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By  U.S.C.F.  LIFE-Master  A.J. Goldsby I
 (Click  here  to visit my main chess home-page.) 

 *** 

This material was originally generated for use on the "About"  website, but was rejected by the chess guide, Mark Weeks. These writings are my work and may  only be used with my specific permission. No other usage is allowed. 

  Copyright © A.J. Goldsby I, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006.  

NOTE:  When I first wrote Mr. Weeks, I informed him that I had a series of lectures on the World Champions, and that I wanted to turn them into articles. Some of this material is stuff that I have used before. If you ever attended one of my simuls, you might have heard this before. (Some of this material is at least 10 years old, maybe older.) 

I also had another web page on this player 5-10 years ago, but that server folded.  {A.J.G.}  

 ************************************************************ 

This was originally intended to be a series on the best players in the world and/or the world champions, starting with A. Anderssen.   
 I have
{now} slightly modified the original format.   

 ************************************************************ 


   {former chess} 
 World Champion, (GM) Wilhelm Steinitz

  Steinitz at the chessboard. (a_wst-phot01.gif, 65 KB)

  Steinitz ... near the height of his powers. (a_wst-phot02.gif, 49 KB)

Firstly, I must apologize to friends and fans everywhere. I first promised to do this article 3-5 years ago, so I am tardy to the extreme. Secondly, if I can finish this in time, this will be my Christmas present to the chess world for  December, 2004(First written on Friday, November 12th, 2004.)   

--->  One of the positive things I did around the time of 1996-1998, was to purchase several books on this player. I began reading all I could discover about this player and began studying his games.   


Many years ago, probably circa the mid-1970's, I asked a very strong GM - who probably at one time was in the 'Top Ten' - what his opinion was on Steinitz. He answered that he really did not know that much about him. Then I asked him a question like: "If Steinitz were alive today, would he be a top player?" The GM responded almost instantly that: "No, no no! If Steinitz were alive today, he would be a weak player, probably not in the world's "Top Fifty."  (This is from memory, but I am sure that this is relatively accurate.)  

This brash, blatant and possibly inaccurate statement has haunted me for a long time ... perhaps because of it I have always held Steinitz in somewhat low regard ... I never deeply studied his games, and also never truly reflected on what this player's place in chess history would really be. 

However, when first I began to build my web pages, I promised everyone that I would go out of my way to be fair, objective, impartial and try to be as 'open-minded' as I could about every subject. 


 BRIEF STEINITZ BIOGRAPHY: (1836 - 1900)  

Wilhelm (William) Steinitz - was born into a large (poor?) family, {he had like 12 or 13 siblings}; in Prague, (today this city is in the Czech Republic); in 1836. (ChessBase gives his date of birth as May 17th, 1836.)  He was probably of Jewish extraction, although exactly how much is unclear. 
(Some have disputed this point ... I will not even enter that debate here.) 

After completing his schooling, he initially attempted to make a living as a journalist. It is unclear exactly when he learned the game ... or began to take it seriously, but it is clear that he was already a strong chess player while in his youth, he won the championship of Vienna in 1861-2. (Turning pro.) 

After making the decision to dedicate all of his efforts to chess, he moved to London in 1862. He played a series of matches against some of the best players in the world. (Blackburne, Anderssen, Bird; just to name three.)  He acquitted himself well and was obviously improving rapidly. Initially Steinitz patterned himself after Morphy, and became a much-feared attacking player.  

At Baden-Baden 1870, he came second, half a point behind Anderssen. At London, 1872; he came in clear first. It was around this time that Steinitz began to be viewed as the strongest player in the world. In Vienna, 1873; he tied for first and convincingly won the play-off. By this time the first indications of the maturing positional ideas that were later to become the hallmark of his style. For nine years after Vienna, he played serious chess only once, defeating J.H. Blackburne by a perfect score. (+ 7!!!) It was during this time that he devoted himself to a deep study of chess. 

