Vienna 1873

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Chessgames premium membership fee will increase to $39 per year effective June 15, 2023. Enroll Now!

Vienna 1873
Compiled by JoseTigranTalFischer

Vienna, western capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a city rich in culture and chess, hosted a World's Fair in the spring of 1873. In the tradition of earlier world exhibitions, great buildings were constructed, inventions and events were hosted and people all over the world were invited to come, observe, and participate in the modern Vienna. The central hall of the exhibition was erected at the Prater and the fair opened on May 1st. Unfortunately for the city and the fair, the stock market crashed the following week (later known as the "Panic of 1873") and a cholera epidemic later swept through the city and its people in early July. Whereas previous world's fairs were attended by hundreds of thousands to millions of people, Vienna was virtually deserted during the summer following the market crash and the growing epidemic. In spite of these conditions, or perhaps because of them, Kaiser Franz Josef along with Baron Albert Rothchild and Ignatz Von Kolisch pooled together a large prize fund and organized an international chess tournament to be played from July 19th to August 29th, a period that would be during the worst of the epidemic. Games were played in the rooms of the Wiener Schachgesellschaft, and the tournament was organized differently from the previous world's fair competitions. The international chess tournament held at the London world's fair of 1851 was a knockout tournament. In 1862, it was the first all-play-all with draws to be replayed. At the Paris world's fair in 1867, double rounds had been played where draws were not counted. In Vienna an all-play-all system was devised, wherein each of the players were paired against each other and then made to play best of three rounds for each pairing. Unlike traditional scoring in previous tournaments, the results of all three games would be used to determine a sole winner for the pairing or if the two players were drawn. In the event a player won the first two games of the pairing, the third round need not be played. One of the goals of this format was to avoid replaying of draws and also to increase the chances of a definite result. Second round games were played with colors reversed, and if a third round game was required, the players would resume the colors they played in the first round. The schedule called for one game to be played a day, and twenty moves had to be played each hour. Every seventh day was a rest day, although chess masters who quickly dispatched an opponent could get "an extra rest day" on scheduled days for third round play. Twelve chess masters were invited to participate in the elite event. Adolf Anderssen, who had won the previous world's fair competitions in 1851 and 1862, and Louis Paulsen participated on behalf of Germany. Joseph Henry Blackburne, Henry Edward Bird, and Wilhelm Steinitz (who had long played in Vienna prior) participated on behalf of Great Britain. Samuel Rosenthal, originally from Poland, participated on behalf of France. And the final six seats were occupied by chess masters of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including Maximilian Fleissig, Oscar Gelbfuhs, Josef Heral, Philipp Meitner, Karl Pitschel, and Adolf Schwarz. Eight games from the tournament were decided by forfeit and they are omitted from this collection. Pitschel withdrew from the tournament after the completion of the eighth pairing's third round, so his six remaining games were forfeited. In the final pairing, both Fleissig and Meitner forfeited a game to each other. Although Anderssen was the clear favorite going into the competition, previous world's fair tournament participant and long time Viennese player Steinitz rose to the occasion and tied British chess master Blackburne in his international debut. Traditional scoring would have placed Blackburne a full point ahead of Steinitz in the final, but because the scoring followed best of three games for each pairing, both men finished with 10 points out of a possible 11 total. A two round playoff match was devised to determine a sole winner, and Steinitz, hot off a fourteen game winning streak to finish the tournament, swept the playoff match winning both games. His last sixteen wins here would contribute to an overall twenty-five game winning streak in professional competition, a record for chess history. Steinitz was crowned champion, being paid the prize fund of 1000 francs as well as an additional 200 golden ducats for winning the playoff match. Blackburne, as second, was awarded 600 francs, while Anderssen (as clear third) received 300 francs. Rosenthal received 200 francs for finishing clear fourth. The remaining players were compensated for their travel expenses. The tournament was later seen as a landmark moment in chess history, with the passing of the guard from Anderssen's reckless, swashbuckling style to Steinitz's more studied, "modern" play, a style that would come to influence the latter century of chess players and theory and herald a new era of competition.

