Anderssen's Opening
Encyclopedia
Anderssen's Opening is a chess opening
defined by the opening move
It is named after unofficial World Chess Champion Adolf Anderssen
, who played it three times in his 1858 match against Paul Morphy
. While Anderssen was defeated decisively, the games he opened with this novelty scored 1½/3 (one win, one loss, one draw
).
This opening move does little for development or control of the center. In some cases, White can transpose the game to an opening where 1.a3 might have been useful, but using a tempo
on such a move already on move one seems premature. As Anderssen's Opening is not commonly played, it is considered an irregular opening. The move is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
.
In fact, this opening is based on the fact that white is playing with the black pieces, but he has the move 1. a3 in. If a game goes as follows 1. a3 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3. Nc3, as black, you cannot play a Ruy Lopez
, and if black plays 3. ...Bc5, then 4. Nf3 puts black into the Two Knights' Defence and white's a3 cuts out a lot of possibilities.
Anderssen's Opening is not a very constructive move for White, more a waiting move. However, some players may enjoy the psychological value of such a move, or believe it will help them against an opponent with a superior knowledge of opening theory.
Among the more common Black responses to Anderssen's Opening are 1...d5, which makes a straightforward claim of the center; and 1...g6, which prepares to fianchetto
the bishop
to g7 as developing the bishop to b4 is unlikely and from g7 it puts pressure on the slightly weakened queenside squares. The response 1...e5 is also possible, but White can then play 2.c4, leading to a kind of Sicilian Defence
with colors reversed, where a pawn on a3 can be useful. Another approach is 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3, transposing to Mengarini's Opening.
A modern proponent of the move is Croatian International master Dr. Zvonko Krecak.
In March 2010 the then world number one Magnus Carlsen
played the opening in the blindfold
game against Vassily Ivanchuk at the Amber chess tournament. Carlsen later lost the game.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
defined by the opening move
- 1. a3.
It is named after unofficial World Chess Champion Adolf Anderssen
Adolf Anderssen
Karl Ernst Adolf Anderssen was a German chess master. He is considered to have been the world's leading chess player in the 1850s and 1860s...
, who played it three times in his 1858 match against Paul Morphy
Paul Morphy
Paul Charles Morphy was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion. He was a chess prodigy...
. While Anderssen was defeated decisively, the games he opened with this novelty scored 1½/3 (one win, one loss, one draw
Draw (chess)
In chess, a draw is when a game ends in a tie. It is one of the possible outcomes of a game, along with a win for White and a win for Black . Usually, in tournaments a draw is worth a half point to each player, while a win is worth one point to the victor and none to the loser.For the most part,...
).
This opening move does little for development or control of the center. In some cases, White can transpose the game to an opening where 1.a3 might have been useful, but using a tempo
Tempo (chess)
In chess, tempo refers to a "turn" or single move. When a player achieves a desired result in one fewer move, he "gains a tempo" and conversely when he takes one more move than necessary he "loses a tempo"...
on such a move already on move one seems premature. As Anderssen's Opening is not commonly played, it is considered an irregular opening. The move is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings is a classification system for the opening moves in a game of chess. It is presented as a five volume book collection describing chess openings...
.
In fact, this opening is based on the fact that white is playing with the black pieces, but he has the move 1. a3 in. If a game goes as follows 1. a3 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3. Nc3, as black, you cannot play a Ruy Lopez
Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del...
, and if black plays 3. ...Bc5, then 4. Nf3 puts black into the Two Knights' Defence and white's a3 cuts out a lot of possibilities.
Anderssen's Opening is not a very constructive move for White, more a waiting move. However, some players may enjoy the psychological value of such a move, or believe it will help them against an opponent with a superior knowledge of opening theory.
Among the more common Black responses to Anderssen's Opening are 1...d5, which makes a straightforward claim of the center; and 1...g6, which prepares to fianchetto
Fianchetto
In chess the fianchetto is a pattern of development wherein a bishop is developed to the second rank of the adjacent knight file, the knight pawn having been moved one or two squares forward....
the bishop
Bishop (chess)
A bishop is a piece in the board game of chess. Each player begins the game with two bishops. One starts between the king's knight and the king, the other between the queen's knight and the queen...
to g7 as developing the bishop to b4 is unlikely and from g7 it puts pressure on the slightly weakened queenside squares. The response 1...e5 is also possible, but White can then play 2.c4, leading to a kind of Sicilian Defence
Sicilian Defence
The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4...
with colors reversed, where a pawn on a3 can be useful. Another approach is 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3, transposing to Mengarini's Opening.
A modern proponent of the move is Croatian International master Dr. Zvonko Krecak.
In March 2010 the then world number one Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen
Sven Magnus Øen Carlsen is a Norwegian chess Grandmaster and chess prodigy who is currently the number-one ranked player in the world. In January 2010 he became the seventh player ranked number one in the world on the official FIDE rating list...
played the opening in the blindfold
Blindfold chess
Blindfold chess is a form of chess play wherein the players do not see the positions of the pieces or touch them. This forces players to maintain a mental model of the positions of the pieces...
game against Vassily Ivanchuk at the Amber chess tournament. Carlsen later lost the game.
Named variations
- Polish Gambit 1. a3 a5 2. b4
- Creepy Crawly Formation 1. a3 e5 2. h3 d5
- Andersspike 1. a3 g6 2. g4