Blackburne adopted a form of the giuoco piano, which the late Professor Anderssen disparagingly called the “giuoco pianissimo” when first brought to his notice. But we entirely concur with the opinions expressed by Messrs Blackburne and Zukertort, that justice has not been done to its merits ; for, at any rate, it produces more lively complications than the close openings or some variations of the Ruy Lopez and four knights game.

Special attention has been called within the last few months to this opening by Mr Steel, who practised it against the best metropolitan players during his recent visit to this country, and a fine specimen of this début is published in the current number of the Chess Monthly, occurring in a consultation game between Messrs Blackburne and Steel against Messrs Hoffer and Zukertort, which was won by the former party.

In the progress of the game White did not choose the best post for the Q, which we believe to be K 2, and not Q B 2. Both parties aimed at reaching K Kt 3 with the Q Kt; Blackburne via K B sq from Q 2, and Zukertort from Q B 3 via K 2, but after having advanced the K Kt P to the fourth, supported by P at K R 3.

The developing manœuvres lasted up to the 24th move, when Blackburne—who had a manifest superiority of position, as the opponent could not castle, by a precipitate exchange of rooks—allowed the adverse K to slip out. Zukertort then proceeded with his defence in excellent style ; and, assisted by a specially feeble 30th move of Blackburne, apparently adopted under pressure of time limit, he had actually obtained the better game at the adjournment, which took place at that stage.

On the game being resumed, Blackburne made preparations for the sacrifice of a piece, which was all the more unsound as it might have cost him the game under any circumstances ; for we believe that on the 32nd move Black might have obtained a positive advantage by Q to B 2 threatening Q to R 7 or Kt 6.

Blackburne, instead of adopting defensive measures, seemed to be bent upon pursuing his attacking plan, which led to his obtaining two passed but weakly supported pawns for a piece, Blackburne fought very ingeniously to make the most of his pawns, and he actually succeeded in recovering his piece, owing to an impetuous and wrong move of the R on Black’s 43rd move.

He had still much the worst of the game with a P behind, and his K unable to cross in order to assist his weak K side, when Zukertort, by a premature advance of the K P, gave him opportunity for developing one of his ingenious resources, and, in the face of a dangerous-looking dis ch, to bring the K to the other side.

However, on the 53rd move, White neglected pinning the Kt with the R, which would have given him a positive draw in a few moves. Zukertort then promptly, by Kt to Q 4, cut off the adverse K from coming near, at the same time protecting his B P, and White had afterwards no more chance of retrieving himself.

By opposing his R for exchange Black gained entrance with his K to support his passed K P, and White’s K was soon driven into a mating net. White gave a few checks, and arrived at a curious position, in which he would have had some fair chance of drawing if he could have got rid of his own Kt ; for his K was then stale-mated, and he might have tried to give perpetual ch with the R, even if he had to leave it en prise.

Blackburne, seeing that nothing more was to be done, resigned, after good humouredly remarking that he had one piece too many.