The final standings and crosstable:

=1st Blackburne 10/11 ** 11½ 101 00½ 110 11 11 110 11 110 1½1 011 <21½>

=1st Steinitz 10/11 00½ ** 11 11 11 11 11 ½½1 ½½1 11 11 11 <20½>

3rd Anderssen 8½/11 010 00 ** 101 11 101 101 0½1 ½1½ 110 11 1½1 <19>

4th Rosenthal 7½/11 11½ 00 010 ** 0½1 00 110 11 11 11 011 11 <17>

=5th Paulsen 6½/11 001 00 00 1½0 ** 11 0½1 11 1½1 1½0 11 11 <16>

=5th Bird 6½/11 00 00 010 11 00 ** 10½ 11 11 11 11 11 <14½>

=9th Heral 3/11 00 00 010 001 1½0 01½ ** ½10 01½ 10½ ½10 001 <12>

=7th Fleissig 3½/11 001 ½½0 1½0 00 00 00 ½01 ** 101 01½ 010 11 <11½>

=7th Meitner 3½/11 00 ½½0 ½0½ 00 0½0 00 10½ 010 ** ½11 1½½ 11 <11½>

=9th Schwarz 3/11 001 00 001 00 0½1 00 01½ 10½ ½00 ** ½½½ 1½½ <10½>

=9th Gelbfuhs 3/11 0½0 00 00 100 00 00 ½01 101 0½½ ½½½ ** ½11 <10>

12th Pitschel 1/11 100 00 0½0 00 00 00 110 00 00 0½½ ½00 ** <5>

Playoff Match

1st Steinitz 2/2 1 1

2nd Blackburne 0/2 0 0

*Much of the historical content for this tournament comes from the incredible hard work of Jan van Reek and others.