Steinitz then played in two of the strongest tournaments ever held up until that point. (Vienna, 1882; he tied for first with Winawer. His score was +20, =8, -6. In London, 1883; he came in clear second - behind J. Zukertort. His score of +19, -7; was clearly ahead of nearly all the other masters, but his failure to take first prize was a set-back to his plans to clearly establish himself as the best player in the world, although he had decisively beaten Zukertort in an important match in 1872.) It was shortly after this tournament that Steinitz moved to America, eventually becoming a {naturalized} U.S. citizen. 

Three years after London, 1883; Steinitz arranged to play another match with Zukertort. The tournament was played in New York, (NY) St. Louis (MO) and New Orleans, (LA). It was agreed by all parties that the first player to win ten games would be recognized as the winner and World Champion. Thus in 1886, after defeating Zukertort to the tune of +10, -5, =5; W. Steinitz became the first ever (official) {chess} World Champion. Subsequently, Steinitz defeated Tchigorin (twice) and I. Gunsberg in matches to retain the title of World Champion. 

In 1894, (age=58); Steinitz took a match with a young upstart ... whom he probably did not consider a great threat. Thus in 1894, the great Steinitz lost his title to a young Emanuel Lasker.  

Steinitz had been one of the best players in the world for over 25 years... and had an unbeaten streak in matches from 1862 until he lost "his" title to Emanuel Lasker in 1894. 

Steinitz, his health now failing, (gout, liver problems and definite heart trouble); continued to play chess almost until the very end, usually giving a fairly good account of himself. He died August 12th, 1900.  

Source - many different chess books ... but mainly: "The Oxford Companion To Chess," (Revised 2nd Edition); by David Hooper and Ken Whyld. 

   ********************************   

"For 22 years, (1872-1894); he was undisputedly the best player in the world. He was a very important writer and theorist, a courageous fighter over the board, a brilliant blindfold player, and one of the most colorful personalities the chess world has ever known."  - Historian Anne Sunnucks 


  Steinitz's true chess strength ... and proper place in chess history:  

As I remarked earlier in this article, I always had a somewhat low opinion of W. Steinitz ... 
mainly because of what several modern players had said of this player. But what is his true place in chess history? How strong of a player was he ... at his peak? How would he fare today? 

 ******* 

One book  ...  "Warriors of The Mind," by  R. Keene  and  N. Divinsky;  does not rate this player in the "Top Thirty." (See page # 323.)  But is this really accurate? Can you really trust their judgment? 

 ******* 

Another book  ...  "The Ratings of Chessplayers, Past and Present,"  (© 1978, by Professor Arpad ELO); covers this question in great detail. (And probably is the most scientific and objective book of its kind.)  There is a graph on page # 88, which represents the best players of all time. (Career average ratings?) There are not more than 10 or 15 people who rank ahead of Steinitz on that list. 

On page # 191, is the list/table:  "9.5 Untitled Chessmasters."  (Technically, this is not correct, many of the people on this list have FIDE titles, although a few were awarded posthumously.) 

W. Steinitz's best FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE, (according to Elo); is a whopping  2650!!  Only Capablanca (2725), Lasker (2720),  Alekhine (2690), and  Paul Morphy  come out ahead of Steinitz on this list.  (By comparison, Fischer's five-year average in  table 9.4  is an astounding 2780!!!!!) 

I should also point out that this book ....... which came out in 1978, is rather dated. Bobby Fischer is considered supreme, but players like Karpov, Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, Shirov, etc; are not even considered in this book - it was published before any of these players had made their mark in the chess world. So in a way, this book is hard to absorb in its entirety ... one cannot imagine ANY  "Top Ten"  list of the best players of all time ... that did not at least consider  GM Garry Kasparov!!! 

 ******* 

So we need a more current source of information to try and assess Steinitz's true place in chess history ... and what his strength actually is. Now I turn to the respected {chess} statistician and chess rating expert,  Mr. Jeff Sonas.  Here the results are dramatic, sudden and almost a major revelation. Let's start with the  list  for  "One-Year Peaks."  Steinitz  is in  seventh (#7)  place with a one-year peak of  2834!!  "Faaassssscinating," as Mr. Spock would say. According to Mr. Sonas, his three-year peak 2824, which also places him seventh overall. His FIVE-year peak is 2809, which places him in ninth place, (#9) ..... but ahead of other players, like Anatoly Karpov!!! His nine-year peak is 2775 according to Sonas, which places him solidly in the all-time list at # 10. 

