Wilhelm Steinitz – Johannes Zukertort

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Wilhelm Steinitz
Johannes Zukertort
Result: 1-0

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Date: March 29, 1886
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Tournament: Steinitz - Zukertort World Championship
Round: 20
Opening: C25 Vienna Game
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Published on: March 3, 2026

[Event "Steinitz - Zukertort World Championship"]
[Site "New Orleans, LA USA"]
[Date "1886.03.29"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Wilhelm Steinitz"]
[Black "Johannes Zukertort"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C25"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1886.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 exf4 4. d4 $1 {Steinitz has developed this audacious gambit in his youth. It is interesting to see playing it in the most important moment of his career - the World Championship match.} d5 {Playing d5 before going for the check is worse, since White can take on f4 now as well} (4... Qh4+ 5. Ke2 {[pgndiagram] As Kasparov writes, "Naturally, this gambit is nonsense in the modern day chess, but back in the day, opponents had trouble refuting it." The present game is the best example}) 5. exd5 {Allowing the check, naturally} (5. Bxf4 Bb4 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nf3 {Is more normal}) 5... Qh4+ 6. Ke2 Qe7+ 7. Kf2 Qh4+ 8. g3 fxg3+ 9. Kg2 {[pgndiagram] Actually, this way of refuting the gambit is probably not the most energetic and Black has to look for other possibilities instead of 4 (5).. d5} Nxd4 (9... Bd6 {Might be more interesting} 10. dxc6 gxh2 11. Qf3 hxg1=Q+ 12. Kxg1 Qxd4+ 13. Be3 Qf6 {With c omplicated position}) 10. hxg3 Qg4 11. Qe1+ $2 {[pgndiagram] This is a bad move } (11. Bf4 {Would actually alow White to fight for the advantage} Bc5 (11... Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Nxc2 13. Bd3 {Gives him massive lead in development and serious compensation for the missing pawns}) 12. Nf3 Nxf3 13. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 14. Kxf3 Nf6 15. Re1+ Kd8 16. Bd3 {[pgndiagram] And White has sufficient compensation for the pawn, but not more than that}) 11... Be7 12. Bd3 {It is important to defend the c2 pawn} (12. Rh4 Nxc2) 12... Nf5 $2 {And very quickly there comes a serious mistake. Rh4 was threatened and the move defends against that, but it disrupts the coordination of the Black's pieces} (12... Kf8 13. Bf4 h5 { Playing for the fast h4 was the right way to go}) (12... Nf6 13. Rh4) 13. Nf3 Bd7 (13... Kf8 {Was slightly more resillient} 14. Bf4 f6 15. Ne4 Ngh6 {And White has to find the way to win}) 14. Bf4 {[pgndiagram] Already it is hard to find a move for Black. Ne5 is a terrible threat} f6 (14... Nf6 15. Ne5) 15. Ne4 {Now Nf2 is on the table as well} Ngh6 $2 {A blunder in a lost position} (15... O-O-O 16. Qa5) (15... Kf8 16. Nf2 Qg6 17. g4 {[pgndiagram] And White will win material} Re8 18. Bxf5 Bxf5 19. Nh4) 16. Bxh6 Nxh6 17. Rxh6 $1 {Winning the piece or the queen} gxh6 18. Nxf6+ Kf8 19. Nxg4 {[pgndiagram] An impressive victory which allowed Steinitz to capture the crown.} 1-0

Wilhelm Steinitz – Johannes Zukertort

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