King’s Gambit / Steinitz’s “Best” Game ?
by National Life Master Loal Davis
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The King’s Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves:
1. e4 e5
2. f4
White offers a pawn to divert the Black e-pawn so as to build a strong centre with d2–d4. Theory has shown that in order for Black to maintain the gambit pawn, he may well be forced to weaken his kingside.
The King’s Gambit is one of the oldest documented openings. It was examined by the 17th century Italian chess player Giulio Polerio and before that by Luis Ramirez de Lucena.
The gambit has always had an ardent following, but few World Champions have ventured into its depths. Nevertheless it was played by the first official World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz. After that I think you have to look to the games of Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, though neither ventured it during a World Championship match.
“The Golden Treasury Of Chess” contains the following game with the inference that it may well be the greatest game that Steinitz ever played. It is certainly a game worth study and is one of my favorites.
Steinitz versus Simonson New York, 1883
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4
It has taken awhile, but the consensus is that White, instead of ‘shuffling a piece in the name of development’, should strike at the ‘base’ of the Kingside Pawn structure to liquidate/remove/weaken/attack/whatever to really gain freedom and central control.
g4 5. Ne5 h5
Greed. Both 5… d6 and 5… Nf6 attack and develop while fighting for control of the center.
6. Bc4 Nh6 7. d4 d6 8. Nd3 f3
A ‘clever’ plan to ‘mess up’ White’s position on the Kingside while winning the Pawn on ‘h4′. Unfortunately the more important center goes to White.
9. gxf3 Be7 10. Be3
Since the King is going to flee, Steinitz provides a little niche while harmoniously developing all of his pieces around it.
Bxh4+ 11. Kd2 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Bg4 13. Qf4 Nc6 14. Nc3 Ne7
Black has concocted a ‘clever’ way of defending that Bishop on ‘h4′ while sliding the Knight into ‘g6′ to drive White back – or so he thinks.
15. Raf1 Rh7
White To Move
16. Rxh4 Steinitz ignores the ‘threat’ and in the process takes a full three minor pieces (nine points) for his Queen. Ng6 17. Rxg4 Nxf4 18. Rgxf4 c6 What to do? If White’s Knight gets into ‘d5′ then it hops into the ‘soft’ ‘f6′ square. 19. Rf6 Deflection. Black’s problem is that his forces are split and ineffective while White’s forces are working in perfect harmony. Ng4 20. Bxf7+ Kd7 21. Be6+ Kc7 22. Rf7+ Rxf7 23. Rxf7+ Kb6 24. Bxg4 hxg4 25. d5+ c5 26. e5 Once again striking at the ‘base’ of the Pawn chain. Ka6 Black is ‘prepared’ to let the ‘d’ Pawn go and build a ‘shelter’ with ‘b6′. Steinitz has another surprise for him.
White To Move
27. Bxc5 This looks like another ‘sacrifice’; this time a Bishop for three Pawns. Although a full equivalent, Steinitz has yet another surprise. dxc5 28. Nxc5+ Kb6 29. Rxb7+ He lets the Knight go. What does he have in mind? Kxc5 30. Kd3 Ouch ! ! Centralization. The control over the ‘c4′ and ‘d4′ squares means that White is threatening mate in two ways. One is ‘Rb5#; the other is ‘b4#’. Notice that Black has no useful checks to distract from this diabolical plan. Qa5 What else? 31. b4+ Qxb4 32. Ne4+ Black must now give up his Queen for the Knight. The resultant King and Pawn ending is a simple win. Bravo. 1-0 For the PGN file – See CommentsOne Response to King’s Gambit / Steinitz’s “Best” Game ?
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[Event "New York 1883"]
[Date "1883.??.??"]
[White "Steinitz"]
[Black "Simonson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "63"]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 {It has taken awhile, but the consensus is that White, instead of ‘shuffling a piece in the name of development’, should strike at the ‘base’ of the Kingside Pawn structure to liquidate/remove/weaken/attack/whatever to really gain freedom and central control.} g4 5. Ne5 h5 { Greed.} ({Both} 5… d6) ({and} 5… Nf6 {attack and develop while fighting for control of the center.}) 6. Bc4 Nh6 7. d4 d6 8. Nd3 f3 {A ‘clever’ plan to ‘mess up’ White’s position on the Kingside while winning the Pawn on ‘h4′. Unfortunately the more important center goes to White.} 9. gxf3 Be7 10. Be3 { Since the King is going to flee, Steinitz provides a little niche while harmoniously developing all of his pieces around it.} Bxh4+ 11. Kd2 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Bg4 13. Qf4 Nc6 14. Nc3 Ne7 {Black has concocted a ‘clever’ way of defending that Bishop on ‘h4′ while sliding the Knight into ‘g6′ to drive White back – or so he thinks.} 15. Raf1 Rh7 16. Rxh4 {Steinitz ignores the ‘threat’ and in the process takes a full three minor pieces (nine points) for his Queen.} Ng6 17. Rxg4 Nxf4 18. Rgxf4 c6 {What to do? If White’s Knight gets into ‘d5′ then it hops into the ‘soft’ ‘f6′ square.} 19. Rf6 {Deflection. Black’s problem is that his forces are split and ineffective while White’s forces are working in perfect harmony.} Ng4 20. Bxf7+ Kd7 21. Be6+ Kc7 22. Rf7+ Rxf7 23. Rxf7+ Kb6 24. Bxg4 hxg4 25. d5+ c5 26. e5 {Once again striking at the ‘base’ of the Pawn chain.} Ka6 {Black is ‘prepared’ to let the ‘d’ Pawn go and build a ‘shelter’ with ‘b6′. Steinitz has another surprise for him.} 27. Bxc5 { This looks like another ‘sacrifice’; this time a Bishop for three Pawns. Although a full equivalent, Steinitz has yet another surprise.} dxc5 28. Nxc5+ Kb6 29. Rxb7+ {He lets the Knight go. What does he have in mind?} Kxc5 30. Kd3 {Ouch ! ! Centralization. The control over the ‘c4′ and ‘d4′ squares means that White is threatening mate in two ways. One is ‘Rb5#; the other is ‘b4#’. Notice that Black has no useful checks to distract from this diabolical plan.} Qa5 {What else?} 31. b4+ Qxb4 32. Ne4+ {Black must now give up his Queen for the Knight. The resultant King and Pawn ending is a simple win. Bravo.} 1-0