Steinitz – Deacon

Black accepts the gambit pawn. But what does White gain from this? The f-file is now open for White’s rook after castling. White also has an abundance of central pawns.

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Date: 1863.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: London
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "London"] [Site "?"] [Date "1863.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Steinitz"] [Black "Deacon"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "51"] 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 {Black accepts the gambit pawn. But what does White gain from this? The f-file is now open for White's rook after castling. White also has an abundance of central pawns.} 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 {This move introduces the Kieseritzky and Allgaier variations to the King's Gambit.} g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 {5...Bg7 6.d4 would leave White in control of the center.} 6.Bc4 d5 {The only move to block White's attack on the f7 pawn.} 7.exd5 Bd6 8.d4 Nh5 9.Nc3 Qe7 {This move is a mistake as it breaks the opening rule that one should not develop the queen before castling. 9...O-O getting the king out of the center was a better move.} 10.Bb5+ c6 {This move leads to Black's defeat due to tactics on the a4-e8 diagonal. 10...Bd7 11.Qxg4 when Black's light squared bishop is unable to capture the White queen due to White's control of the a4-e8 diagonal. 10...Kf8 perhaps is the best move although Black's king would not be very safe on the semi-open f-file.} 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.Nd5 {Initiates a beautiful combination made possible by White's light squared bishop pinning Black's c-pawn.} Qe6 13.Nc7+ {A clearance sacrifice which opens the a2-g8 diagonal for White's light squared bishop.} Bxc7 14.Bc4 Qe7 15.Bxf7+ Kf8 16.Bxh5 {White has a won game due to the exposed position of Black's king.} Bxe5 17.dxe5 Qxe5+ 18.Qe2 Qxh5 {18...Qxe2+ 19.Kxe2 when Black has no way of preventing the loss of his f- pawn.} 19.Bxf4 {White is a piece down but Black's exposed king and backward development give White a winning initiative.} Bf5 {Black tries to block the f-file leading to his king, but it is too late.} 20.O-O Nd7 21.Bh6+ {A decoy move which aims at driving Black's queen from the protection of his bishop.} Kf7 {White now has a combination that wins Black's queen.} 22.Rxf5+ Qxf5 23.Rf1 Qxf1+ 24.Qxf1+ {Although Black has two rooks for the queen his position is lost because of his open King's position.} Kg6 25.Bg5 h6 {25...Rhf8 would allow White to win material.} 26.Qd3+ {Black resigned since he either loses material or gets mated.} 1-0