Chess Chats by George Koltanowski
International Chess Master
Problem No. 179
White to play and mate in two moves.
Solution to Problem No. 178 is: 1. B-Q5.
WILHELM STEINITZ
Here is a game played 25 years later at Hastings (1895). It was the year after he had lost the title to Lasker. But Steinitz could still bare the lion's claws. It is, indeed, one of his most celebrated games. The victim was v. Bardeleben.
Wilhelm Steinitz vs Curt von Bardeleben
Hastings (1895), Hastings ENG, rd 10, Aug-17
Italian Game: Classical Variation. Greco Gambit Traditional Line (C54) 1-0
For mate in at most nine moves can no longer be avoided. What a game! Any modern master would give his eye-tooth to finish off any opponent in the above “Steinitz manner.” The story that von Bardeleben actually never resigned the game. He just got up on the 26th move of White and went to the cloak-room, and wasn't seen or heard of at the tournament hall again. A hand-shake would have been much more simple and sportsmanlike.
Played in the St. Louis District Championship, 1958.
Robert Henry Steinmeyer (white) vs. J. Donald Define (black)
Unresolved Chess Game: Can you solve it?
(a) Live dangerously.
(b) Feels he is a pawn to the good, so, by eliminating pieces from the board, the win must be a question of time.
(c) Prefer P-KR3 here.
(d) If 17. P-B3 BxNP; 18. K-K2 QR-K1; and there might be some doubt in the position.
(e) Gobbles too much.
(f) After 20. Q-1 Q-B6; and it's all over.
(g) Might have resigned here. After 24. KxB Q-Q8ch ends matter, too.