Canada's Nineteenth Century Chess Visitors II: the blindfold experts

By Stephen Wright

(All the games in this article, along with some additions, are available in a PGN file.)

Johannes Zukertort and Joseph Blackburne shared much in common. Born within a year of each other, they both became involved in chess in their late teens; both developed into world-class players, as well as specializing in blindfold exhibitions; both were based in England, but travelled extensively around the globe; and both visited Canada in the 1880s.

Johannes Hermann Zukertort (1842-1888)

A participant in the first official match for the title of World Champion (against Steinitz in 1886), Zukertort is a problematic figure for the chess historian. Not so much for his tournament results, which are well-documented, but because of the many outlandish claims Zukertort made, particularly regarding his non-chess achievements. These have been viewed with scepticism for quite some time, but in the last ten years research has shown many of these claims to be false. A typical list of Zukertort's supposed accomplishments can be found at Bill Wall's Chess Site; by comparison, Zukertort has been called an "inveterate braggart" by Jan Timman and Robert Hübner, while Hans Ree has associated his name with that of Baron Munchausen. The most recent biography of Zukertort, thoroughly researched, is Arcmistrz z Lublina (Grandmaster from Lublin) by Cezary Domański and Tomasz Lissowski, but unfortunately it is only available in Polish and German. These matters need not detain us, except to note that despite the use of the title 'doctor' in the reports given below, Zukertort never completed an academic degree. "In April 1861 Zukertort enrolled in the faculty of medicine at Breslau University but for the next five years he spent much of his time playing chess ... and was struck from the register because of non-attendance. This brief brush with higher education enabled him to pass himself off as a doctor in later life." [Hooper and Whyld, The Oxford Companion to Chess, 2nd ed.]

Born in Lublin, Poland, Zukertort was induced to move to London in 1872 by a group of locals who felt he might be the player they were seeking to oppose Steinitz. At that time Zukertort could not meet their expectations, decisively losing a match to Steinitz +1 =4 -7, but in the next ten years he developed to the point where he and Steinitz were clearly the strongest players in the world, based on the results of two great tournaments. At Vienna in 1882 Steinitz tied for first with Winawer (24.0/34), ahead of Mason (23.0), Zukertort, and Mackenzie (both 22.5), but the next year in London Zukertort crushed a strong field, scoring a remarkable 22.0/26 to finish 3 points(!) in front of Steinitz with Blackburne third. Zukertort racked up the score of 22.0/23 before losing his last three games, attributed by some to the use of opiates to deal with the pressure. [It should be noted that only the scored results are indicated; in London drawn games were replayed twice before the result counted, so all the participants actually played more than 26 games.]

A championship match was inevitable (assuming the protagonists could come to terms); indeed, on the basis of his London result Zukertort was already regarded as champion in some circles. The British Chess Magazine of January 1884 noted with disdain that "We are sorry to see that some of the American and Canadian papers continue to dub him [Zukertort] 'the champion of the world' – a title to which he has no right, and which we think he ought himself to repudiate until he has proved himself superior to Mr. Steinitz in a set match." On his own part Zukertort was unwilling to engage in such a match so soon after his exertions in London. Instead he left England on October 20, 1883 for an extensive tour of the North American continent, partly as relaxation from the rigours of tournament play and partly to bring his name before the public in an attempt to secure backers for the title match. Beginning in the city of New York, Zukertort's itinerary took him to Baltimore, Washington, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Chicago before arriving in Toronto on January 22, 1884 by way of Niagara Falls. Judging by his Canadian stops it appears Zukertort's practice on the tour was to warm up with a peripatetic display, followed by a blindfold exhibition; he would also engage in offhand games or games at odds. As one of the two best players in the world Zukertort could command substantial fees: "[he] usually was not engaged for a specific time, but gave two performances at $100 each and the rest of the time either played gratis or amused himself and took it easy - i.e., for him it was a trip of recuperation." [Kurt Landsberger, William Steinitz, Chess Champion, using Turf, Field and Farm as a source] By comparison, a typical prize structure for the Canadian championship at the time was $20, $15, and $10.

Toronto

As we have seen previously, the top Canadian players at the time tended to be from the upper echelons of society, and such was also the case in Toronto. Among Zukertort's opposition was William Boultbee (1832-1902), Canadian champion in 1892, a civil engineer who had been involved in the construction of railways in both Canada and India; Charles W. Phillips, secretary of the Toronto club and chess columnist for the Toronto Week, who would later move to Chicago and become one of the top correspondence players on the continent; Dr. Isaac Ryall, Medical Officer of Health for Hamilton for the last quarter of the nineteenth century; and Henry N. Kittson, a member of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and also a strong correspondence player.

Zukertort began his Toronto engagement with individual games against various members of the Toronto Chess Club; giving each of his opponents knight odds, he scored +14 =1 -2. There then followed the two simultaneous exhibitions, on consecutive evenings:

Coverage of both events in the Toronto press was substantial, partly because Zukertort was one of the two strongest players in the world, but especially due to the novelty and sensational aspects of the blindfold display, the like of which had not been seen in Toronto before. Zukertort was asked in interviews how he accomplished such a staggering feat:

The actual display was also described in considerable detail: Even Zukertort's lapses became an opportunity to demonstrate his memory: "He made a false move on board No. 8. He recalled it, and to prove that it was a slip, he called out from his seat the position on the board to which his back was turned of every piece; and not one had been taken off in the game up to that time." [Toronto Mail, 26 January 1884]

Despite Zukertort's abilities his blindfold score was among the worst of the tour. The Toronto players were naturally ecstatic with the result, but it appears the home team had a powerful ally - the Canadian winter. Zukertort's visit coincided with an unusually cold spell which created havoc for the visiting master: "He laboured under the disadvantage of a cold room: he said the cold caused a rush of blood to his head making the twelve boards to swim before his eyes." [Toronto World, 28 January 1884] Like his rival Steinitz, Zukertort was a journalist as well as a strong player, and he wrote detailed reports on the tour which were published back in England. His account of the Toronto display was subsequently quoted in the New York Clipper newspaper, which elicited the following response from Charles W. Phillips:

We would only point out that the difference between -4 and -14 degrees fahrenheit is not particularly significant in this context: the two values equate to -22.5 and -28.75 degrees centigrade respectively. Instead Phillips felt Zukertort's result was due to the uniform strength of the Toronto players: "In our opinion the true reason for the Dr.’s comparatively small score lay elsewhere. The team opposed to him was composed of twelve strong players; there were no really weak men in it, and consequently the champion found it impossible to wipe out three fourths of his opponents in short order, and thus leave himself free to deal with his more powerful antagonists." [Ibid.]

