Curt von Bardeleben

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Curt von Bardeleben (March 4, 1861 – January 31, 1924) was a Count and a German chess master who committed suicide by jumping out of a window in 1924. His life and death were the basis for that of the main character in the novel The Defense by Vladimir Nabokov. He edited the magazine Deutsche Schachzeitung from 1897 through 1891. He was born and died in Berlin.

He is perhaps best known for the game he lost to the former world champion Wilhelm Steinitz at Hastings 1895, especially because he just left the tournament room instead of resigning:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxd5 Bxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Re1 f6 15. Qe2 Qd7 16. Rac1 c6 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nd4 Kf7 19. Ne6 Rhc8 20. Qg4 g6 21. Ng5+ Ke8 22. Rxe7+ Kf8 23. Rf7+ Kg8 24. Rg7+ 1-0