc3 13. Rab1 Bb7 14. Nc4 Qc5 15. Be3 b5 16. Bxc5 bxa4 17. Rfc1 d6 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Nxd6+ Kd7 20. Nxb7 Bd4 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Nxd8 Rhxd8 23. Rb7+ Kd6 24. e5+ Kxd5 25. Rxe7 Rac8 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. f3 Rc3 28. Be4+ Kc4 29. Rxf7 Kb4 30. e6 d3 31. Rd7 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.12"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "12"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "121"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Nge7 7. Bd3 Bf5 8. Bxf5 Nxf5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Qb3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Rb8 12. O-O O-O 13. Rac1 Re8 14. Bd2 Nce7 15. Rc2 c6 16. Rfc1 Ng6 17. Be1 Nfh4 18. Nxh4 Nxh4 19. f3 Nf5 20. Bf2 Qg5 21. Re1 Re6 22. e4 Rbe8 23. Rce2 Nd6 24. e5 Qd8 25. Kf1 Nc4 26. Qxb7 Qg5 27. Qb4 Rg6 28. Bg3 h5 29. b3 Nb6 30. Qd2 Qf5 31. Qc2 Qg5 32. Qd2 Qf5 33. Kg1 Nc8 34. Qc2 Qd7 35. Bh4 Nb6 36. Qd3 Na8 37. f4 Nc7 38. Bf2 Qg4 39. Be3 f5 40. Rf2 Rge6 41. Qe2 Qg6 42. Rf3 Qf7 43. Rg3 Kh7 44. Bf2 Rh6 45. Rc1 Rc8 46. Rgc3 Ne6 47. Qa6 Rg8 48. Rxc6 Nxf4 49. Rxh6+ gxh6 50. Bg3 Rg6 51. Qf1 Ne6 52. Qd3 Rg4 53. h3 Rxd4 54. Qa6 Rd2 55. Be1 Rd4 56. Rc6 Re4 57. Rxe6 Rxe1+ 58. Kh2 Rc1 59. Rf6 Qg7 60. Qe6 Rf1 61. Rf7 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.16"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "13"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "127"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. d5 Nd8 9. Bg5 Qd6 10. Qa4 f6 11. Bc1 Bb6 12. Na3 c6 13. Bb3 Bc5 14. Rd1 b5 15. Qa5 Nb7 16. Qa6 Nd8 17. Qa5 Nb7 18. Qa6 Nd8 19. Qa5 Nb7 20. Qa6 Qc7 21. dxc6 dxc6 22. Nxb5 cxb5 23. Qxb5+ Bd7 24. Bf7+ Kd8 25. Rb1 Nd6 26. Qb3 Qb6 27. Qc2 Qc6 28. Bb3 a5 29. Be3 Bxe3 30. fxe3 a4 31. Bd5 Nxd5 32. Rxd5 Re8 33. Rbd1 Re6 34. c4 Ra7 35. c5 Nc8 36. Nd2 Ke8 37. Nc4 Re7 38. Qe2 a3 39. Qh5+ g6 40. Qh4 Ra4 41. Rd6 Nxd6 42. Nxd6+ Kd8 43. Qxf6 Ra5 44. Qf8+ Re8 45. Nxe8 Qxc5 46. Qxc5 Rxc5 47. Nf6 Rc7 48. Kf1 Kc8 49. Rxd7 Rxd7 50. Nxd7 Kxd7 51. Ke2 Kc6 52. Kd3 Kb5 53. Kc3 h5 54. Kb3 g5 55. Kxa3 Kc4 56. Kb2 Kd3 57. a4 Ke2 58. a5 Kf2 59. a6 Kxg2 60. a7 Kxh2 61. a8=Q h4 62. Qg8 h3 63. Qxg5 Kh1 64. Qxe5 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.19"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "14"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "69"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Nc6 4. e3 e5 5. Qb3 Bxf3 6. gxf3 Nge7 7. Nc3 exd4 8. Nxd5 Rb8 9. e4 Ng6 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. f4 O-O 12. O-O-O Nce7 13. f5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 Nf4 15. Qf3 Qh4 16. Rg1 h5 17. Kb1 c5 18. Qg3 Ng6 19. Qxd6 Qxe4+ 20. Ka1 Qxf5 21. Qg3 Qxd5 22. f4 b5 23. Bg2 Qd6 24. Qg5 f5 25. Bh3 Rb6 26. Bxf5 Rf6 27. Be4 Qd7 28. Qxh5 Nf8 29. Qxc5 Ne6 30. Qh5 Qd6 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Rc1 Ra6 33. f5 Nc5 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Rxg7+ 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.21"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "15"] [Result "0-1"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "72"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. d5 