Anderssen Tames the King's Gambit

JAKOB ROSANES vs. ADOLF ANDERSSEN
Breslau 1863

King's Gambit Accepted, Kieseritzky Gambit

1. e4, e5
2. f4, exf4
3. Nf3, g5
4. h4, g4
5. Ne5 ....

The Kieseritzky Variation of the King's Gambit...

5. .... Nf6
6. Bc4, d5
7. exd5, Bd6
8. d4, Nh5
9. Bb5+, c6
10. dxc6, bxc6
11. Nxc6, Nxc6
12. Bxc6+, Kf8
13. Bxa8, Ng3!!

This Knight position is more valuable than the Rook taken by White's Bishop.

14. Rh2, Bf5
15. Bd5, Kg7
16. Nc3, Re8+
17. Kf2, Qb6
18. Na4, Qa6!!

The Queen attacks the Knight and controls the a6-f1 diagonal.

19. Nc3, Be5!!
20. a4? ....

A useless move. But White has nothing better. If the Bishop is taken then 20....Qb6+, 21. Ke1 Rxe5+ Kd2, 22. Qd4 mate.

If 20. Bxc2, then .....Qxg4+ 21. Kh8 Bxf4 and all squares attacked by Black will be defended.

20. .... Qf1+
21. Qxf1 ....

Forced.

21. .... Bxd4+!!

The reason behind Black's 19th move. Now White crumbles.

22. Be3, Rxe3

White hoped for 22....Bxe3+, 23. Ke1 and the King escapes! Now, Black threatens 23....Re2 mate.

23. Kg1, Re1 mate.

A beautiful finale. For more articles about Adolf Anderssen, click here.

Queen's Gambit Accepted Classical Variation

YURI YAKOVICH vs. DAVID BRONSTEIN
Italy 1994

Queen's Gambit Accepted Classical Variation

1. d4, d5
2. c4, dxc4
3. e3, Nf6
4. Bxc4, e6
5. Nf3, c5
6. Qe2, cxd4
7. exd4, Nc6
8. Nc3, Be7

Black stands to lose after 8....Nxd4, then 9. Nxd4 Qxd4, 10. Bg5! with the threat of 11. Rd1 and 12. Bb5+....

9. 0-0, 0-0
10. Rd1, Nd5
11. Bb3, a6
12. Bd2, Qd6
13. Rac1, Rd8
14. Ne4, Qb8

Black has no choice but to retreat his Queen. If 14....Qc7, then 15. Ne5! ...

15. Nfg5, h6
16. Nf3, Bd7
17. Nc5, Be8
18. Qe4, Nf6
19. Qh4, b6

20. Nxe6, fxe6
21. Bxe6+, Kf8

If 21....Bf7, then 22. Rxc6! with advantage to White.

22. Qxh6, Resigns

The Queen's capture leads to mate. A superb ending! 

If 22...Ng8, then 23. Qh8 Bf7, 24. Rxc6! ...

Italian Game Classical Variation, Greco Gambit

ALEXANDER STEINKUEHLER vs. JOSEPH HENRY BLACKBURNE
Manchester 1863

Italian Game Classical Variation, Greco Gambit

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Bc5
4. c3, Nf6
5. d4 ....

The Greco Gambit allows the e4 pawn to be taken in return for an open file. In this game, the gambit was declined.

5. .... exd4
6. cxd4, Bb4+
7. Bd2 ....

This author suggests 7. Nc3. Now, if 7.....Nxe4, then 8. Qc2.

7. .... Bxd2+
8. Nfxd2 ....

A weak move. Nbxd2 is much better.

8. .... Nxd4
9. 0-0, d6
10. Nb3. Nxb3
11. Qxb3, 0-0
12. Re1, Nh5
13. e5, Qg5
14. exd6, Nf4
15. Bxf7+. Kh8

Of course not 15.....Rxf7 because of 16. Re8+.

16. g3, cxd6
17. Nc3, Nh3+
18. Kg2, Qf6!!

Black threatens White's f-pawn and Bishop at the same time.

19. Bd5? ....

White decides to keep the Bishop, ignoring the safety of his King.

19. .... Qxf2+
20. Kh1, Qg1+

A brilliant Queen sacrifice. White has no choice but to accept the offer.

21. Rxg1, Nf2+
22. Kg2, Bh3 mate.

An elegant finish.

Italian Game Evan's Gambit Compromised Defense

ROBERT JAMES FISCHER vs. REUBEN FINE
New York 1963

Italian Game Evans Gambit Compromised Defense

1. e4, e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bc4, Bc5
4. b4 ....

The aggressive Evan's Gambit named after the Welsh sea Captain William Davies Evans, the first player known to have employed it.  The idea behind the move 4. b4 is to give up a pawn in order to secure a strong centre and bear down on Black's weak-point, f7.

4. ....  Bxb4
5. c3, Ba5
6. d4, exd4
7. 0-0, dxc3

The Compromised Defense.  In this variation, White plays a gambit and gains a tempo, while maintaining threat at f7.

8. Qb3, Qe7
9. Nxc3, Nf6
10. Nd5, Nxd5
11. exd5 ....

With the gambits, White opens the e-file and the a1-h8 diagonal.  Both sides struggle to control them.

11. .... Ne5
12. Nxe5, Qxe5
13. Bb2, Qg5
14. h4 ....

Another gambit.  White intends to fully control the long diagonal.

14. .... Qxh4
15. Bxg7, Rg8
16. Rfe1+!! ....

It does not matter now if the Bishop takes the Rook; the effect would be the same.

16. .... Kd8
17. Qg3 Resigns

Black cannot escape the mating threat 18. Bf6+ without losing the Queen.  If 17.....Qh6, 18. Bf6+ Qxf6, 19. Qxg8 mate.  A spell-binding finale.