One of the stipulations that Zukertort included in his blindfold exhibitions was that "any player finding himself at a serious disadvantage, with the loss of a piece or otherwise, should be called upon to resign." [Ottawa Citizen, 1 February 1884] This condition resulted in a series of exchanges in the Globe following the display. Dr. Ryall had won his game on board 7, but some of the onlookers felt he had needlessly prolonged a lost position until Zukertort blundered and lost. Ryall defended himself against his detractors, mentioning in passing the "freezing atmosphere of the Athenaeum" before stating that he never thought a draw was unattainable and that he "should feel satisfied and honoured to win such games from so distinguished a chess player." [Globe, 30 January 1884] The case was discussed to the point that a position from the game was published in the newspaper so readers could reach their own conclusions. Ryall felt vindicated and there the matter rested.

[Event "Game - QN odds"] [Site "Toronto"] [Date "1884.01.23"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Phillips, Charles W"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Rev. C.E. Ranken"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"] [PlyCount "35"] [EventDate "1884.01.23"] [EventType "game"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "BCM December 1884"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. O-O d6 7. d4 exd4 ({If} 7... Bxc3 {White may reply with 8.Bxf7+ or else with} 8. Qb3 {, and if Black takes the rook (} Bxa1 {), by} 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 10. Bxg8 Rxg8 11. Ng5 {he is said to obtain a winning attack. In the latter case, however, we opine that by} Qxg5 12. Bxg5 Bxd4 {Black may make the assertion at least questionable.}) 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. e5 dxe5 10. Bg5 Qg6 11. Rfe1 Bb6 ({It is very hard to say how Black ought now to meet the vigour of his opponent's assault. 11...Bxc3 would not do, as White would answer with the fine move 12.Nxe5; possibly, however,} 11... f6 { , and if} 12. Bxg8 {then} Bxc3 {might be a feasible defence.}) 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5+ Kf8 14. cxd4 $1 {A very subtle move, intended not merely to lure the unwary odds-receiver into forking the rooks, but also threatening to check at a3, obliging the queen to interpose, whereupon she would be lost by the reply Rd5.} Bxd4 {Falling into the trap! He should have played 14...Bd7.} 15. Rd1 c5 16. Rxd4 $1 Be6 17. Qxb7 Rc8 {17...Re8 was, of course, the right move, but it could not long have averted the inevitable disaster. The whole of this little game is a brilliant specimen of Mr. Zukertort's genius.} 18. Qxc8+ $1 { [British Chess Magazine, December 1884, 427.]} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Toronto"] [Date "1884.01.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes H"] [Black "Boultbee, William"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C30"] [Annotator "Rev. C.E. Ranken"] [PlyCount "32"] [EventDate "1884.01.??"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "BCM July 1884"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Be6 6. Bxe6 fxe6 7. fxe5 dxe5 8. Qe2 {8.Na4 appears to be here the correct play.} Ng4 9. h3 Nf6 10. Nxe5 { 10.Qb5+ was also feasible and safe; the text move is certainly not good.} O-O 11. Qc4 {The Canadian cold, of which Mr. Zukertort complained, must have affected him here; he should now have played 11.d3.} Bf2+ 12. Kxf2 Ng4+ 13. Kg3 Qf6 14. Nxg4 Qf4+ 15. Kh4 Rf6 16. Kh5 Kh8 {and Black mates in two more moves. This gamelet is very creditable to Mr. Boultbee's chess skill. [Globe, 28 January 1884; British Chess Magazine, July 1884, 273] The New York Clipper stated that Boultbee's game was the shortest one lost by Zukertort on his American tour, but Fritz quickly points out that 17.Qd4 prevents the threatened 17...Rh6+ followed by 18...g6#. Another of the participants, Isaac Ryall, noted that "the Doctor ... resigned to board no. 10 when he had a very palpable draw, or even, with a man of his ability, a chance for a win." [Globe, 30 January 1884]} 0-1 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Toronto"] [Date "1884.01.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Judd, William Henry"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [Annotator "Hoffer?"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "1884.01.25"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Chess Monthly V 247"] [SourceDate "2010.02.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.02.24"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 {It may be that White had other similar defences adopted agaist him by some of his twelve opponents, and was, therefore, obliged to vary the mode of attack. Otherwise he would have adopted, no doubt, the stronger and more attacking 4.Bg5.} exd5 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5 Be7 (8... Bg4 {is preferable here. White's best reply then is 9.Kh1, rather than to attempt the gain of the d-pawn immediately, which would result much to his disadvantage, e.g.,} 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nxd5 Qh6 $1 11. h3 Nxd4 $1 12. Be2 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Bxh3 14. Re1 Be6 {, and Black would have a winning advantage.}) 9. Re1 h6 {White might have played 10.Bxf6 or 10.Bh4 with equal advantage.} 10. Be3 Nb4 $1 11. Bf1 Bf5 12. Rc1 Ne4 {This in conjunction with the preceding few moves of Black secures him a superior game.} 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. a3 {Compelled in order to avoid the loss of a pawn.} Bg4 $1 15. axb4 exf3 16. gxf3 Bh5 17. c3 Bd6 18. Bg2 Qh4 19. h3 Qf6 20. b5 {There does not seem to be time for this diversion on the queen's side. Either 20.Bd2 or 20.d5 [P-K5] appears to be better.} a6 21. bxa6 Rxa6 22. c4 c6 23. c5 {Of course the advance of this pawn adds another weak spot to White's position; but he is really in such a confined position, that some sort of an attempt must be made to free himself.} Bc7 24. b4 Rd8 25. Rb1 b5 26. Rb3 Rd5 27. Rd3 Ra8 28. Bc1 Rad8 29. Be3 { White is reluctant to abandon the command of the diagonal on account of the threat 29...Qf4, 30...Qh2+, followed by 31...Bg6, when White would lose the h-pawn.} Rf5 30. Bd2 {This looks very much like a slip, of which the Alderman exacts the full penalty, in condemning his opponent to the hardest kind of labour for the remainder of his game.} Rxd4 31. Bc3 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Qg6 $1 33. Re8+ $2 Kh7 34. Re3 Bf4 35. Re4 $2 Rd5 {Dr. Ryall very pertinently remarks that Black could finish the game speedier with 35...Rg5, winning a piece, etc.} 36. Qe2 Rg5 37. Qf1 Bxf3 38. Rxf4 Rxg2+ {Chess Monthly V 247, "Score from Morning Chronicle."} 0-1 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Toronto"] [Date "1884.01.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes H"] [Black "Kittson, Henry N"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [Annotator "C.W. Phillips"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "1884.01.??"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Week, 10 April 1884"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. b3 {A departure from the beaten track which looks well.} Bg4 {Under ordinary circumstances the B should be posted at e6. Here, however, owing to White's last move this seems better.} 8. c4 c6 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Bb2 Rc8 { Well played.} 12. c5 Bb8 13. b4 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Nf8 15. a4 {Evidently bent on making matters uncomfortable for Black on the Q's side.} Ne4 16. b5 Qc7 17. Rfe1 Ng5 {A fine coup, giving Black decidely the better game.} 18. Ne5 f6 19. f4 ({We see nothing better. If} 19. Ng4 h5 {, etc.}) 19... fxe5 20. dxe5 ({ If he takes [the] Black N (} 20. fxg5 {) the following would be the probable continuation:} e4 21. Bf1 Qxh2+ 22. Kf2 Bg3+ {winning easily.}) 20... Ne4 {(?)} 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Qxe4 cxb5 23. Bd4 Ne6 24. axb5 Nxd4 25. Qxd4 Qxc5 26. Qxc5 Rxc5 27. Rab1 Bc7 28. b6 {A queer oversight for the champion to make. Why not have brought out his king?} Bxb6 29. Kf1 Rc2 30. Re2 Rxe2 31. Kxe2 Re7 32. Kf3 Bc5 33. Ke4 b6 34. f5 a5 35. g4 Rd7 36. g5 Rd4+ 37. Kf3 a4 38. e6 a3 39. f6 a2 40. e7 {An "expiring flicker."} Rd3+ 41. Kf4 Kf7 42. Re1 Re3 43. Ra1 gxf6 44. gxf6 Kxf6 45. Rxa2 Rxe7 {Mr. Kittson has conducted his game with great skill, but it must be confessed that Dr. Zukertort's play is not up to his usual standard. [[Toronto] Week, 10 April 1884]} 0-1

