After all, they are World Champions! Part 1: Wilhelm Steinitz

Chess can be such an amazing game. Sometimes, the aesthetic pleasure it gives is unparalleled, and the sense of beauty feels majestic.

Some like to venture the thrilling attacks, while some find matchless joy in positional play. Beauty can be found in all forms of chess. In the following games, Wilhelm Steinitz mixes aggression with imagination as he crafts his way to inspiring wins.

The World Championship is just around the corner, so what better time to look into the chess history of World Champions!

This series will be divided into 16 parts (16 World Champions) and in every post I will be analyzing a few notable games by the particular champion.

The 19th century was well known for the 'Romantic' style of players. Adolf Andersson, leading from the front, showed that chess was an art with immense beauty. Steinitz, in his younger days, played lots of attacking chess, gambits and his strength in calculation was simply too strong.

But in the Vienna 1873 chess tournament, Steinitz unveiled a new "positional" style of play which was to become the basis of modern chess. Learn more here: https://www.chess.com/blog/vinniethepooh/the-first-deep-positional-chess-game

Stenitz was born on 17 May, 1836. His reign as World Champion lasted from 1886 to 1894, until he lost it to Lasker. He passed away on 12 August, 1900.

I now present to you two of his best games with annotations. Let me know in the comments which one you felt the best, and other thoughts. Enjoy!

Learn more about the eternal duel Knight vs bishop here: https://www.chess.com/blog/vinniethepooh/my-investigations-1-knight-vs-bishop

Have a look at a special 'Maroczy Bind' game played by Aronian here: https://www.chess.com/blog/vinniethepooh/putting-on-the-maroczy-bind-3-aronian-ivanchuk

If you want to know the secret to the mastering of positional play: https://www.chess.com/blog/vinniethepooh/the-secret-to-the-mastering-of-positional-play

Check out your mating skills by giving this test: https://www.chess.com/blog/vinniethepooh/check-out-your-mating-skills-by-giving-this-test

News and a lot more at my blog! Just visit the following link: https://www.chess.com/blog/vinniethepooh