Steinitz – Zukertort World Championship Match 1886

dates: 11 January–29 March 1886
location: New York, St. Louis and New Orleans, United States
score: 12½–7½ (Steinitz–Zukertort)
winner: Wilhelm Steinitz

Wilhelm Steinitz in a historical portrait by Fritz Schumann. The portrait is not identified as a photograph from this match. Photo: Fritz Schumann / Cleveland Public Library, via DPLA.

Steinitz and Zukertort contested the first generally recognised official World Championship. Zukertort’s victory at London 1883 had strengthened his claim to be the leading player. Their match required ten wins, with draws excluded from the winning target.

Zukertort led four wins to one after the New York games. Steinitz recovered as the contest moved to St. Louis and New Orleans, winning ten games to Zukertort’s five. The five draws bring the conventional points score to 12½–7½.

All 20 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.

Wilhelm Steinitz's Profile

Match results

Steinitz – Zukertort World Championship Match 1886 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	Game 18	Game 19	Game 20	Points
Wilhelm Steinitz	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	½	1	½	1	1	0	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	12½
Johannes Zukertort	0	1	1	1	1	0	0	½	0	½	0	0	1	½	½	0	½	0	0	0	7½

Each game column shows the score earned by that player. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss. Points are out of 20.

Completed 0 / 20

Game 1: Game 1: Steinitz wins in 46 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 (ECO D11). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 46 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 46...Bf4. The running points score became 1–0 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: Game 2: Zukertort wins in 46 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (ECO C47). Johannes Zukertort won with Black after 46 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 46...Bxg4. The running points score became 1–1 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	46	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Game 3: Zukertort wins in 47 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Bf5 4.a3 e6 (ECO D10). Johannes Zukertort won with White after 47 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 47.Rxf6. The running points score became 1–2 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	47	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: Game 4: Zukertort wins in 39 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 (ECO C67). Johannes Zukertort won with Black after 39 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 39...Ne6. The running points score became 1–3 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	39	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Game 5: Zukertort wins in 32 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 (ECO D10). Johannes Zukertort won with White after 32 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 32.Rxg7. The running points score became 1–4 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	32	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Game 6: Steinitz wins in 61 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 (ECO C67). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 61 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 61.Nd5. The running points score became 2–4 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	61	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Game 7: Steinitz wins in 35 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 c5 (ECO D40). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 35 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 35...Qg1+. The running points score became 3–4 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: Game 8: a draw after 22 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 (ECO C67). The players drew after 22 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 22.Nxb2. The running points score became 3½–4½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1/2-1/2	World Championship 1st	1886	22	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: Game 9: Steinitz wins in 38 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 (ECO D26). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 38 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 38...Qxe4. The running points score became 4½–4½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	38	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Game 10: a draw after 21 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 (ECO C67). The players drew after 21 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 21...Re8. The running points score became 5–5 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1/2-1/2	World Championship 1st	1886	21	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Game 11: Steinitz wins in 42 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 (ECO C49). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 42 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 42...a4. The running points score became 6–5 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: Game 12: Steinitz wins in 44 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 (ECO C67). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 44 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 44.b4. The running points score became 7–5 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	44	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Game 13: Zukertort wins in 86 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4 c5 (ECO D26). Johannes Zukertort won with White after 86 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 86.Rxe7. The running points score became 7–6 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	86	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Game 14: a draw after 48 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 (ECO C67). The players drew after 48 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 48...Kd7. The running points score became 7½–6½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1/2-1/2	World Championship 1st	1886	48	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 15: Game 15: a draw after 49 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5 (ECO D50). The players drew after 49 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 49.f4. The running points score became 8–7 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 1/2-1/2	World Championship 1st	1886	49	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 16: Game 16: Steinitz wins in 49 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 (ECO C65). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 49 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 49.Qe8. The running points score became 9–7 (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	49	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 17: Game 17: a draw after 52 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D60). The players drew after 52 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 52...Kc3. The running points score became 9½–7½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 1/2-1/2	World Championship 1st	1886	52	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 18: Game 18: Steinitz wins in 40 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 (ECO C65). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 40 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 40.Qxh5. The running points score became 10½–7½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	40	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 19: Game 19: Steinitz wins in 29 moves

The opening moves were 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 (ECO D53). Wilhelm Steinitz won with Black after 29 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 29...Qxc3. The running points score became 11½–7½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Johannes Hermann Zukertort – William Steinitz 0-1	World Championship 1st	1886	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 20: Game 20: Steinitz wins in 19 moves

The opening moves were 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 exf4 4.d4 d5 (ECO C25). Wilhelm Steinitz won with White after 19 moves. The recorded continuation ends with 19.Nxg4. The running points score became 12½–7½ (Steinitz–Zukertort).

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
William Steinitz – Johannes Hermann Zukertort 1-0	World Championship 1st	1886	19	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Sources and image credits

By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-13

Guess the Move tournaments