Ottawa

Zukertort's visit to Ottawa was arranged to coincide with the holding of the Canadian Chess Association Championship. The elder statesman of Canadian chess, John Bradford Cherriman (1823-1908), had been the driving force behind the founding of the CCA in 1872 while a professor at the University of Toronto. Cherriman subsequently moved to Ottawa in 1875 to become the first Superintendent of Insurance. The president of the CCA in 1884 was George E. Casey who was the MP for Elgin West; the Association was thus able to obtain the Railway Committee Room at the Houses of Parliament as a site for the championship and the adjunct displays. Zukertort was in Ottawa for over a week as the guest of the CCA and presumably played a number of individual and offhand games during that period, but we only have mention of three games against Cherriman, the professor winning one of them. Zukertort gave his two standard exhibitions at the beginning of his stay:

Presumably not bothered by cold on this occasion, Zukertort's scores were as one would expect. His opposition consisted of many of the competitors entered in the championship, including subsequent winner François-Xavier Lambert, John Henderson, Punchard, and Casey, along with Dr. Jesse Hurlburt (championship runner-up in 1874 and 1879) and Senator Thomas McInnes of B.C., among others. Cherriman played in the peripatetic simultaneous and won his game, but was teller for the blindfold display. “In consequence of the expense of these performances, the Canadian Chess Association did not offer any prizes at their meeting, except one presented by Prof. Cherriman (a handsome set of chess-men) to be competed for in the Minor Tourney” [British Chess Magazine, April 1884, 144]; no indication is given of how the championship players felt about this arrangement.