Round One, first pairing, July 21st
Blackburne vs Paulsen, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 52 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(C45) Scotch Game, 40 moves, 0-1
O Gelbfuhs vs Bird, 1873
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 65 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs Anderssen, 1873
(C45) Scotch Game, 71 moves, 1/2-1/2
K Pitschel vs Steinitz, 1873
(C39) King's Gambit Accepted, 20 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs J Heral, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Two, first pairing, July 22nd
Anderssen vs Meitner, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Bird vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(A02) Bird's Opening, 15 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs A Schwarz, 1873
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 72 moves, 1-0
Paulsen vs Blackburne, 1873
(B01) Scandinavian, 63 moves, 1-0
S Rosenthal vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C46) Three Knights, 18 moves, 1-0
Steinitz vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 14 moves, 1-0
Third Round, first pairing, July 23rd
Blackburne vs Paulsen, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 44 moves, 1-0
Meitner vs Anderssen, 1873
(B28) Sicilian, O'Kelly Variation, 26 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs J Heral, 1873
(C15) French, Winawer, 28 moves, 1-0
Round One, second pairing, July 24th
Anderssen vs Bird, 1873
(C51) Evans Gambit, 40 moves, 0-1
Blackburne vs Steinitz, 1873
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 27 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs Paulsen, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 73 moves, 0-1
O Gelbfuhs vs J Heral, 1873
(B01) Scandinavian, 39 moves, 1/2-1/2
Meitner vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(C45) Scotch Game, 51 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 81 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Two, second pairing, July 25th
Bird vs Anderssen, 1873
(A02) Bird's Opening, 37 moves, 0-1
J Heral vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C46) Three Knights, 43 moves, 0-1
Paulsen vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C49) Four Knights, 51 moves, 1-0
K Pitschel vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 27 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs Meitner, 1873
(C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 44 moves, 1-0
Steinitz vs Blackburne, 1873
(C11) French, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Three, second pairing, July 26th
Anderssen vs Bird, 1873
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 31 moves, 1-0
Blackburne vs Steinitz, 1873
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 28 moves, 1-0
O Gelbfuhs vs J Heral, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 53 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round One, third pairing, July 28th
Bird vs J Heral, 1873
(A03) Bird's Opening, 53 moves, 0-1
Blackburne vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 33 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs Steinitz, 1873
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 32 moves, 1/2-1/2
O Gelbfuhs vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
Meitner vs Paulsen, 1873
(C27) Vienna Game, 34 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Rosenthal vs Anderssen, 1873
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 50 moves, 1-0
Round Two, third pairing, July 29th
Anderssen vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(C52) Evans Gambit, 16 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs Bird, 1873
(C47) Four Knights, 38 moves, 1/2-1/2
Paulsen vs Meitner, 1873
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 40 moves, 1-0
july 30th?
K Pitschel vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C39) King's Gambit Accepted, 32 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs Blackburne, 1873
(C11) French, 32 moves, 1-0
Steinitz vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C11) French, 50 moves, 1-0
Round Three, third pairing, July 30th
Bird vs J Heral, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 34 moves, 1-0
Blackburne vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C11) French, 55 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs Steinitz, 1873
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
O Gelbfuhs vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C42) Petrov Defense, 44 moves, 1-0
Meitner vs Paulsen, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 25 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs Anderssen, 1873
(C45) Scotch Game, 59 moves, 0-1
Round One, fourth pairing, July 31st
Anderssen vs J Heral, 1873
(B01) Scandinavian, 49 moves, 0-1
Bird vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 35 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C11) French, 39 moves, 0-1
O Gelbfuhs vs Blackburne, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 20 moves, 1/2-1/2
Meitner vs Steinitz, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 22 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Rosenthal vs Paulsen, 1873
(C11) French, 55 moves, 1-0
Round Two, fourth pairing, August 1st
Blackburne vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(A81) Dutch, 65 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs Anderssen, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 59 moves, 0-1
Paulsen vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 31 moves, 1-0
K Pitschel vs Bird, 1873
(C35) King's Gambit Accepted, Cunningham, 28 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Steinitz vs Meitner, 1873
(C11) French, 45 moves, 1-0
Round Three, fourth pairing, August 2nd
Anderssen vs J Heral, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 26 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C11) French, 58 moves, 1-0
O Gelbfuhs vs Blackburne, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 30 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs Steinitz, 1873
(C51) Evans Gambit, 26 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Rosenthal vs Paulsen, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round One, fifth pairing, August 4th
Bird vs Blackburne, 1873
(A02) Bird's Opening, 39 moves, 0-1
M Fleissig vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 63 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C47) Four Knights, 50 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Paulsen vs Anderssen, 1873
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 56 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs Steinitz, 1873
(C46) Three Knights, 38 moves, 0-1
Round Two, fifth pairing, August 5th
Anderssen vs Paulsen, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 54 moves, 1-0
Blackburne vs Bird, 1873
(C25) Vienna, 37 moves, 1-0
O Gelbfuhs vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 55 moves, 1-0
K Pitschel vs J Heral, 1873
(C11) French, 40 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs Meitner, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 36 moves, 0-1
Steinitz vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(A20) English, 39 moves, 1-0
Round Three, fifth pairing, August 6th
M Fleissig vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C48) Four Knights, 31 moves, 0-1
J Heral vs K Pitschel, 1873
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 21 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 41 moves, 1-0
Round One, sixth pairing, August 7th
Anderssen vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C42) Petrov Defense, 66 moves, 1/2-1/2
Bird vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 23 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs Blackburne, 1873