Nd8 9. Qa4 Bb6 10. Bg5 Qd6 11. Na3 c6 12. Rad1 Qb8 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. d6+ Kf8 15. Nxe5 f6 16. Nf3 Bc5 17. e5 b5 18. Bxb5 cxb5 19. Nxb5 Ne6 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Qh4 Kf7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Qg4+ Kf7 24. Qh5+ Kg7 25. Nfd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4 Rf8 27. Rd3 Bb7 28. Nxe6+ dxe6 29. Rh3 Be4 30. Qg4+ Bg6 31. Qxe6 Qb6 32. Qd5 Rad8 33. Rd1 Rfe8 34. c4 Rxd6 35. Qf3 Rd3 36. Qg4 Re4 0-1 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.23"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "16"] [Result "1-0"] [White "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [Black "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "103"] 1. Nf3 f5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bd3 d5 7. Bd2 c6 8. c5 Nbd7 9. Ng5 Nb8 10. f3 Qc7 11. Qc2 Nh5 12. Nh3 Bh4+ 13. Nf2 e5 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. O-O Be7 16. Ne2 b6 17. cxb6 axb6 18. Nd4 c5 19. Nb5 Nc6 20. Bc3 Qb8 21. Rfd1 Ne5 22. Be2 Nf6 23. Nh3 Rd8 24. Bf1 Nf7 25. Nf4 d4 26. Bd2 dxe3 27. Bxe3 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Qe5 29. Re1 Kf8 30. Bd2 Qb8 31. Qb3 Nd8 32. Qe3 Qb7 33. Bc4 Qd7 34. Bc3 Ra4 35. Bb3 Ra8 36. Nd5 Nxd5 37. Bxd5 Ra4 38. Bxg7+ Kxg7 39. Qxe7+ Qxe7 40. Rxe7+ Kf6 41. Rxh7 Rb4 42. Nd6 Be6 43. Bxe6 Kxe6 44. Rh6+ Ke5 45. b3 b5 46. f4+ Kd4 47. Nxb5+ Rxb5 48. Rd6+ Kc3 49. Rxd8 Ra5 50. Rd5 Kb4 51. Rd2 Kc3 52. Re2 1-0 [Event "Steinitz - Tchigorin World Championship Match"] [Site "Havana CUB"] [Date "1889.02.24"] [EventDate "?"] [Round "17"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [White "Mikhail Tchigorin"] [Black "Wilhelm Steinitz"] [ECO "C52"] [WhiteElo "?"] [BlackElo "?"] [PlyCount "140"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. d5 Nd8 9. Qa4 Bb6 10. Bg5 Qd6 11. Na3 c6 12. Rad1 Qb8 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. d6+ Kf8 15. Qb4 f6 16. Bb3 g6 17. Nc4 Kg7 18. a4 Nf7 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. Bxf7 Kxf7 21. Nxe5+ Kg7 22. Nc4 b5 23. axb5 Qa7 24. b6 Qa4 25. Qc5 Re8 26. f3 Qc2 27. Ne3 Qb3 28. Rb1 Qf7 29. Nc4 Ra4 30. Rb4 Ra2 31. Qd4 Kg8 32. Ne3 Ra3 33. Ra4 Rb3 34. Rfa1 Kg7 35. Ra8 Rb5 36. Rb8 c5 37. Qd5 Rxb6 38. Raa8 Qf8 39. Nc4 Rc6 40. f4 b5 41. Rxb5 Ba6 42. Rxe8 Qxe8 43. Rxc5 Rxc5 44. Qxc5 Qxe4 45. Ne3 Qxf4 46. h3 Bb7 47. c4 Bc6 48. Qa3 Qd4 49. Kh2 f5 50. c5 f4 51. Nc2 Qe5 52. Qa1 Qxa1 53. Nxa1 Kf6 54. Nc2 Ke5 55. Nb4 Bb7 56. Kg1 Kd4 57. c6 Bc8 58. cxd7 Bxd7 59. Kf2 Ke5 60. Nd3+ Kxd6 61. Nxf4 Ke5 62. Ke3 Kf6 63. Nd3 h6 64. Kf4 g5+ 65. Ke3 h5 66. Nc5 Bc6 67. g3 h4 68. g4 Bg2 69. Ne4+ Bxe4 70. Kxe4 Ke6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Game 18 (Exhibition)"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1889"] [Round "18"] [White "Ponce/Tchigorin"] [Black "Gavilan/Steinitz"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Nge7 8. d5 Nd8 9. Qa4 Bb6 10. Bg5 Qd6 11. Na3 c6 12. Rad1 Qb8 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. d6+ Kf8 15. Qb4 f6 16. Bb3 {Compare our notes to the 15th and 17th games of the main contest.