[Event "Simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Moodie"] [Black "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C45"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "1884.01.30"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Ottawa Citizen 18840204"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 Qg6 8. O-O Ne5 9. Bb3 d6 10. f4 Ng4 11. Rf3 Qxe4 12. h3 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Nh6 14. Qe2 Nef5 15. Bc2 Qe7 16. Bxf5 Bxf5 17. Nc3 O-O-O 18. Rc1 Kb8 19. Rg3 g6 20. Re1 Rhe8 21. Qd1 d5 22. Bf2 Be4 23. Rge3 Qf6 24. Qa4 Nf5 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxe4 Nxd4 28. Bxd4 Rxd4 29. Re8+ Rd8 30. Qd7 Qd4+ 31. Qxd4 Rxe8 32. Qg7 {[Ottawa Citizen, 4 February 1884]} 1-0 [Event "Simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "N.N."] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r7/pppk3p/3p4/q7/1n2N2P/1PB5/1KP3P1/4RR2 w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "15"] [EventDate "1884.01.30"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Chess Monthly V 217"] [SourceDate "2010.02.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.02.24"] 1. Nf6+ Kc6 2. Ra1 Qb5 3. Rf4 Na6 4. Rxa6+ Qxa6 {If 4...bxa6 White wins the queen in two moves.} 5. Rc4+ Kb5 6. Nd5 Rc8 7. Rxc7 {The only move: if 7.Bd2 Black escapes with 7...c5.} b6 8. Bd2 {[Chess Monthly V 217]} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Halkett, James Brooke"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C34"] [Annotator "Hoffer?"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "1884.01.31"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Chess Monthly V 211"] [SourceDate "2010.02.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.02.24"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nc6 {If the gambit is accepted why not defend it in the usual way? If the intention, however, is to decline it, why take the offered pawn?} 4. d4 d6 5. Bxf4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nh5 {Useless at this stage. Any other developing move would be preferable.} 7. Be3 Bg4 8. Bc4 h6 9. O-O Nf6 {Forced to return with the knight; White is threatening10.Bxf7+ etc.} 10. Qd2 Qe7 {10...Be7 followed by castles as soon as possible would have been much safer.} 11. Rae1 O-O-O 12. d5 Na5 {12...Ne5 should have been done. The text move accelerates Black's approaching difficulties, as he is compelled to weaken his king's position to secure a retreat for the knight.} 13. Bd3 b6 {13...Bxf3 would have been better under the circumstances. This knight is too strong after the b-pawn is moved.} 14. Ba6+ Kb8 15. b4 Nb7 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Nc6+ Bxc6 18. dxc6 Nc5 19. bxc5 dxc5 20. Qe2 Qe8 21. Bb7 Rd6 22. Qa6 Rxc6 23. Nb5 {Chess Monthly V 211} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Henderson, John"] [Result "*"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "3bkq1r/1p1b3R/p3p1n1/3pPpP1/2pP1P2/2P1BNN1/PP3K2/7Q w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "0"] [EventDate "1884.01.??"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Ottawa Citizen 18840201"] {"...owing to the advanced hour, it was agreed to leave the game unfinished, the champion claiming the advantage, but stating that it would take about two hours to finish." [Ottawa Citizen, 1 February 1884]} * [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "N.N."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C28"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "1884.01.??"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Bg4 6. O-O Be7 7. d3 Nh5 8. fxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 Bxd1 10. Bxf7+ Kf8 11. Bxh5+ Bf6 12. Rxf6+ gxf6 13. Bh6+ Ke7 14. Nd5+ Ke6 15. Bf7+ Kxe5 16. c3 {[Brooklyn Chess Chronicle, 15 January 1886, republished in A Chess Omnibus by Edward Winter; some sources state the game was played in Leipzig in 1877]} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Punchard, Charles"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C33"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "1884.01.??"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Ottawa Citizen 18840201"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 Qf6 5. d4 d6 6. Nc3 Be6 7. Bd3 a6 8. Nf3 Nd7 9. Ne2 g5 10. h4 h6 11. hxg5 hxg5 12. Rxh8 Qxh8 13. Nxg5 Qh1+ 14. Ng1 Qh4 15. N5h3 Bh6 16. Qf3 Bg4 17. Qf2 Qxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Bg7 19. c3 O-O-O 20. Nxf4 Ne7 21. Nf3 Bf6 22. Be3 Rh8 23. Bc4 Rh7 24. Nd3 Nc6 25. e5 dxe5 26. Ndxe5 Ncxe5 27. dxe5 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Bxe5 29. Rf1 f6 { [Ottawa Citizen, 1 February 1884]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.01.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Richie"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r3k2r/1ppqbp2/2n2nbp/1B1p2p1/3PP3/P1N2NB1/2PQ2PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 17"] [PlyCount "13"] [EventDate "1884.01.31"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Chess Monthly V 283"] [SourceDate "2010.02.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.02.24"] 17. Ne5 Qe6 18. Rxf6 Bxf6 (18... Qxf6 19. Nxd5) 19. exd5 Qc8 20. dxc6 b6 21. Nd7 Be7 22. Re1 f5 23. Nd5 {White would have continued in answer to 23...f4 with 24.Rxe7+ Kd8 25.Qxf4 gxf4 26.Bh4, etc. [Chess Monthly V 283]} 1-0 [Event "Odds game"] [Site "Ottawa"] [Date "1884.02.02"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Lambert, Francois-Xavier"] [Result "1-0"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "4r3/ppp1P3/1b3R1p/4P1pk/8/3Bq1Pb/PB5P/3R3K w - - 0 1"] [PlyCount "27"] [EventDate "1884.02.02"] [EventType "game"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Chess Monthly V 217"] [SourceDate "2010.02.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.02.24"] 1. Bg6+ Kg4 2. Bf5+ Kh5 3. Bxh3 Qe4+ 4. Bg2 Qc2 5. g4+ Kh4 {If 5... Kxg4 White mates in two moves.} 6. Bf3 Qh7 7. Bc3 Rxe7 8. Be1+ Kh3 9. Bg2+ Kxg4 10. h3+ Kh5 11. Bf3+ g4 12. hxg4+ Kg5 13. Bd2+ Kh4 14. Kg2 {[Chess Monthly V 217]} 1-0

Montreal

Zukertort arrived in Montreal on the evening of February 9, and gave his two standard displays soon thereafter at the hall of the Natural History Society on University Street:

Apart from the Montreal players mentioned in the first article in this series Robert Short had emerged as a player of note, and indeed would win the Canadian championship in 1890. Short and John Henderson beat Zukertort in the blindfold exhibition, while Bemrose and Aldane secured draws.

While in Montreal Zukertort engaged in a number of contests at odds. He split a pair of games with a player named Benjamin at capped pawn or pion coiffé. Considered the most severe handicap in the nineteenth century game, the odds giver had to undertake to deliver mate with a designated pawn (usually the g-pawn); if the pawn was taken, the odds giver lost. Zukertort also played a series of games with Jacob Ascher, Canadian champion in 1878 and 1883. On even terms the players scored one win apiece, at pawn and move odds Zukertort won all three games, while at pawn and two moves Ascher achieved a win and a draw out of four games.

