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Zukertort vs Blackburne, 1883

Zukertort’s 28.Qb4 looks like a retreat. It threatens mate and a rook, and the combination that follows — 29.Rf8+ and 31.Bxe5+ — wins Blackburne’s queen.

White
Johannes Zukertort
Black
Joseph Blackburne
Event
London
Year
1883
Result
1-0

Critical position

Zukertort vs Blackburne, 1883, after ply 54♜♚♟♝♛♙♟♙♟♟♙♖♙♗♜♕♙♙♖♔abcdefgh12345678

After 27... e5. White to move.

Take over as White vs Maia

Step through

Position after 27... e5♜♚♟♝♛♙♟♙♟♟♙♖♙♗♜♕♙♙♖♔abcdefgh12345678

27... e5

Annotated score

  1. 1. c4 (excellent) e6 (best)

  2. 2. e3 (excellent) Nf6 (best)

  3. 3. Nf3 (best) b6 (good)

  4. 4. Be2 (best) Bb7 (best)

  5. 5. O-O (best) d5 (excellent)

  6. 6. d4 (excellent) Bd6 (best)

  7. 7. Nc3 (best) O-O (best)

  8. 8. b3 (best) Nbd7 (excellent)

  9. 9. Bb2 (best) Qe7 (excellent)

  10. 10. Nb5 (best) Ne4 (excellent)

  11. 11. Nxd6 (excellent) cxd6 (best)

  12. 12. Nd2 (excellent) Ndf6 (good)

  13. 13. f3 (excellent) Nxd2 (best)

  14. 14. Qxd2 (best) dxc4 (best)

  15. 15. Bxc4 (best) d5 (best)

  16. 16. Bd3 (best) Rfc8 (best)

  17. 17. Rae1 (good) Rc7 (excellent)

  18. 18. e4 (best) Rac8 (good)

  19. 19. e5 (best) Ne8 (good)

  20. 20. f4 (good) g6 (best)

  21. 21. Re3 (best) f5 (best)

  22. 22. exf6 (best) Nxf6 (best)

  23. 23. f5 (best) Ne4 (inaccuracy)

  24. 24. Bxe4 (best) dxe4 (best)

  25. 25. fxg6 (inaccuracy) Rc2 (mistake)

    Rc2: 25...Rc2 looks winning. White has already seen past it.

  26. 26. gxh7+ (mistake) Kh8 (good)

  27. 27. d5+ (best) e5 (inaccuracy)

  28. 28. Qb4 (mistake) R8c5 (blunder)

    Qb4: 28.Qb4. The queen leaves d2 and the whole attack works.

  29. 29. Rf8+ (best) Kxh7 (mistake)

    Rf8+: 29.Rf8+ forces the king onto the long diagonal.

  30. 30. Qxe4+ (best) Kg7 (best)

  31. 31. Bxe5+ (best) Kxf8 (best)

  32. 32. Bg7+ (best) Kg8 (best)

  33. 33. Qxe7 (inaccuracy)

    Qxe7: 33.Qxe7. White is a queen up.