Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nd7 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Bc7 8. b4 e5 9. Be2 Ngf6 10. Bb2 e4 11. Nd2 h5 12. h3 Nf8 13. a4 Ng6 14. b5 Nh4 15. g3 Ng2+ 16. Kf1 Nxe3+ 17. fxe3 Bxg3 18. Kg2 Bc7 19. Qg1 Rh6 20. Kf1 Rg6 21. Qf2 Qd7 22. bxc6 bxc6 23. Rg1 Bxh3+ 24. Ke1 Ng4 25. Bxg4 Bxg4 26. Ne2 Qe7 27. Nf4 Rh6 28. Bc3 g5 29. Ne2 Rf6 30. Qg2 Rf3 31. Nf1 Rb8 32. Kd2 f5 33. a5 f4 34. Rh1 Qf7 35. Re1 fxe3+ 36. Nxe3 Rf2 37. Qxf2 Qxf2 38. Nxg4 Bf4+ 39. Kc2 hxg4 40. Bd2 e3 41. Bc1 Qg2 42. Kc3 Kd7 43. Rh7+ Ke6 44. Rh6+ Kf5 45. Bxe3 Bxe3 46. Rf1+ Bf4
The opening already contains a modern strategic conflict. Zukertort expands on the queenside with c5, b4 and b5; Steinitz answers in the center with ...e5 and then turns toward the king when White weakens the dark squares with h3 and g3.
The attack begins with 15...Ng2+ and 16...Nxe3+. Black gives up the knight, but the recapture tears the f-pawn away, removes White’s castling rights and leaves the king exposed to the bishop, rooks and queen.
The finish is not a checkmate on the board. After 46...Bf4, Black’s connected attack and extra material leave White without a useful defence, so Zukertort resigned. Steinitz had won the opening game with Black before Zukertort answered by winning the next four.