This is an eye-opener ... to say the least! After being told all my life that Steinitz was not all that great a player, suddenly the empirical evidence seems to suggest exactly the opposite was true!!!!!!  

Some other facts that I should point out is that Steinitz spent 15-17 years as the # 1 or # 2 player in the world. And when Steinitz crushed Blackburne in 1876, Sonas shows that J.H. Blackburne was ... THE NUMBER TWO PLAYER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! (There is no precedent to this, and other than Fischer; no one else has ever recorded anything close to this kind of truly exceptional feat!)  

  *******  

This led me to do several weeks of intense reading, calculation and research. This is what I was able to come up with: 

  1. Steinitz was a VERY strong player! (An extremely strong one, study some of his games!!) 

  2. He dominated some very good players in his matches with them. For example, in 1876, when he defeated J.H. Blackburne, Blackburne was at or near the peak of his career. He was rated over 2600, according to Sonas, and was the #3 or #4 player in the whole world. Yet Steinitz defeated him with seven straight wins!! (This compares favorably to Fischer's results at his peak.) Steinitz performance rating for this match ... ... ... ... ... 
    was very close to (or over?) 3000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

  3. Steinitz competed in many of the best tournaments of his era. He won many first place finishes. Two or three of these events, like London, 1872; and Vienna, 1873; were some of the strongest tournaments of that whole period of chess history. 

 ******* 

I think if I were to re-do my  "Top Ten" List  of chess players, I would somehow have to find room on it for this player. He was one of the strongest players of his era, and dominated his generation completely. He was an incredible player - Lasker called him: "The greatest chess thinker of all time." 

  *******  

April, 2005:  Jeff Sonas has released a revised version of his website. Further, he has completely redone much of his entire formula's, his statistics, etc. (He has MONTHLY lists now ,,, going back to BEFORE 1850!!!) In terms of  TOTAL TIME  at the top, rating gap, dominance, etc;  ... ... ... 
this player is still Number One!  [ more, Jeff Sonas's (new) page on Steinitz. ]  

  • Be sure to see the postscript ... toward the bottom of this page. (For more on this subject.) 


  Steinitz's Playing Record (most notable results)   

  A few selected Tournaments.  

  (Steinitz played in many more events than are listed here, this is just a quick sampling.)  
 {Steinitz took clear first eight times, and tied for first five more times.} 

 Event, Year and Score (if known)  

 Place 

1.  ICT / Paris, France; 1867. 

Third (#3)

2.  ICT / Dundee, England; 1867. 

Second  (#2) 

3.  ICT / Baden-Baden, Germany; 1870. 

Second  (#2) 

4.  ICT / London, England; (UK) 1872. 

First  (#1) 

5.  ICT / Vienna, (Wien) Austria; 1873.  (83%) 

First  (#1) 

6.  ICT / Vienna, Austria; 1882. (Shared 1st with Winawer.) 

Tied for First.  (=1) 

7.  ICT / New York, NY (USA); 1894.  (+8, -1, =1) 

First  (#1) 

8.  ICT / Hastings, England (UK); 1895.   (13 points / 21) 

Fifth Place.  (# 5) 

9.  ICT / Cologne, Germany; 1898.  (+8, -4, =3)  

Fifth place.  (# 5)  

 

  Serious Matches  

 Opponent and year 

Result 

 Score 

Dubois, 1862. 

Won 

+5, -3, =1

Blackburne, 1862/3. 

Won

+7, -1, =2.

Deacon, 1863. 

Won

+5, -1, =1. 

V. Green, 1863/4. 

Won 

+7, -0, = 2. 

Adolph Anderssen, 1866. 

Won

+8, -6, =0. 

Henry Bird, 1866. 

Won 

+7, -5, =5. 

J.H. Blackburne, 1870. 

Won

+4, =0, -1. 

J. Zukertort, 1872. 

Won

+7, -1, =4. 

J.H. Blackburne, 1876. 

