Black to move. Williams has the bishop pair and is fighting for the centre against Staunton. He found the central advance that begins the squeeze — can you continue Black's plan?
Howard Staunton vs Elijah Williams
Why this game matters
London, 1851. At the first international chess tournament — organised by Staunton himself — the favourite met the slow, stubborn Elijah Williams. In a manoeuvring battle far ahead of its time, Williams built a powerful pawn centre, infiltrated on the dark squares, and ground down the great Staunton in a game that looks startlingly modern.
The lesson
Not every game is decided by a king-side attack — control of the centre and patient pressure win too. Williams advanced his e- and f-pawns to gain space, then used the half-open files and dark squares to invade. Strategic squeezes are a weapon every bit as deadly as a combination.
Move by move
2… f52...f5 — Williams stakes out king-side space early, signalling a fight for the centre rather than a quick attack.
4… Be74...Be7 and ...Bb4 — Black calmly develops and trades off to ease his game and target the dark squares.
10… c510...c5! Williams strikes at the centre, beginning the pawn advance that will cramp Staunton.
14… e414...e4! The pawn chain rolls forward, seizing space and cutting White's pieces off from the king-side.
16… Qxc416...Qxc4 — Black grabs a pawn and keeps the initiative; Staunton is already on the back foot.
18… b518...b5 supports the queenside pawns and keeps the bind; Williams plays with great patience.
24… g524...g5! Gaining still more space and preparing to bring the bishop to a dominating diagonal.
26… Bf326...Bf3! The bishop infiltrates, paralysing the white king-side and tying down the defence.
28… Rd228...Rd2 — the rook penetrates to the seventh rank; White's position is creaking everywhere.
37… Nb437...Nb4 — the knight joins the invasion with decisive threats; Staunton resigned. A strikingly modern strategic win.
Frequently asked
Why is this game notable?
It is a famous strategic upset from the first international tournament: Williams beats the favourite Staunton not with fireworks but with patient central pawn play and dark-square control — ideas that look decades ahead of their time.
What was London 1851?
The first international chess tournament, organised by Howard Staunton. It was won by Adolf Anderssen, whose victory (and the Immortal Game played alongside it) announced him as the world's leading player.
Can I try the game myself?
Yes — take the board as Black and try to continue Williams's central squeeze, or replay the whole game move by move, no sign-up.