Lasker – Steinitz World Championship Match 1896

dates: 6 November 1896–14 January 1897
location: Moscow, Russia
score: 12½–4½ (Lasker–Steinitz)
winner: Emanuel Lasker

Emanuel Lasker in a German Federal Archives portrait dated 19 March 1929. This later portrait is not from the match. Photo: Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-00457 / Unknown photographer.

Steinitz received a rematch against Lasker in Moscow after losing the championship in 1894. Steinitz’s second place behind Lasker at St. Petersburg 1895–96 helped him secure support for the challenge.

The contest again required ten wins. Lasker retained the title by ten wins to two, with five draws. It ended in January 1897, although the collection and route use the 1896 start year.

All 17 played games appear below in match order. The game records preserve the archive’s player names, round numbers and dates, including unknown date components. Select either player in the embedded trainer to work through the decisions from that side. A drawn game remains a complete exercise for both players.

Emanuel Lasker's Profile Wilhelm Steinitz's Profile

Match results

Lasker – Steinitz World Championship Match 1896 final standings and game-by-game scores
Player	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7	Game 8	Game 9	Game 10	Game 11	Game 12	Game 13	Game 14	Game 15	Game 16	Game 17	Points
Emanuel Lasker	1	1	1	1	½	1	½	½	½	1	1	0	0	1	½	1	1	12½
Wilhelm Steinitz	0	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	0	1	1	0	½	0	0	4½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 17.

Completed 0 / 17

Game 1: Game 1: Lasker wins in 45 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 (ECO C54). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 45 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 45...Kxc5. The running points score became 1–0 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 6th	1896	45	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: Lasker wins in 36 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Nge7 (ECO C64). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 36 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 36...Kd6. The running points score became 2–0 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	36	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: Lasker wins in 39 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 (ECO C54). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 39 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 39...Kxc6. The running points score became 3–0 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 6th	1896	39	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: Lasker wins in 66 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Nge7 (ECO C64). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 66 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 66.Rg4. The running points score became 4–0 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	66	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: a draw after 39 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). The players drew after 39 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 39...Kf8. The running points score became 4½–½ (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 6th	1896	39	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: Lasker wins in 58 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 (ECO C50). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 58 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 58.Qc6+. The running points score became 5½–½ (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	58	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: a draw after 75 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). The players drew after 75 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 75...Kg7. The running points score became 6–1 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 6th	1896	75	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: a draw after 56 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.d4 Bd7 (ECO C62). The players drew after 56 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 56.Rb7. The running points score became 6½–1½ (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1/2-1/2	World Championship 6th	1896	56	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: a draw after 34 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). The players drew after 34 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 34...Rdd2. The running points score became 7–2 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 6th	1896	34	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: Lasker wins in 41 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 (ECO C68). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 41 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 41.Qg4. The running points score became 8–2 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	41	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Lasker wins in 64 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 64 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 64...Kf3. The running points score became 9–2 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 6th	1896	64	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: Steinitz wins in 30 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 (ECO C71). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 30 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 30...e5. The running points score became 9–3 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 6th	1896	30	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: Steinitz wins in 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38.Qf4. The running points score became 9–4 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: Lasker wins in 78 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 (ECO C68). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 78 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 78.Re7. The running points score became 10–4 (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	78	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: a draw after 35 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). The players drew after 35 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 35.Qc8+. The running points score became 10½–4½ (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 1/2-1/2	World Championship 6th	1896	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: Lasker wins in 42 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 (ECO C71). Emanuel Lasker won with White after 42 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 42.Ra8. The running points score became 11½–4½ (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Emanuel Lasker – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 6th	1896	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: Lasker wins in 59 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D60). Emanuel Lasker won with Black after 59 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 59...Nh4+. The running points score became 12½–4½ (Lasker–Steinitz).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Emanuel Lasker 0-1	World Championship 6th	1896	59	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

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