Won

+7, -0, =0!! 

J. Zukertort, 1886.  (1st World Champ.) 

Won

+10, -5, =5. 

Mikhail Tchigorin, 1889. 

Won

+10, -6, =1. 

Isidor Gunsberg, 1890/1. 

Won

+6, -4, =9. 

Mikhail Tchigorin, 1892. 

Won

+10, -8, =5.

Emanuel Lasker, 1894. (World Champ.) 

Lost

+5, -10, =4. 

E. Schiffers, 1896. 

Won 

+6, -4, =1. 

Emanuel Lasker, 1896-97. (Re-match) 

Lost

+2, -10, =5. 


 Steinitz's contributions to the game of chess:  

   Here Steinitz is in a class ... almost all by himself!    

  •   Steinitz revolutionized chess by his application of scientific principles to the game. 

  •   Steinitz was the first to try to understand principles that governed correct play. 
      (In each of the different phases of the game.) 

  •   His concepts of positional chess completely overturned earlier thoughts on how the 
      game was to be played. His idea of "accumulating small advantages" has endured 
      even until today. (Most of the players of his period did not understand his theories.)   

  •   Many opening systems today still bear his name. His contribution to this area are 
      almost too much to tally properly.  He left his fingerprint on virtually every system.  

  •   His {many} writings are still found to be clear, concise and full of depth ... even today! 

  •   His revision of earlier ideas must have been an eye opener to the players of that 
      generation. Today the concept of the King as a strong piece can be traced directly 
      to this great player. Many opening systems were revolutionized by this idea. 

  •   He laid down all the basic, fundamental precepts of defense. His framework that one 
      should not attack until one had built up a number of significant advantages paved the 
      way for modern chess. Games by Alekhine, Fischer and Kasparov would not be 
      possible if Steinitz had not first demonstrated the laws that govern these positions 

Without question, when it comes to the overall contribution of a player to the overall advancement of the game of chess, here Steinitz is clearly NUMBER ONE ... and stands head and shoulders above all other players. Modern chess - the way it is played today - is inconceivable without him!!!  

  *****         *****         *****         *****         ***** 

How would you like to play the following position? 

(The position after the moves:  1.e4, e5;  2.Nc3, Nc6;  3.f4!?, exf4;  4.d4!!?!?, Qh4+; 5.Ke2.) 

a-wstein_analysis-diag01.gif, 08 KB

Steinitz pioneered MANY such ideas  ...  all based on the idea of improved defense and a strong King. 


  A brief selection of Steinitz's games:  

   The following are a look at some of Steinitz's games ... 
   I have already annotated his most famous game on another  web page.   

 *****************************************************************************************************************

Wilhelm Steinitz - Joseph Henry Blackburne;  [C77]  
First Match Game (G #01); London, England, 1876.  

1.e4 e52.Nf3 Nc63.Bb5 a64.Ba4 Nf65.d3 d66.c3 Be77.h3 0-08.Qe2 Ne8?!;  
 Black has placed his pieces on odd squares, watch how Steinitz replies. 

9.g4! b510.Bc2! Bb711.Nbd2! Qd712.Nf1! Nd813.Ne3 Ne614.Nf5
White already has a powerful assault, Steinitz play here must have mystified his poor opponent. 

14...g6!?15.Nxe7+ Qxe716.Be3 N8g717.0-0-0 c5;  {White has a great attack.}  
This was Black's last chance for ...f7-f5! says GM Andrew Soltis. Now Black gets chewed up. 

(White won a very nice game in 34 moves, see any  database  for the complete score.)   1 - 0.  

 *****************************************************************************************************************  

 I won't even comment on the following game ... I will just allow you to examine this game yourself.  

 Is any of this sound?  

  Wilhelm Steinitz - Hamppe  [C41]  
  Wien (Vienna), Austria; 1860.  