The Montreal chess fraternity had a tradition of fêting visiting masters at a banquet, and Zukertort was accorded the same treatment. In responding to a toast in his honour Zukertort noted that "after the London Tourney, he had made up his mind to travel round the world, and play chess in every country under British rule; he intended to play in India, and already had two invitations from native rulers to engage them at the game." [British Chess Magazine, April 1884, 144] Whether this disclosure was a true statement of Zukertort's plans or another example of his bravado is hard to say; in the event, he reached San Francisco on the U.S. West Coast but returned to Europe via the Atlantic Ocean, rather than the Pacific.

[Event "Simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1884.02.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Blyth, W.G.."] [Black "Zukertort, Johannes H"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C78"] [Annotator "C.W. Phillips"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "1884.02.11"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Week 18840515"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 Bc5 {The doctor probably tried this for a change. e7 is the only square for the B in this opening in almost every variation.} 6. O-O b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 {This move followed presently by d4 gives White a very strong position, so strong in fact as to render Black's 5...Bc5 a very weak move.} Bg4 9. Be3 Qe7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bg5 { 11.d4 would be stronger.} h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. h3 Be6 14. Bc2 Ne7 15. Nh2 Ng6 16. Ndf3 Nf4 17. Ne1 Qg6 18. Kh1 {White has played the last two or three moves very well. The Dr. threatened a fierce attack.} f5 19. d4 Bb6 20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Ng4 {22.Nf3 [which knight is not specified] would perhaps be better.} exd4 23. cxd4 Qd5 24. Nf3 Rae8 25. Ne3 Qf7 26. Kh2 c6 27. b3 Bc7 28. Rc1 Qd7 29. d5 {Well played.} c5 30. Ng1 Re5 31. g3 Ng6 32. Qd3 Qf7 33. f4 Re7 34. Rce1 Rfe8 35. Nf3 Nxf4 36. Qd2 {If N be captured, Black of course gains White N in return.} Bb6 37. Nh4 {Winning the piece.} g5 38. Nhf5 Qh5 39. Nxe7+ Rxe7 40. gxf4 {[Week, 15 May 1884.]} 1-0 [Event "Simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1884.02.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Barry, John"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C29"] [PlyCount "100"] [EventDate "1884.02.11"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "MorningChronicle18840410"] [SourceDate "2020.01.15"] [SourceVersionDate "2020.01.15"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 Nc6 4. fxe5 Nxe5 5. d4 Ng6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 d6 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 h6 10. e5 Nd5 11. c4 Nde7 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. a4 O-O 14. Ba3 Qd8 15. c3 Re8 16. Qc2 c6 17. Rae1 Be6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Bxg6 Nxg6 20. Qxg6 Qf6 21. Ne5 Qxg6 22. Nxg6 a6 23. Bd6 b5 24. cxb5 cxb5 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ne7+ Kh7 27. Rf7 Ra7 28. Kf2 Rd7 29. Bb4 Ra8 30. Kf3 Ra1 31. Kg4 Rb1 32. h4 Rxd4+ 33. cxd4 Rxb4 34. Nc6 Rc4 35. Ne5 Rxd4+ 36. Kf3 b4 37. h5 Rd5 38. Ke4 Rb5 39. g4 b3 40. Rf1 Rb4+ 41. Kd3 b2 42. Rb1 Rb5 43. Ng6 Rb4 44. Ne5 Rb5 45. Nc4 Rg5 46. Ne3 Rb5 47. Kc2 Re5 48. Kd2 Rb5 49. Ke2 g6 50. hxg6+ Kxg6 { [Morning Chronicle 10 April 1884]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1884.02.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Ascher, Jacob Gottschalk"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "1884.02.12"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "MorningChronicle18840320"] [SourceDate "2020.01.15"] [SourceVersionDate "2020.01.15"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 4. c3 Na5 5. Be2 Nc6 6. d4 Bg4 7. Be3 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 g6 9. Nd2 Bg7 10. Nf1 Nf6 11. Ng3 O-O 12. h4 h6 13. h5 g5 14. Bxg5 hxg5 15. h6 Bh8 16. Bg4 Ne7 17. Bf5 Ng6 18. Qf3 Nh7 19. O-O-O c6 20. Qg4 Qe7 21. Nh5 b5 22. g3 Rab8 23. f4 b4 24. dxe5 Bxe5 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. cxb4 Rxb4 27. Rd2 d5 28. Qe2 d4 29. Kb1 c5 30. Rc1 Rfb8 31. Qa6 R4b6 32. Qc4 d3 33. Qc3 c4 34. Bxg6 Qxc3 35. Bxh7+ {[Morning Chronicle 20 March 1884]} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1884.02.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Barry, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C30"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "1884.02.??"] [EventCountry "CAN"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Bg4 6. d3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Nbd7 8. Na4 Bb6 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. O-O O-O 11. c3 h6 12. Bb3 Kh8 13. fxe5 Nxe5 14. Qe2 Qe7 15. Bd2 Nh7 16. d4 Nd7 17. Qd3 f6 18. Rae1 Rfe8 19. Bc2 Nhf8 20. a3 Qf7 21. Rf3 Re7 22. Rh3 Qg8 23. Rf1 c5 24. Bf4 c4 25. Qd2 d5 26. e5 fxe5 27. dxe5 Nxe5 28. Bxh6 gxh6 29. Qxh6+ Nh7 30. Qf6+ Rg7 31. Bxh7 Qb8 32. Bf5+ Kg8 33. Be6+ 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1884.02.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Henderson, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "1884.02.12"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "MorningChronicle18840221"] [SourceDate "2020.01.15"] [SourceVersionDate "2020.01.15"] 1. d4 d6 2. e4 e6 3. Bd3 g6 4. f4 Ne7 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nd7 7. Nbd2 b6 8. Nf1 Bb7 9. Ng3 O-O 10. f5 exf5 11. exf5 Nd5 12. Bd2 Re8+ 13. Kf2 N5f6 14. Rf1 Ng4+ 15. Kg1 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bxd4+ 17. Kh1 Nxh2 18. Qf4 Nxf1 19. Rxf1 Be5 20. Qh6 Bg7 21. Qh3 Ne5 22. fxg6 fxg6 23. Ne4 Qd7 24. Bc4+ Kh8 25. Qxd7 Nxd7 26. Ng5 Ne5 27. Bb3 Rf8 28. Re1 Rf5 29. Ne6 Ng4 30. Nxg7 Kxg7 31. Re7+ Kf8 32. Rxc7 Rf1# {[Morning Chronicle 21 February 1884]} 0-1 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1884.02.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Short, Robert"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "1884.02.12"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "MorningChronicle18840228"] [SourceDate "2020.01.15"] [SourceVersionDate "2020.01.15"] 1. e4 a6 2. d4 e6 3. Bd3 c5 4. d5 e5 5. c4 d6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. f4 g6 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. O-O Qe7 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Bc2 Qd6 12. Ba4 Bg7 13. Be3 O-O 14. Bf2 Ng4 15. Bxd7 Bxd7 16. Qe2 f5 17. exf5 Nxf2 18. Rxf2 Bxf5 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Ne4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4 Re7 22. Rfe2 Rf5 23. Qc2 Rh5 24. g3 Rf5 25. Nd2 e4 26. Nxe4 Bd4+ 27. Kg2 Qd7 28. Qd3 Ref7 29. b4 b6 30. bxc5 bxc5 31. Qa3 Rh5 32. h4 Qg4 33. Nxc5 Rxh4 34. Re8+ Kg7 35. Ne6+ Kh6 36. Qc1+ g5 37. Nf4 gxf4 38. R8e6+ Kg7 {[Morning Chronicle 28 February 1884]} 0-1

