St. Louis Globe Democrat/1886/Steinitz's Second Game

STEINITZS SECOND GAME

EIGHTH GAME OF CHESS TOURNEY PLAYED YESTERDAY

Dr. Zukertort Somewhat Restless and Irritable

The Strongest Game of the Match

The Russian Leads Off with the Queens Opening

The two principals in the great chess tourney, which is at present occupying the attention of the entire chess world, began the second game of their series in the Directors Room of the Harmonie Club promptly at 2'oclock. The previous game, which had been one of great skill and brilliancy, had the effect of a grand advertisement and yesterday the large room was filled with the devotees of the game and curiosity seers. Of the contestants Steinitz was the first to appear upon the scene of his recent victory and his full face exhibited a good deal of determination and brightness. He has still a strong feeling predicting his success in the great contest and many of his staunch friends say that he will win in spite of the lead of three games which stared him the face when he finished the New York engagement. There is a great desire upon his part to be the victor from other than pecuniary reasons. The growing record of Dr. Zukertort as a great player has for some time promised to eclipse the marvelous honors which Steinitz made during his years of successful competition against every one who figured at all prominently in the royal game. This tournament will effectually establish the supremacy of one of these players, and Steinitz is very desirous of keeping the honors upon this side of the globe.

Zukertort Wins the Move

When the hour of the game arrived Dr. C. D. N. Campbell adjusted the ingenious Vienna clocks and dusted off the chess board. The two masters then took their seats upon the elevated platform and adjusted chessmen, records, and their glasses, and went to work. Zukertort chose the white and won the lead. The little clock went down with a click and there was a careful searching glance at the board, and an insignificant looking "pawn" marched into "queen's fourth". Again the clock clicked, and Steinitz duplicated the move. The game was now fairly underway and what is known as "the Queen's Gambit declined." Both players settled down to hard labor and deep study. The little Russian rested his head upon his hand as though in attitude of prayer but there was an intelligence in his look and firm setting of the jaw that evinced the fact that he was playing chess for all he was worth. In the meantime Herr Steinitz gave vent to his nervous spirit and moved about in his chair very much as a man would do who was playing a game with odds greatly against him. So nervous did he become about the fifteenth move that he ordered a cup of strong coffee and took an extended stroll in the club lobby. There is one peculiarity about both of these players which has received very little attention at the hands of the press, and that is their excessively irritable spirit. During the first game, the Directors of the Chess, Checkers, and Whist Club suffered considerable inconvenience as a result of this peculiarity. This fact is a matter of comment among the chess players of the city. Yesterday both of the contestants insisted upon the tables being removed into another room, owing to some imaginary cause, but when the time for the game arrived they concluded that the old room would be more convenient.

Active Opening

The first ten moves of the game were randomly played but from this point on both devoted more time to the analysis of the contemplated move. Dr. Zukertort is much the more rapid of the two and seems to have a line of action laid out before his opponent sets down the piece. At the completion of the fifteenth move odds seemed slightly to favor Steinitz, owing to an isolated pawn, but old chessmen refused to make any predictions on such a superficial indication. The picture of one of these great games at any time during their progress is a unique and interesting one. Upon a drab-colored platform, about 8 feet by 6, stands an elegantly carved rosewood table; at the right and left of the table sit the greatest players of chess in the world. Upon the right the short, heavy form of Wilhelm Steinitz is bending over the board in a brown study, his sandy beard sweeping over a chess man now and then. Across the board is Dr. Zukertort who, unlike his antagonist, sits with his back against the chair and contemplated at long range the battlefield. Both players do more squirming to the square inch that a liberated alligator would, and there is every indication that should either of them make a false movement of his men the world would cease to revolve.

As the limits of the game were drawn to more critical situations both men seemed to be extremely nervous and the spleen of the Russian was vented by means of impatient refusals to allow his opponent to converse during the game. It was quite evident that the situation at the close of the twenty-sixth move, while still slightly favoring the black, was desperately close and both players exercised the greatest care. The plays of Zukertort were now more deliberate and he consumed almost as much time as his rival across the board.

Almost Hopeless

When the thirtieth inning was reached popular belief was firm that white had no hope whatever. The strongholds of the black seemed impregnable. The hour of adjournment was now very near and Steinitz was in the midst of a deep study when Zukertort asked if the adjournment should be made after the next move. This led to a spirited discussion of the rules of the game and was finally brought to a close by Zukertort's saying that he was ready to go on with the game. It was decided however, that after Steinitz made his play the game should be held over until 8 oclock, as the four hours required by the regime had already been exhausted. This met with general approval and the crowd of chess players scattered for something more substantial. The game is considered by competent experts to be as fine as the one played Wednesday, and it was a subject of extended remark that Steinitz was playing in much better form than at the games in New York City.

When the evening session was called to order Zukertort wore a decidedly worried look and the predictions regarding the probable termination of the game had doubtless been breathed to him. At 8:30 o'clock the competitors took their seats upon the elevated platform and Zukertort, being the first to move, set the clock in motion. His hopes were soon to be cut short for from the beginning of the evening's work Steinitz gradually drew in his forces about his adversary, and by the thirty-third move the fate of the Russian was sealed.

Nearing the End

The game proceeded steadily without any hitch until the thirty-sixth move when the white was forced to resign. The Russian looked disappointed, but came down from his chair and talked pleasantly with his friends. Congratulations were offered Steinitz by the score, and it was generally talked that the prospects for winning the tourney were good. There can be no doubt that if he does come out victorious he will have played the greatest games of chess ever heard of. The next game comes off at the same place at 2'oclock Monday afternoon. During the rest of their stay here, the players will be entertained by members of the St. Louis Chess, Checkers, and Whist Club.

Zukertort - Steinitz (7)

Chess Items

Steinitzs eyes trouble him. "What cranks the players are?" said a spectator. Umpire Duncan was the best looking chessist in the hall. N. F. Cleary, the Leadville attorney, thought the men were queer-looking. Robbins and Joseph, our St. Louis problemists, compose problems between the moves. Steinitz remarked at the close of the game that it was the finest chess that he has so far played. Charles F. Wadsworth, chess editor of the Auburn Citizen, came down expressly to see the match. Zukertort has a brother aged 35 who is in the German army and three sisters, all married, living in Germany. W. C. McCreary quietly enjoyed the game in a corner of the room, where sat also Judge Krum planning how he could win for Steinitz. W. C. Rehfer of the Jewish Free Press was on hand. His opinion of the game at 4 o'clock was that the isolated pawn gave Zukertort trouble. Delafield is as proud as a peacock over the results of his efforts in waking up the chess players of the city to the necessity of contributing toward the match. He attributes all to the press. Mr. Judd's remarks to Zukertort's twelfth move, that this move, more than anything else, led to the loss of the game, was made under the impression that it would retard the development of the queens bishop, which it does not do. Zukertort's best move was Bd4, attaining the same object as the move made, and besides controlling the all-important diagonal.