 1.e4 e5;  2.Nf3 d6;  3.d4 exd4;  4.Bc4 Nc6;  5.Nxd4 Be7;  6.c3 Bf6;  7.Nxc6 bxc6;  
  8.f4 Bh4+;  9.g3 Bf6;  10.0-0 Ne7;  11.Bd3 0-0;  12.Be3 Ng6;  13.Nd2 Be7;  14.Qh5 Qd7;  
 15.f5 Ne5;  16.Bc2 Ba6;  17.c4 Bxc4;  18.Nxc4 Nxc4;  19.f6 Nxe3;  20.e5 h6;  21.Rf4 dxe5;  
  22.fxe7 g6;  23.exf8Q+ Rxf8;  24.Rxf7 Rxf7;  25.Qxg6+ Rg7;  26.Bb3+ Nd5;  
  27.Qxh6,  (unfinished?)   1 - 0    

 *****************************************************************************************************************  


  Joseph Henry Blackburne (2646) - Wilhelm Steinitz (2784) 
[C45]
 Fourth Match Game  (# 04) 
  London, England (UK); 1876.  

 [A.J. Goldsby I] 

   **************************************************************************************************************************************************************   

This is a very important and significant chess game. It is part of a match game that clearly demonstrated Steinitz's superiority over the other players of his time period. 

It is also a great game to show other factors about Steinitz, like his creativity, and his genius. It also shows the basic framework for his groundbreaking ideas and concepts of positional chess as well 
as Steinitz's ideas about defense.  

 1.e4 e5;  2.Nf3 Nc6;  3.d4,  ('!?')   
The Scotch Opening.  

One openings book called this ... "Completely outdated." Then about 2 years later, Garry revitalized this opening by using it at the highest levels. 
{I.e, in a World Championship Match.}   

Today, many GM's use this opening on a regular basis. (See Pon's games at the Linares, 2004; tournament.)   

     [ More common is: 3.Bb5, ('!')  The Ruy Lopez. ]  

 

 3...exd4;  4.Nxd4 Qh4!?;   
Steinitz's patent ... it looks like a beginner's move, but it has never been refuted. (White's e-pawn comes under enormous pressure.) 

{See any good book for more information on this system, and what the modern continuation would be.}  

     [ Black can also try: 4...Bc5!?;  {Diagram?}   
       which is very old, solid, and also one of the main lines   
       for Black in this opening system. ]   

 

 5.Nb5 Bb4+!?;  6.Bd2!? Qxe4+;  7.Be2 Kd8!;   
Best says Kasparov and company ... who also awards this move an exclamation point.   
(But not 7...QxP/g2??, because after Bf3, Black is totally lost.)   

 8.0-0 Bxd2;  9.Qxd2 a6!?; ('!')  10.N1c3!? Qe5!?;   
G.K. and crew give this move without any comment.   

     [ >/= 10...Qh4!; "~" ]    

 

 11.Na3 b5!?;   
An extremely provocative move, but this was also part of the great Wilhelm Steinitz's style.   

Steinitz believed that space was a fundamental element of chess, and he was willing to risk opening the game to grab a little. 

     [ Or 11...d6!?; 12.Nc4, "~" ]  

 

 12.Bf3 Nge7;  13.Rad1 Qf5!?;  14.Rfe1 Rb8!;   
An extremely subtle move that both Lasker and Kasparov thought was worthy of an exclam.  (Maybe - '!!') 

     [ Black avoids nasty stuff: </= 14...b4?; 15.Nd5!,  "--->"    
        with probably a won position, for White, (too many threats). ]   

 

 15.Qe2!?,  (Probably - '?!')   
Black's play is simply to subtle for his opponent to properly grasp.   
( Kasparov calls this a "hideous move," and also awards this move a full question mark.  {'?' - GM Garry Kasparov.} )    

     [ >/= 15.Bxc6! Nxc6;  16.Nd5!, "+/="  ('±')  {D?}   
       White has really good play. ]   

 

 15...d6;  16.Ne4!? Bd7;  17.Qe3 f6!?;  18.g4?,  (Maybe - '??')   
White impetuously lashes out, but after this errant play, the White King will come under a lasting attack.  

     [ Much better was: >/= 18.c4!, "~"  {Diagram?}   
        when White still has some "comp" for the sacrificed Pawn. ]   

 

 18...Qg6;  19.Nxd6?!,   ('?')   
Garry Kasparov correctly refers to this move as bad, and one that was made out of desperation.   

