By Kevin Marchese April 3, 2013
C. Locke Curtis and F.H. Willenberg were regular mainstays in competing for the championship of the Ohio State Chess Tournament in the 1890’s. The following is the deciding game in a tie for that state’s annual championship in 1891, played in Toledo, Ohio.
[Event "1891 Ohio State Chess Tournament"]
[Site "Toledo, OH (USA)"]
[Date "1891.06.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Curtis, C. Locke"]
[Black "Willenberg, F.H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C62"]
[PlyCount "71"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6
{The Steinitz variation of the Ruy Lopez.} 4. d4
exd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 6. Be3 Nxd4 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Bxd4 c5 9. Bc3 Qe6 10. Qe2 Ne7
11. Na3 O-O-O 12. O-O-O f5 13. Rhe1 fxe4 14. Qxe4 Qxe4 15. Rxe4 d5 16. Bxg7
dxe4 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. Bxh8 Bh6+ 19. Kd1 Kd7 20. g3 Ke6 21. Ke2 Nd5 22. Nb1
{22.c3 to prevent the advance of the Black Knight would have led to the following continuation: 22…Ne7 23.c4 (forced in order to save the Bishop when Black plays Ng6) Bc1 24.Nb5 a6 and Black must win a Pawn} 23.
Nb4 23. Nc3 Kf5 24. Nb5 Nxc2 25. Nd6+ Kg4 26. Nxe4 b6 27. h4 Kf5 28. f3 Nb4 29.
a3 Nc6 30. Bc3 Bf8
{To save the Queen’s Rook Pawn.} 31. g4+ Kg6 32. h5+ Kh6
{The anxiety to protect the isolated Pawn is at once fatal.} 33. f4 Be7 34. Ng3
Nd4+ 35. Bxd4 cxd4 36. Nf5# 1-0
You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.
GAME SOURCE Charleston Sunday News – July 19th, 1891 (score and notes originally from the Toledo Commercial )
Posted in Featured , Games
Most Recent Comments