} 16... Nf7 17. Nh4 g6 {Loss of time. The Black party had nothing to fear from Nf5, and they ought to have retreated Bd8 at once. If then, for instance, 18. Qc4, Nh6; 17. Nf5, b5; etc.} 18. Kh1 Bd8 19. f4 exf4 20. Bxf7 Kxf7 21. e5 {This gives White a Powerful attack which was extremely difficult to parry.} 21... fxe5 {Certainly an error, but only on account of the most ingenious rejoinder which White had in store. The best defensive plan was 21... Kg7; with the probable continuation 22. Qxf4, Rf8; 23. e6, d3; 24. d7, Qxf4; 25. , and Black will have three Pawns for the piece with a good game. But 21... g5 was also of no use on account of 22. Qc4+, Kf8; 23. Nf5, fe; 24. Qe4, Bf6; 25. Nc4, etc.} 22. Rxf4+ {As will be seen from our analysis, this sacrifice is as deep as it is beautiful and forms one of the finest instances of brilliant combination of play.} 22... Kg7 {If 22. exf4; 23. Qxf4+, Kg7; 24. Rf1, Rg8 (or 24... b5, 25. Qf7+, Kh6; 26. Nf5+, gxf5; Rxf5, Bg5; h4 and wins. Or if 24... Bxh4; 25. Qd4+, Kg8; 26. Qc4+, Kg7; 27. Rf7+ and wins); 25. Qd4+, Kh6; 26. Rf7, Bg5 (or 26... g5; 27/. Qe4, Rg6--if gxh4; 28. Qxh7+, followed by Rf5+ and Qh5 mate--; 28. Rxh7+, Kxh7; 29. Qxg6+, Kh8; 30. Nf5 and wins); 27. Qg4, Qxd6; 28. Nf5+, gxf5; Qh3+ and wins.} 23. Nf5+ gxf5 24. Rxf5 Rg8 25. Rdf1 b5 {The Black allies might have somewhat prolonged the game by 25... Kh6; when the game might have proceeded: 26. Qc5, b5; 27. Qxe5, Rg5; 28. Rxg5, Bxg5; 29. Rf6+, Bxf6; 30. Qxf6+, Kh5, 31. h3 and mates next move.} 26. Qg4+ {Nothing to be done for White will proceed with Rf8.} 1-0 [Event "Game 19 (Exhibition)"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1889"] [Round "19"] [White "Gavilan/Steinitz"] [Black "Ponce/Tchigorin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 Bxf3 4. gxf3 dxc4 5. e3 e5 6. Bxc4 Qd6 {If 6... ed; 7. Qb3, Qe7; Qxb7, (8. Bxf7+, Qxf7; Qxb7, c6; 10. Qxa8, Bd6; followed by Nf6 would be bad for White), 8... Qb4+; 9. Qxb4, Bxb4+; 10. Bd2 with the better game.} 7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Nc6 9. f4 g5 10. fxg5 Nxe5 11. Bb5+ {To prevent either of the adverse Knights from entering at c6, which would have been inconvenient, as White had to advance the e pawn sooner or later, and the d4 square would form a convenient post for the adverse N.} 11... c6 12. Be2 h6 13. e4 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Nc3 Nf6 17. Kc2 {So far the White allies had still the better game, but they lose time here, for Kd2 with the view of supporting the Pawns on the King's side by Ke3 was much superior.} 17... Ke7 18. Rag1 Rah8 19. Rg5 Ng6 20. Kd2 Rxh2 21. Rxh2 Rxh2 22. Ke3 Rh3+ 23. f3 Rh5 24. Rg3 {The White allies injudiciously try to maintain the attack on the King's side which could not be well enough supported, since Black, after moving the R, could at least effect the exchange of the adverse B for the N by Nh5 in case White advanced the f pawn. Rg1, with the view of advancing the Pawns on the Queen's side as was done later, gave more prospects of success for White's game.} 24... Rh2 25. Rg5 Nh5 26. b4 Nhf4 27. b5 Ne6 28. Rg1 Ngf4 {If 28... c5; 29. a4, Nd4; 30. Rg5, b6; 31. a5 with a good game.} 29. bxc6 bxc6 30. Rb1 Ng2+ 31. Kf2 {It was of no use trying to escape the draw by Kd3, for after 31... N2f4+; White could not retreat 32. Kd2 on account of 32... Nd4; 33. Re1, Nfxe2; 34. Nxe2, Nxf3+ and wins.