     [ (>/=) 19.h3!? h5; 20.g5 Kc8; "/+"  (Black is clearly better.) ]   

 

 19...cxd6!;  20.Rxd6 Kc7;  21.Bxc6 Nxc6;  22.Qg3 Kc8;  23.Red1 Rb7!;    
  24.Qg2 Nb8; 25.R1d4 h5!;   
"The long awaited counterattack. There is nothing more to comment on: White is down in material, and in a completely hopeless position." 
  - GM Garry Kasparov. (MGP, #1)    

 26.Qd5 Qg5;  27.Qxg5 fxg5;  28.Rg6 Bxg4;  29.Rxg5 Re8;  30.Kg2 Rf7;  31.h3 Bd7;  32.Kg3 Re2;  33.Rxh5 Rexf2;  
 34.Rc5+ Nc6; 35.Rd3 Kc7;  36.Nb1 Kb6;  37.Rcd5 Nb8;
  38.Nd2 Bc6;  39.Ne4 Re2;  40.Nc3 Rxc2;  41.Rd2 Rxc3+;    
 42.bxc3 Bxd5;  43.Rxd5 Rc7;
  44.Rd3 Nc6;  45.Kf4 Rf7+;  46.Ke4 Rf2;  47.a3 Ra2;  48.c4 bxc4;  49.Rg3 Rd2; 
 50.Rxg7 Rd4+;  51.Kf5 c3;
 
"-/+"   and White {finally} resigns.   (0-1)  
[Replay this game on the CG website.]   

See the book: "Garry Kasparov on My Great Predecessors," (Part # 1); by G.K. and also Dmitry Plisetsky.   
 [Copyright (c) 2003.]  Everyman Chess. Game # 15, Page # 59.   

  Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2004. All rights reserved.  

 

   0 - 1   

    ******************************************************************************************************************************************************* 

   [ See my video for this game.]     [ An interesting game versus Mongrédien. ]     [ More Steinitz Chess games. ]    

    ******************************************************************************************************************************************************* 


   Wilhelm Steinitz (2791)
Alexander G. Sellman
(2532)   
  [C11]  
  Baltimore, MD/USA; (Match II), 1885.  

 [A.J.G.] 

  ***************************************************************************************  

1.e4 e6;  2.d4 d5;  3.Nc3 Nf6;  4.e5 Nfd7;  5.f4!N c5;  6.dxc5!? Bxc5;  7.Nf3 a6;  8.Bd3 Nc6;  9.Qe2 Nb4;  10.Bd2! b5;  11.Nd1! Nxd3+;  
12.cxd3! Qb6;  13.b4! Be7;  14.a3 f5!?;  15.Rc1 Bb7;  16.Be3! Qd8;  17.Nd4 Nf8;  18.0-0 h5?!;  19.Nc3! Kf7;  20.Nb1!! g6;  21.Nd2 Nd7;  
 22.N2b3 Rc8;  23.Na5! Ba8;  24.Rxc8! Qxc8;  25.Rc1 Qb8;  26.Qc2! Bd8;  27.Nac6! Qb7T;  28.Nxd8+ Rxd8;  29.Qc7 Qb8;  30.Bf2!! Qb6;  
 31.Nf3!? Qxc7;  32.Rxc7 Ke8;  33.Ng5 Nf8;  34.Bc5! Nd7;  35.Bd6!,  ("+/-")   Black Resigns.  
 (A real masterpiece of positional play, very modern in style!)
  [replay]  

 

   1 - 0   

  I went over this game with a friend today at chess club. (SUN; April 10th, 2005.) 

  This game is wonderfully annotated in the  book:  "The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played," by Irving Chernev. (1965)  


April, 2005:  POSTSCRIPT  

Jeff Sonas has done a major update of his site in March, 2005. Many of the figures have changed, Anand - probably correctly - has vaulted into the top ten players of all time, based on a player's peak of his best performance over a three-year period.  

