March 07, 1920 Philadelphia Inquirer Chess and Checkers

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Chess 07 Mar 1920, Sun The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com

The following sprightly game was played in the recent Washington's Birthday Tournament held at the rooms of the Y.M.C.A. February 23.

Thomas Elmer Moon (white) vs. William Allen Ruth (black)
French Defense: Steinitz Attack
Submitted to chessgames.com 03/30/2025

Descriptive 1. P-K4 P-K3 2. P-K5 P-Q4 3. PxP BxP 4. P-Q4 P-QN3 5. N-KB3 B-N2 6. B-N5 BxN 7. QxB QxB 8. QxR Q-B8ch 9. K-K2 P-QB3 10. P-KN3 QxQNP 11. B-N2 QxR 12. BxPch K-Q 13. N-R3 QxRP 14. N-N5 Q-B5ch 15. K-K3 QxB 16. QxQ NxQ 17. NxB N-R3 18. R-R K-K2 19. N-N5 N-B4ch 20. K-K4 N-Q3ch 21. NxN KxN 22. P-QB4 P-QR4 0-1

Algebraic 1. e4 e6 2. e5 d5 3. exd6e.p. Bxd6 4. d4 b6 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bg5 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Qxg5 8. Qxa8 Qc1+ 9. Ke2 c6 10. g3 Qxb2 11. Bg2 Qxa1 12. Bxc6+ Kd8 13. Na3 Qxa2 14. Nb5 Qc4+ 15. Ke3 Qxc6 16. Qxc6 Nxc6 17. Nxd6 Nh6 18. Ra1 Ke7 19. Nb5 Nf5+ 20. Ke4 Nd6+ 21. Nxd6 Kxd6 22. c4 a5 0-1

(a) This move was introduced many years ago by Steinitz and many commentators claimed that the play was originated by him. In fact statements have been made to the effect that Steinitz so stated himself. The move, however, will be found analyzed by Jaenisch in the edition published by G. Walker in 1847. The move while perfectly sound does not yield as strong an attack for White as the more modern attack of P-Q4, followed by Queen's N to B3, etc.
(b) Already Black has obtained an even game.
(c) We imagine this move was somewhat of a surprise to the player of the White forces. The sacrifice of the Rook appears to be quite sound.