[Event "2nd Irish Chess Association Masters 1886"]
[Site "Belfast IRL"]
[Date "1886.09.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Palmer, William Crawford"]
[Black "Chambers, John D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Opening "Sicilian defence"]
[Source "Liverpool Weekly Courier, 30 Oct 1886 p3"]
[Annotator "R. F. Green"]
[Entry "David McAlister"]
[URL "https://www.irlchess.com/games_archive/sundry_files_2026-02/palmer-chambers-2ndirish-1886.htm"]
[LastModified "Sat Jan 31 23:53:14 2026"]

{ Source: <em>Liverpool Weekly Courier</em>, October 30, 1886 p. 3. } {
Annotator: R. F. Green (see Source). } { Event information: <a
href="https://www.icu.ie/tournaments/135">Crosstable</a>, ICU web site. }

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 ({ The old fashion in vogue in the days when the theory of
the opening was imperfectly understood. It permits of the effectual advance
of Black's d-pawn, thus getting rid of the chief weak point in the defence.
The Bishop manoeuvre losses time, and, as pointed out by Zukertort, would
be much better posted at e2. The recognised move is } 2. Nc3) 2... e6 3.
Nc3 Nc6 4. f4 (4. Nf3 { , followed by 5. d4, seems a more promising line of
play. }) 4... Nf6 5. e5 { Although he weakens his pawn position, still more
by this move, it is possible that White had views of his own in yielding to
his opponent's temptation. } 5... Ng8 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O dxe5 ({ Black should
not have gone in for winning the pawn, which obviously is deliberately
sacrificed. } 7... d5 { not only gained time, but left him with a superior
position. }) 8. fxe5 Nxe5 9. Bb5+ Nc6 ({ The attack is embarrassing, and we
would incline to the awkward looking defence } 9... Ke7) 10. d4 cxd4 11.
Ne5 Qb6 { This loses the "exchange", but we question if there is anything
better. } 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Na4 Qb5 14. Nxf7 Qxa4 15. Nxh8 Nf6 16. Bg5 Be7
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qh5+ Kd7 ({ Plainly } 18... g6 { is worse than useless
because of } 19. Qxh7 { and if then } 19... Bxh8 20. Rf7 { and mate is
unavoidable. If 19... B elsewhere, then 20. Nxg6 wins a piece or forces
mate. }) 19. Qxh7 Kd6 20. Nf7+ Kc5 21. b4+ Kb6 { He has evidently had
enough of the Greek gifts, and this one is "declined with thanks." } 22.
Nd6 Ba6 23. c4 dxc3 24. Rf4 Rd8 25. Qh5 { Necessary before moving the
Knight to prevent the awkward effects of 25... Rd1+. It also indirectly
protects the Knight from capture by threatening 26. Qc5+. } 25... e5 26.
Nc4+ Bxc4 27. Rxc4 c2 28. Rf1 Rd2 29. Qf3 Rd1 30. Qf2+ Kb7 31. Qxc2 Rxf1+ {
This last exchange destroys any chance of a draw Black might have had, and
he might as well have resigned at once. } 32. Kxf1 Qa6 33. a4 Qb6 34. Qb3
a6 35. b5 axb5 { &#91;RR The ambiguous 35... PxP is given in the text.&&93;
} 36. axb5 cxb5 37. Rb4 Ka6 38. Qa2+ Kb7 39. Qd5+ Ka6 40. Qa8+ Qa7 41.
Qxa7+ Kxa7 42. Rxb5 Ka6 43. Rb3 Ka5 44. Ke2 Ka4 45. Rb6 Ka5 46. Rxf6 gxf6
47. h4 1-0