Garry Kasparov is solidly in first place, Fischer is # 2, Capablanca is # 3, Em. Lasker is # 4, and Botvinnik is # 5. (This basically refutes Keene's and Divinsky's claim that Garry was firmly # 1 and Karpov was # 2.) 

Steinitz is now in fifteenth place, (# 15); behind just 14 other players, but ahead of many other players, ... ... ... dozens and dozens of so-called 'greater' players. (Spassky, Tal, Smyslov and Petrosian are all players - all {former} World Champions - who trail behind Steinitz, some far behind.) And while Steinitz may not be in the top ten overall, he is certainly a great player, worthy of our respect. When you add together factors like Steinitz's strength of play, his founding of the principles that govern modern positional play, and his opening exploration, he was - is - and forever shall be, one of the greatest players of all time. 

I do not have any doubt ... that his place in chess history ... is completely secure. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY:  

I (mainly) used the following sources/books to prepare this article: 

  1. "The Oxford Companion To Chess,"  revised, second edition. (© 1992) 
      By David Hooper and Ken Whyld.   ISBN:  # 0-19-866164-9 (hard-back)  

  2. "The Batsford Chess Encyclopedia,"  by Nathan Divinsky. (© 1990)  
      Publisher: Batsford Chess Books, (London and New York).  
      ISBN: # 0-7134-6214-0 (hard-back)  

  3. "The Encyclopedia of Chess,"  by Anne Sunnucks.  (Copyright © 1970.) 
      Published by St. Martins Press of New York City, NY. (USA)  [MacMillan] 
      Library of Congress, Catalog Card Number:  # 78-106571  (hard-back)   

  4. "The Oxford Encyclopedia Of Chess Games / Volume # 01; 1485 - 1866."  
      Edited by IM David Levy and Kevin J. O'Connell. (Copyright © 1981.)  
      Published by the 'Oxford University Press.'  (Oxford, New York, Toronto, Melbourne.) 
      ISBN:  # 0-19-217571-8, A hard-back book, 527 pages. 

  5. "Garry Kasparov On 'My Great Predecessors,' Part I."  
      By both Kasparov and Dmitry Plisetsky.  (And many others - see the into of this book.) 
      (Copyright © 2003.)  Published by Everyman Chess.  ISBN: # 1-85744-330-6  

  6. "The Games of Wilhelm Steinitz, First World Chess Champion." 
      Annotated by Steinitz himself, drawn from his many writings; edited by Sid Pickard.  
      (Copyright © 1995, by S. Pickard.)  By: Sid Pickard and Sons, Publishers. TX, USA. 
       ISBN: # 1-886846-00-6  (paper)  

  7. "William Steinitz, Chess Champion."  (A Biography of The Bohemian Caesar.) 
      (Copyright © 1993 by the author and also the publisher.)  By Kurt Landsberger. 
      Published by: McFarland and Company, Inc. Jefferson, North Carolina / USA. 
      ISBN:  # 0-89950-758-1, A hard-back book with a library binding. (487 pages)  
      Games selected and annotated by GM Andrew Soltis. (Ken Whyld, consultant.) 


  Letter of appreciation   (Received December 06, 2004.)  

 "Dear AJ: 

   I very much enjoyed your new page on Wilhelm Steinitz. It was very well done. 

   I write a weekly chess column for our local newspaper, but I enjoy your web pages probably the most of any that I peruse on a regular basis.  

   Thanks, and please keep it up! 

   Sincerely, 
   Larry _______ "  


Thursday; Feb. 19th, 2009:  Click HERE to see another great game by Steinitz.  


 This concludes my article on the great Wilhelm Steinitz.  
  (I have a page on Lasker ... this is basically the last page ... in this series of articles.)  

- A.J. Goldsby.  (Monday;  November 29th, 2004.) 

  Click  HERE  if you would like to read an article on the history 
  of the World Championships by GM. R. Fine

 Click  here  to go to (or return to) ... my page on the best players who ever lived. 

  Click  here  to return to my Home Page. 

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***

Page first posted on my web site in November, 2004. 
 
(Page last  {majorly}  updated on:   Thursday; December 23rd, 2004.)     Last edit/save on:  01/24/2015 .  


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