February 04 1968
Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, Sunday, February 04, 1968
The Chessboard: Old Masters XIII: Late Starter
By Harry T. Conover, Press Staff Writer
The English master, Joseph Henry Blackburne, learned chess rather late in life at 19, an age when most masters have already earned their spurs in the international arena. He made up for lost time by winning the championship of England when he was 26.
Blackburne, born in Manchester Dec. 18, 1841, played in his first international tournament in 1862. From the first his play was marked by combinative genius, brilliant end-game play, and opening innovations which closely resemble those adopted years later by the hyper-moderns.
Among his more memorable triumphs were his placing first ahead of Zukertort at Berlin in 1881, and tying for first in the British Chess Federation Congress of 1914, one of the last tournaments in which he played. He died Sept. 1, 1924.
In the London Tournament of 1892, Blackburne's talent for end game play showed itself as he defeated James Mason, the American-born master who was then living in London. The score follows:
Joseph Henry Blackburne vs James Mason
British CC Invitational (1892), London ENG, rd 4, Mar-31
King's Gambit: Accepted. Traditional Variation (C38) 1-0
1. P-K4 P K4; 2. P-KB4 PxP; 3. N-KB3…
The King Knight's Gambit. The old gambits which were in their heyday in Blackburne's time, have since all but vanished from serious tournaments. More's the pity, since they had much to offer in attacking chances for the enterprising player.
3.… P-KN4
Other possibilities for Black here are P-Q4, P-KR3, N-KB3 and B-K2.
4. B-B4
Here, 4. P-KR4, P-N5; 5. N-K5 leads to the Kieseritzky Gambit which still has not been proved unsound.
4. …B-N2; 5. P-Q4 P-Q3; 6. O-O P-KR3; 7. P-B3 N-KB3
Black is seeking to hold on to his extra pawn, a procedure latter day practice proved to be incorrect. Be that as it may, he has a better move here in 7. … Q-K2.
8. P-K5! …
A sharp reply, underscoring the weakness of Black's seventh move.
8.… PxP; 9. Q-N3 0-0; 10. NxKP Q-K; 11. N-N6! …
The slashing attack which has developed is typical of those evolving from the King's Gambit. Black will be hard put to save the exchange.
11. … P-N4
This clever move is Black's only hope. The position now becomes critical.
12. BxNP Q-K5; 13. N-K5 …
And not 13. NxR, which loses to 13. B-N2; 14. R-B2, N-N5; 15. R-K2, BxPch; 16. PxB, QxQPch; 17. K-B, NxPch; 18. K-K, P-B6; 19. B-K3, Q-R5ch; 20. B-B2, PxP, and Black wins.
13. … B-N2; 14. N-B3 N-N5; 15. R-K Q-N3; 16. B-K2 …
Having repelled Black's attack, White now seeks to consolidate his position.
16. … Q-QB3; 17. B-Q3 N-B3; 18. Q-B2 QN-Q2; 19. N-R3 QR-K; 20. B-Q2 P-R3; 21. RxR RxR; 22. R-K RxRch; 23. NxR …
The exchanges have favored White because of his superior pawn configuration.
23. … Q-K3; 24. B-B4 N-Q4; 25. Q-Q3 N(2)-B3; 26. N(3)-B2 B-KB; 27. Q-K2 N-K5; 28. N-B3 B-Q3; 29. B-B P-QR4
At this point the game appears to be about even, with both players carefully maneuvering to gain some sort of advantage.
30. N-Q2 NxN?
Since exchanges now are advantageous for White, it seems Black would have done better to play 30. … P-KB4, retaining the strongpoint K5 for his knight.
31. BxN K-B; 32. QxQ PxQ; 33. N-K K-K2; 34. N-Q3 N-N3; 35. B-N3 B-Q4; 36. BxB PxB
Black has to some extent mended his broken pawn formation and should now be able to draw.
37. P-QN3 P-R5; 38. K-B2 PxP; 39. PxP N-Q2; 40. K-B3…
The entrance of the White king into the game marks the start of some fine end-game play by Blackburne.
40. … K-B3; 41. P-B4 PxP; 42. PxP K-B4?
This loses. 42. … P-B4 would have made matters much more difficult for White, and might even have secured the draw.
43. P-B5! B-K2; 44. B-R5! If now 44. … B-Q; 45. P-Q5, with the strong threat of 46. P-Q6.
44.… P-N5ch; 45. K-K2 K-K5; 46. BxP P-B6ch; 47. PxP PxPch; 48. K-Q2 KxP; 49. P-B6 B-N4ch; 50. K-B2 Resigns
Any move of the knight permits the pawn to queen.
