Steinitz-Paulsen, 1870

This game from the Baden-Baden tournament of 1870 features a sharp King’s Gambit–style battle between Wilhelm Steinitz and Louis Paulsen. Steinitz adopts an aggressive setup early, accepting structural weaknesses and an exposed king in exchange for rapid development and attacking chances. Paulsen responds solidly at first, but soon begins to drift with several inaccurate defensive moves, allowing White to seize the initiative.

A key moment comes after Black’s questionable queen maneuvers and kingside pawn pushes, which fail to generate real threats while weakening his position. Steinitz steadily builds pressure on the queenside and in the center, using pawn advances and active piece play to restrict Black’s coordination. Black’s defensive resources gradually collapse, especially after 18…Qg7?! and 19…h6?, which allow White’s advantage to grow decisively.

The game culminates in a spectacular tactical sequence featuring sacrifices, precise calculation, and a final mating attack. Steinitz finishes with a brilliant combination, ending in a forced checkmate with 36.Rxc6#. The game is a classic illustration of Steinitz’s attacking power in open positions and the dangers of passive or inaccurate defense against sustained pressure.