Quebec City

I do not have access to appropriate primary sources to give details of Zukertort's exploits in Quebec City, but will follow the lead of the British Chess Magazine of April, 1884: "we need only say that he repeated his previous exhibitions and triumphs." The BCM also provides no details, but in their report on the Montreal visit they list two blindfold displays. Given Zukertort's practice of conducting two displays in each location (one peripatetic, the other blindfold), the names of the two players mentioned (Burke and Fletcher), and the lack of evidence for a second Montreal blindfold display in the local press, I am reasonably certain that the second blindfold display listed in the BCM is in fact the Quebec City exhibition:

[Event "Simul"] [Site "Quebec City"] [Date "1884.02.19"] [Round "?"] [White "Fletcher, Edward Taylor"] [Black "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C23"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "1884.02.19"] [EventType "simul"] [EventCountry "CAN"] [SourceTitle "Chess Monthly V 277"] [SourceDate "2010.02.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2010.02.24"] {Stated as being part of 29-board simul in Montreal, but the date and the opponent indicates it was likely played in Quebec City. Also published in the Morning Chronicle of 28 February 1884, where it is stated the game was played on February 19.} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 f5 3. d3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bc5 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. Qe2 d6 8. f3 Nd7 9. Nh3 Nf8 10. a3 Ng6 11. g3 f4 12. Nf2 h5 13. O-O-O fxg3 14. hxg3 Qg5+ 15. Kb1 Qxg3 16. Rdg1 Qxf2 17. Qxf2 Bxf2 18. Rxg6 Kf8 19. Rxd6 Bb6 20. Rg6 h4 21. Ne2 h3 22. Rh2 Bd7 23. c3 Re8 24. d4 exd4 25. cxd4 Bc7 26. Ng3 Rh6 27. Rxh6 gxh6 28. e5 c5 29. f4 cxd4 30. Bd3 Kg7 31. Nh5+ Kh8 32. Nf6 Re7 33. Nxd7 Rxd7 34. Rxh3 Kg7 35. Rg3+ Kf8 36. Rh3 Rf7 37. Rxh6 Rxf4 38. e6 {[Chess Monthly V 277]} 1/2-1/2

Postscript: Steinitz and Zukertort eventually agreed on terms and played the first official match for the world chess championship at the beginning of 1886; three cities, New York, St. Louis, and New Orleans, hosted the games. After the New York leg Zukertort was ahead 4-1, but was only able to gain one more win in the remaining fifteen games, whereas Steinitz won nine times to take the match (the victor was the first to amass ten wins). Zukertort was never the same after the match; broken in body and spirit, he suffered a stroke at Simpson's Divan in London two years later and died the next day.

Joseph Henry Blackburne (1841-1924)

In 1889 the sixth American Chess Congress was held in New York. The earlier congresses had largely been restricted to residents of America and thus served as the U.S. Championship, but the sixth congress was a thoroughly international affair, with half the participants coming from Europe. The tournament was intended as a candidates' competition, to determine a challenger for Steinitz's world crown. It was also gruelling: a twenty player double-round robin, with the proviso that draws in the second half were replayed once. The tournament was won by Weiss and Chigorin, Gunsberg was third, and Blackburne fourth. Also part of the field were Bird (tied for twelfth), Gossip (tied for seventeenth - as we shall see in a future article, he resided in Montreal for a short time in the 1890s), and two-time Canadian champion Nicholas MacLeod, still only a teenager, who unfortunately placed dead last.

The tournament, which lasted two months, ended on May 27, 1889. Henry Bird, a previous guest of the Montreal Chess Club in 1877, travelled to Montreal to visit his old friends; perhaps at Bird's suggestion, Blackburne followed soon thereafter. Unlike Steinitz and Zukertort, both of whom were journalists, most of Blackburne's income came from giving simultaneous displays (there were far fewer international tournaments in those days than there are now). "For more than 50 years he toured Britain twice yearly, with few breaks, for this purpose." [Hooper and Whyld, The Oxford Companion to Chess, 2nd ed.] But for Blackburne this was no austere intellectual exercise; he sought to truly entertain his patrons - it was, after all, good for business. "Before his time such displays were solemn affairs; Löwenthal, who would turn up in formal dress and play for several hours in silence, was shocked when Blackburne turned up in ordinary clothes, chatting and making jokes as he played, and refreshing himself with whiskey" [ibid.].