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 35 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C65) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Paulsen vs Steinitz, 1873
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 45 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 51 moves, 1-0
Round Two, sixth pairing, August 8th
Blackburne vs J Heral, 1873
(C27) Vienna Game, 39 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs Bird, 1873
(C51) Evans Gambit, 42 moves, 0-1
O Gelbfuhs vs Meitner, 1873
(C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 46 moves, 0-1
K Pitschel vs Anderssen, 1873
(C39) King's Gambit Accepted, 41 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 33 moves, 0-1
Steinitz vs Paulsen, 1873
(A41) Queen's Pawn Game (with ...d6), 47 moves, 1-0
Round Three, sixth pairing, August 9th
Anderssen vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C42) Petrov Defense, 30 moves, 1-0
Meitner vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C48) Four Knights, 77 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round One, seventh pairing, August 11th
Bird vs Meitner, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 53 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs M Fleissig, 1873
(D53) Queen's Gambit Declined, 60 moves, 1-0
Paulsen vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 28 moves, 1-0
K Pitschel vs Blackburne, 1873
(C39) King's Gambit Accepted, 25 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 35 moves, 1-0
Steinitz vs Anderssen, 1873
(D55) Queen's Gambit Declined, 26 moves, 1-0
Round Two, seventh pairing, August 12th
Anderssen vs Steinitz, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 45 moves, 0-1
Blackburne vs K Pitschel, 1873
(D10) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 33 moves, 0-1
M Fleissig vs J Heral, 1873
(B01) Scandinavian, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
O Gelbfuhs vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 31 moves, 1-0
Meitner vs Bird, 1873
(C45) Scotch Game, 42 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs Paulsen, 1873
(C41) Philidor Defense, 39 moves, 1-0
Round Three, seventh pairing, August 13th
J Heral vs M Fleissig, 1873
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 73 moves, 0-1
Paulsen vs A Schwarz, 1873
(A28) English, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
K Pitschel vs Blackburne, 1873
(C26) Vienna, 29 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C48) Four Knights, 44 moves, 1-0
Round One, eighth pairing, August 14th
Anderssen vs Blackburne, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 55 moves, 1-0
Bird vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(A02) Bird's Opening, 72 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs Meitner, 1873
(C46) Three Knights, 23 moves, 0-1
Paulsen vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C25) Vienna, 56 moves, 1-0
K Pitschel vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C53) Giuoco Piano, 40 moves, 0-1
Steinitz vs A Schwarz, 1873
(A28) English, 32 moves, 1-0
Round Two, eighth pairing, August 15th
Blackburne vs Anderssen, 1873
(C30) King's Gambit Declined, 42 moves, 1-0
M Fleissig vs K Pitschel, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 52 moves, 1-0
O Gelbfuhs vs Paulsen, 1873
(C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 29 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs J Heral, 1873
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
S Rosenthal vs Bird, 1873
(C33) King's Gambit Accepted, 20 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs Steinitz, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 32 moves, 0-1
Round Three, eighth pairing, August 16th
Anderssen vs Blackburne, 1873
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 31 moves, 0-1
J Heral vs Meitner, 1873
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 32 moves, 1-0
Round One, ninth pairing, August 18th
Blackburne vs M Fleissig, 1873
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 103 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 40 moves, 0-1
Paulsen vs Bird, 1873
(C25) Vienna, 34 moves, 1-0
A Schwarz vs Anderssen, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 46 moves, 1-0
Steinitz vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(A13) English, 34 moves, 1-0
Round Two, ninth pairing, August 19th
Anderssen vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C11) French, 47 moves, 1-0
Bird vs Paulsen, 1873
(A03) Bird's Opening, 66 moves, 0-1
M Fleissig vs Blackburne, 1873
(C61) Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense, 33 moves, 1-0
O Gelbfuhs vs Steinitz, 1873
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 45 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs J Heral, 1873
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 46 moves, 0-1
Round Three, ninth pairing, August 20th
Blackburne vs M Fleissig, 1873
(D21) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 8 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 16 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs Anderssen, 1873
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 40 moves, 0-1
Round One, tenth pairing, August 21st
Anderssen vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 24 moves, 0-1
Blackburne vs Meitner, 1873
(C46) Three Knights, 32 moves, 1-0
J Heral vs Paulsen, 1873
(D50) Queen's Gambit Declined, 51 moves, 1-0
A Schwarz vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2
Steinitz vs Bird, 1873
(C35) King's Gambit Accepted, Cunningham, 36 moves, 1-0
Round Two, tenth pairing, August 22nd
Bird vs Steinitz, 1873
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 50 moves, 0-1
M Fleissig vs Anderssen, 1873
(C45) Scotch Game, 33 moves, 0-1
O Gelbfuhs vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C00) French Defense, 36 moves, 1/2-1/2
Meitner vs Blackburne, 1873
(B01) Scandinavian, 32 moves, 0-1
Paulsen vs J Heral, 1873
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 36 moves, 1-0
Round Three, tenth pairing, August 23rd
Anderssen vs M Fleissig, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 31 moves, 1/2-1/2
J Heral vs Paulsen, 1873
(A13) English, 55 moves, 1/2-1/2
A Schwarz vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 27 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round One, eleventh pairing, August 25th
Anderssen vs O Gelbfuhs, 1873
(C51) Evans Gambit, 38 moves, 1-0
Blackburne vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(D26) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 41 moves, 0-1
A Schwarz vs Bird, 1873
(C46) Three Knights, 47 moves, 0-1
Steinitz vs J Heral, 1873
(B45) Sicilian, Taimanov, 48 moves, 1-0
Round Two, eleventh pairing, August 26th
Bird vs A Schwarz, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 36 moves, 1-0
O Gelbfuhs vs Anderssen, 1873
(C52) Evans Gambit, 39 moves, 0-1
J Heral vs Steinitz, 1873
(A13) English, 21 moves, 0-1
Meitner vs M Fleissig, 1873
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 49 moves, 0-1
S Rosenthal vs Blackburne, 1873
(C01) French, Exchange, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2
Round Three, eleventh pairing, August 27th
Blackburne vs S Rosenthal, 1873
(C39) King's Gambit Accepted, 26 moves, 0-1
First place playoff, Game 1, August 28th
Blackburne vs Steinitz, 1873
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 33 moves, 0-1
First place playoff, Game 2, August 29th
Steinitz vs Blackburne, 1873
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 39 moves, 1-0
163 games

» View all game collections by JoseTigranTalFischer
» Search entire game collection library
» Clone this game collection (copy it to your account)
» FAQ: Help with Game Collections