White to Play
Published in Chess Puzzles
Source of the notes from the invaluable Chessbase program: Steinitz,William - Von Bardeleben,Curt [C54] Hastings 1895. We join the game at move 21. 21.Ng5+ Ke8 [21...fxg5?? 22.Qxd7+–] 22.Rxe7+ Kf8 [22...Qxe7 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Qxc8++–; 22...Kxe7 23.Re1+ Kd6 24.Qb4+ Rc5 (24...Kc6 25.Rc1#; 24...Kc7 25.Ne6+ Kb8 26.Qf4++–) 25.Ne4++–] 23.Rf7+! [23.Qxd7?? Rxc1+–+] 23...Kg8! [23...Qxf7 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Qxc8+ Qe8 26.Nxh7++–] 24.Rg7+! Kh8! [24...Kf8 25.Nxh7+ Kxg7 26.Qxd7++–] 25.Rxh7+! and now Black disappeared from the tournament hall without resigning. Note from PT: Steinitz announced the mate from this position to the awed spectators: 25.Rxh7+! Kg8 26.Rg7+ Kh8 27.Qh4+ Kxg7 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qg7+ Ke8 31.Qg8+ Ke7 32.Qf7+ Kd8 33.Qf8+ Qe8 34.Nf7+ Kd7 35.Qd6#
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