This philosophy extended to his blindfold exhibitions. Zukertort and Blackburne were the two greatest exponents of blindfold play in the second half of the nineteenth century, but while Zukertort set the world simultaneous blindfold record at sixteen opponents in 1876 and frequently took on twelve at a time, Blackburne was usually content to give displays of just six or eight games at once. Leaving aside the strain on the exhibitor, one of the main problems with large blindfold displays is the amount of time required, which can easily become tiresome for the sighted players. Blackburne deliberately limited the number of boards he took on, thus ensuring completion of the exhibition within a reasonable period of time and, presumably, happier customers. By contrast, as we have seen above, Zukertort's displays often extended into the early morning hours.

Blackburne was in Montreal for about a week, during which time he gave three regular (peripatetic) simultaneous displays and one blindfold exhibition:

There is no mention of additional individual or odds games in the news reports of the time, perhaps an indication of Blackburne's well-known dislike of odds giving. The displays were given in the rooms of the Natural History Society on University Street. We can infer a reasonable estimate of the cost involved; in 1889 the Tees Side Chess Association in England contracted Blackburne to give two simultaneous displays and a blindfold exhibition, for which he was paid 9 guineas (£9.45 - a guinea is 21 shillings or £1.05). Patrons were charged a shilling to play Blackburne, or two and a half times that amount for a blindfold game. Assuming the same rates and proportions, Blackburne's Montreal appearances would have cost 11 guineas, roughly equivalent to $1,700 in today's currency.

Newspaper coverage (John Henderson had been writing a weekly chess column for the Montreal Gazette since 1886) concentrated on Blackburne's blindfold display; unlike reports on previous visitors, only the bare results for the regular simultaneous events were given, with no indication of which players had drawn or beaten the master. The players who were assembled to face Blackburne in his blindfold exhibition were Messrs. Short, Ascher, Bemrose, Fleming, Cooke, Henderson, J. Barry, and White. These eight were not only the strongest Montreal had available but were among the best in the country: Ascher was Canadian champion in 1878 and tied for first in 1883, Fleming was the current title holder, and Short won the championship the following year. And with the exception of Bemrose, all the others placed second or third in the national tournament on multiple occasions. Ascher and Henderson were discussed in the first article in this series; Richard P. Fleming, Scottish by birth, was a civil engineer employed by the Montreal Sanitary Association, while Joseph P. Cooke was a lawyer who was subsequently elected to the Quebec Legislative Assembly.

"Mr. Blackburne was seated on the platform beside a bare table, with his back to the other players, who were arranged in a hollow square, within which walked the teller, Mr. T. Binmore." [Gazette, 12 June 1889] The exhibition commenced on Saturday, June 8 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, but was adjourned three hours later. "When play was resumed at 8 o'clock, Mr. Blackburne called off the position of every piece on all the boards without an error" [ibid.]; apart from being a practical reassurance for the exhibitor, such 'calling offs' were regarded as great feats of memory by the onlookers and general public. The display lasted a total of seven hours, with Blackburne achieving three wins (against Ascher, Bemrose, and Fleming), one loss (Cooke), and four draws.

[Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1889.06.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Blackburne, Joseph Henry"] [Black "Ascher, Jacob Gottschalk"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C30"] [Annotator "John Henderson"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "1889.06.08"] [EventType "simul"] [SourceTitle "Gazette 18890626"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 {This is one of the most feasible ways of declining the gambit, because it retards White's castling on the king's side.} 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 O-O 6. d3 b5 { We cannot see the object of giving up this pawn, no superiority of position is gained to compensate its loss.} 7. Bxb5 c6 8. Ba4 Qa5 9. Bb3 Bb7 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Bd2 Qd8 12. Qe2 ({If} 12. Nxe5 {, Black could prevent his castling by} Qd4 13. Ng4 Nxg4 14. Qxg4 Qf2+) 12... Nbd7 13. O-O-O Bd4 14. Rdf1 Nc5 15. Bg5 Qa5 16. Bxf6 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 gxf6 19. Kb2 Bc8 20. Nh4 Qd8 21. Qh5 Be6 22. Rf3 Rb8 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. exf5 Re8 25. Qh6 {[Gazette, 26 June 1889]} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1889.06.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Blackburne, Joseph Henry"] [Black "Barry, John"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C27"] [Annotator "John Henderson"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "1889.06.08"] [EventType "simul"] [SourceTitle "Gazette 18890626"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 {For a player unacquainted with the multifarious variations springing from this fine opening, the text move is the safest defence.} 3. Bc4 {The more approved continuation is 3.f4.} Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qe2 a6 8. a3 c6 9. Rd1 Bb6 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 exd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 13. Ba2 O-O 14. f4 Ng6 15. O-O Re8 16. Qd3 Nf8 17. Kh1 Qe7 {Black apparently overlooks the fact that this move loses a pawn.} 18. Nxc6 {The blindfold player saw it!} bxc6 19. Bxb6 Rb8 20. Bd4 Be6 {If 20...Rxb2 21.Nd5, etc.} 21. Bxe6 Nxe6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. f5 Nc5 24. Qxd6 Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Nxe4 26. Nxe4 Rxe4 27. Rxc6 Rxb2 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rc7 Re2 30. Rc1 Rf2 31. Rxf7 Kg8 32. Rc7 Rxf5 33. Rd1 Ra2 34. Rd3 Rf6 35. Rg3 Rf7 36. Rc6 Kh7 37. Rxa6 Rxc2 { [Gazette, 26 June 1889]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1889.06.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Blackburne, Joseph Henry"] [Black "Cooke, Joseph P"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C39"] [Annotator "John Henderson"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "1889.06.08"] [EventType "simul"] [SourceTitle "Gazette 18890619"] 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ne5 f3 {Something new. Opinion is divided between 5...Nf6 or 5...Bg7 for Black's best move at this point.} 6. gxf3 g3 7. d4 d6 8. Nd3 Be7 9. Nf4 Bxh4 10. Ng2 Bg5 11. f4 Bf6 12. Nc3 c6 13. Be3 Qb6 14. Qd2 Bg4 15. e5 Be7 16. d5 c5 17. Bd3 {Mr. Blackburne afterwards remarked that he should have played this bishop to e2.} h5 18. b4 Qxb4 19. Rb1 Qa5 20. Rxb7 Bc8 21. Rb5 Qc7 22. Ne4 Nd7 23. e6 Ndf6 24. exf7+ Kxf7 25. Nxg3 Nh6 26. Nh4 Rg8 27. Rg1 Ne4 {A very good stroke on general principles, as besides being difficult to parry, it develops Black's game.} 28. Bxe4 {Bad, we believe White could have taken with the knight and remained with a safe game.} Bxh4 29. Qh2 Qe7 30. Kd2 Ng4 31. Qh1 Nxe3 32. Kxe3 Bxg3 33. Qxh5+ Kf8 34. Qh6+ Ke8 35. Rb3 Bxf4+ 36. Kxf4 Rxg1 37. Bg6+ Rxg6 38. Qxg6+ Qf7+ {"and Black wins." [Gazette, 19 June 1889]} 0-1 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1889.06.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Blackburne, Joseph Henry"] [Black "Fleming, Richard P"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C56"] [Annotator "John Henderson"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "1889.06.08"] [EventType "simul"] [SourceTitle "Gazette 18890619"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Be7 ({The authorities give} 5... Nxe4 {as the Best move for Black. If White then continues} 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qh5 {, or 8...Qc4 as recommended by Mr. Wayte, Black having the better game.}) 6. e5 Ne4 7. Nxd4 Nxe5 8. Bd5 Nf6 9. Nc3 c6 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Be4 d5 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. Qe2 Kf8 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Bg3 a6 {Mr. Fleming thought this necessary to prevent Nb5 when he played his queen to c7.} 16. Rad1 Bg4 17. f3 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Bd7 19. Qf2 Qc7 20. Nde2 b6 21. Nf4 g5 22. Nd3 Nh5 {Premature, better to bring the queen rook into play at d8, etc.} 23. Ne5 Be6 24. f4 Re8 25. fxg5 Kg8 26. g4 Ng3 {26...Bc8 is better, but Black has a bad game.} 27. Qxg3 f6 28. gxf6 gxf6 29. Qf4 fxe5 30. Rxe5 Qf7 31. Rg5+ Kf8 {Forced, if 31...Kh2 White mates in two moves.} 32. Qd6+ Re7 33. Rd3 ({ How distinctly he sees everything with his mind's eye; had he played} 33. Rf1 { , Black would play} Rh1+ {and when} 34. Kxh1 Qxf1+ {, etc.}) 33... Qe8 34. Rf3+ Bf7 35. Ne2 Qd7 36. Rxf7+ Kxf7 37. Qg6+ Kf8 38. Qf6+ Rf7 39. Qxh8+ {[Gazette, 19 June 1889]} 1-0 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1889.06.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Blackburne, Joseph Henry"] [Black "Henderson, John"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C22"] [Annotator "John Henderson"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "1889.06.08"] [EventType "simul"] [SourceTitle "Gazette 18890717"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. h3 O-O 9. Qe2 Be6 10. Bb3 Re8 11. Bg5 Qc8 12. O-O-O Bxb3 13. axb3 Nb4 14. Qc4 a5 15. Rhe1 Nd7 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Nb6 18. Qd3 Qd7 19. Be3 a4 20. Bxb6 cxb6 21. bxa4 Qxa4 22. c3 {Exchanging rooks would have the effect of retarding Black's attack on the queen's side; at this stage of the game, the hour being late, the moves were made rather hurriedly on both sides.} Bh6+ 23. Kb1 Rxe1 24. Nxe1 Qb3 25. c4 Qa2+ 26. Kc2 Rc8 ({This wins a pawn, but 26...Ra4 would have been far better, e.g.,} 26... Ra4 27. Rb1 {(best)} Rxc4+ 28. Kd1 Rc5 29. b3 Qxf2 {, etc.}) 27. Qa3 Rxc4+ 28. Kd3 Qxa3+ 29. bxa3 Rc5 30. Ke4 f5+ 31. Kf3 Rc3+ 32. Rd3 Rc1 33. Ke2 Bg7 34. Rb3 Bd4 {[Gazette, 17 July 1889]} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Blindfold simul"] [Site "Montreal"] [Date "1889.06.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Blackburne, Joseph Henry"] [Black "Short, Robert"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C45"] [Annotator "John Henderson"] [PlyCount "40"] [EventDate "1889.06.08"] [EventType "simul"] [SourceTitle "Gazette 18890703"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bb5 a6 8. Bxc6 Nxc6 9. O-O d6 { This move allows White to exhibit, in two moves, the advance of the Aborigines in "Indian file."} 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bxc5 dxc5 12. f4 O-O 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. Nd2 a5 15. Rfe1 f6 16. Nf1 Be6 17. Ne3 c4 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Nc2 Rd6 20. Rxd6 cxd6 { [Gazette, 3 July 1889]} 1/2-1/2

Mr. Blackburne "... sailed hence for England on Tuesday morning [June 11]. His visit will long be remembered in the chess circles of the city. He has paid our players the compliment of saying that his blindfold performance here was the best contested encounter of the kind he was ever engaged in." [Gazette, 12 June 1889] Considering the many hundreds of displays he gave during his professional career this statement was likely not literally true, but another example of Blackburne keeping his customers contented.

[As mentioned above, Blackburne's visit overlapped that of the "esteemed veteran" Mr. Henry Bird, who had so pleased the club members when he visited Montreal in 1877. Bird's 1889 sojourn received scant attention in the local press, but at least three of his games were published; they may be found in the linked PGN file at the top of this page.]