Pawn and Two: In the tournament book, Steinitz stated regarding 10.Bg5?, <a lost move.> Steinitz also mentioned that 12.Qc3? was, <a palpable error>.12.Qc3? was clearly a serious error. The game would have been approximately equal after 12.Qd2. Steinitz's recommendation of 12.Qd1 was also near equal.
On Noa's 13.cxd5, Steinitz was full of praise! He noted that after having committed the blunder, 12.Qc3?, White's best chance of retrieving his fortune was to sacrifice his queen, instead of allowing the clear win of a pawn.
Steinitz also added the following comment regarding 13.cxd5, <Dr. Noa's fine judgment in the choice of evils is borne out by the progress of the game.>
This all became true after some inaccurate moves by Steinitz on moves 19...c6, 21...Qd6 and 23...Rd3. At that point, the position was approximately equal!
On his 24th move, Noa could have obtained an equal position with: (-.11) (20 ply) 24.f6! gxf6 25.exf6 Rhe8 26.Rf4 Qf8 27.Ne4 Nd6 28.Nc5+, (.00) (21 ply) 28...Ka8 29.Bf2 Nc4 30.Nxa6 Re2.
After (-.61) (20 ply) 24.Rf4 Qe7, he had decent survivial prospects with 25.Re4.
At move 26, Noa again had chances to hold by playing 26.Re1, (-.63) (21 ply) 26...g6 27.Ne4 gxf5 28.Nc5+ Ka8 29.Nxd3 Qxe6 30.b3, or (-.63) (21 ply) 26...Kb8 27.Bb3 Rf8 28.Bf2 Qc7 29.Bc5.
After 26.Kf2?, Noa received no additional opportunities to save his game.