The Famous and Best Chess Matches – Anderssen-Dufresne

We start a new pat of website Chess-Planet, the BEST and Famous Matches.

This match is one of Anderssen’s most famous and is known as the “Evergreen”.

Anderssen – Dufresne (Berlin, 1852)

1 e4, e5; 2 Cf3, Cc6; 3 Ac4, Ac5; 4 b4, A: b4; 5 c3, Aa5; 6 d4, e: d4; 7 O-O, d3?!;

In this position the best seems to be 7 ?, Cge7. Dufresne’s move, returning the Gambetto pawn, aims to obstruct the C3 house at the Cb1, also prevents the formation of a center of white pawns united. However Anderssen decides to leave for the moment the advanced black pawn to concentrate on the attack on the opposing King and the Pf7:

8 Db3 !, Df6; 9 e5, Dg6; 10 Te1, Cge7; 11 Aa3, b5?!;

Again Dufresne offers the return of a pawn in order to quickly activate the Ta8 and place the Afiere campochiaro in the house b7 and the camposcuro in the house b6 for a possible counterattack at the center and at the wing of the opposing King. The plan, however, seems too slow, so in this position it would probably have been better to set up immediately ?

12 D: b5, Tb8; 13 Da4, Ab6; 14 Cbd2, Ab7; 15 Ce4, Df5 ???;

Black attacks the Pe5, but it is a useless move. Even here it was better to stop in a hurry. Also to be considered 15 ?, d2!?, Which causes White to waste time. Now Anderssen’s attack becomes increasingly dangerous ?

16 A: d3! (threatening 17 Cd6 +!), Dh5;

Position after 16 ?, Dh5 Position after move 16 ?, Df5-h5

17 Cf6 +!?, ?

In the heat of the game Anderssen omits the continuation 17 Cg3 !, Dh6; 18 Ac1 with strong attack. On the other hand, the chosen move, in addition to being more spectacular, has the advantage of opening up the central column for its Tower ?

17 ?, g: f6 (Rd8 ??; 18 C: h5); 18 e: f6, Tg8! (threat Dh5: f3); 19 Tad1 !, D: f3 ?;

Position after the move 19 ?, Dh5: f3

The best were both 19 ?, Tg4 and 19 ?, Dh3. Now the White takes back the Horse with check:

20 T: e7 + !, C: e7 ??;

The fatal mistake, since it was necessary to play 20 ?, Rd8. However, Nero’s position was already extremely problematic. Now Anderssen closes the match with a magnificent combination:

21 D: d7 + !!, R: d7; 22 Af5 ++, Re8; 23 Ad7 +, Rf8; 24 A: e7 #

Characteristic expression of the romantic period of the nineteenth century, this jewel of Anderssen is rightly present in almost every chess anthology.

Thanks to: Andreas Vogt for that material