The January 1896 issue of British Chess Magazine reviewed a book called Chess Sparks by the Rev. J. H. Ellis (London: Longman's, Green, & Co., 1895). It was a collection of 400 miniatures (the sparks), none longer than twenty moves. The review stood in good company, as on the same page Emanuel Lasker’s Common Sense in Chess (London: Bellairs & Co., 1896) was also reviewed.Of interest here is game 281 from Chess Sparks, which is a Scotch Game, with none other than A. E. Blackmar handling the black pieces. Black’s Bishop sac is unsound, but White cooperates to produce a nice conclusion. Hey, it’s just a game.
Thanks to Charles Szasz for calling this game to my attention.
A. F. Wurm - A. E. Blackmar
New Orleans, 1883
Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nf5 d5 6.Nxg7+ Kf8 7.Nh5 Qh4 8.Ng3 Nf6 9.Be2
9...Bxf2+?! 10.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 11.Kg1 Rg8
12.Nxe4? [12.Qxd5; 12.Nc3; 12.Qe1; 12.Bf3: any one was much better.] 12...dxe4 13.Qd2??
13...Rxg2+ and mate is forced. 14.Kxg2 Bh3+ 15.Kg1 e3! 0-1
[16.Bf1 (16.Qxe3 Qe1+; 16.Bf3 exd2 17.Bxd2 Qd4+) 16...exd2 17.Bxh3 d1Q+]
Play through the game and download PGN here.