} 31... Ngf4+ 32. Ke3 {Best. If 32. Kg1, Rg2+; 33. Kf1 (or 33. Kh1, Nxe2 with a sure draw at least and a good prospect of winning), 33. Ng5 threatening Nh3 with an excellent attack.} 32... Ng2+ 33. Kf2 Ngf4+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Game 20"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1889"] [Round "20"] [White "Ponce/Tchigorin"] [Black "Gavilan/Steinitz"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O Qf6 7. d4 Bb6 {A deviation from the course adopted in the main contest between Messrs. Steinitz and Tchigorin which, however, might only lead to a transposition of moves.} 8. Na3 {For we think that White might have proceeded with 8. Qa4 with the view of advancing d5 to which Na5 would not be a good reply, as White would then retreat Bd3 followed by c4 and Bd2. Whereas if 8... ed; 9. e5, Qg6; 10. cd, Nxd4; 11. Nxd4, Bxd4; 12. Bxf7+, Qxf7; 13. Qxd4, Ne7; 14. Ba3, O-O; 15. Nc3, Re8; 16. Bxe7, Qxe7; 17. Rad1, with a fine game, for if 17... c6; 18. Ne4, Qxe5; 19. Nd6 and wins.} 8... Nh6 {We believe that Black could also safely play 8... d6 and if 9. Bg5, Qg6; 10. de, de; 11. Nxe5, Qxg5; 12. Nxf7, Qh413. Nxh8, Nf6 threatening Ng4 with an excellent attack.} 9. Bg5 Qg6 10. Bxh6 Qxh6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 O-O 13. Bd3 {Black has now slightly the advantage owing to his opportunity of forcing an open file for his R by f6.} 13... f6 14. Nc4 fxe5 15. Nxe5 d6 16. Bc4+ Be6 17. Qb3 dxe5 {Either R to e8 would have been of no use as White could well answer Nd7.} 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Bf5 g6 {The Black allies take their chance of an immediate King's side attack, but we believe that Qc6 was more sure to give them the best of the game. They might have then continued Ba5 which either forced the c pawn on, or Black's QR would obtain free possession of the open Q file, in case White defended the c pawn with one of their Rooks.} 20. Bg4 Rf4 21. Bf3 {This was wrong. They ought to have retreated Be2, followed by Kh1, and though Black would have won the f Pawn by doubling Rooks it would have been very difficult at least if not impossible for them to force the game on account of the Bishops being of opposite colors.} 21... g5 22. Qd5 Qf6 23. Qd1 Rg8 24. h3 {This gives the opponents an opportunity of instituting an irresistible attack. 24. Kh1 was by far better, for if 24... g4; 25. Be2, Bxf2; 26. (or 25... Rxe4; 26. f3, etc.); 26. g3, Qh6; (if 26... Rxe4; 27. Kg2 and wins); 27. Qd5 (but not 27. gxf4 on account of the reply, 27... Bg3; etc.), and ought to draw.} 24... g4 {This forces the game, and it will be easily noticed that White's replies to the end are all compulsory.} 25. hxg4 {If 25. Bxg4, R8xg4; 26. hxg4, Rxf2; 27. Rxf2, Qxf2+; 28. K moves, Qh4 mate.} 25... h5 26. g5 {Of course if gh then Rxf3.} 26... Rxg5 27. Kh2 Rh4+ 28. Kg1 Rf4 29. Kh2 Rh4+ 30. Kg1 Rf4 {Both parties were here much pressed for time, and relieved themselves by repetition of moves.} 31. Kh2 Rh4+ 32. Kg1 Qf4 33. Re1 Rxg2+ {For if 34. Kxg2 then Qh2+ and Qxf2 mate.} 0-1

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