Adolf Anderssen Method: Combinations!
Adolf Anderssen Method:
Anderssen has been called the first modern chess master. He was also crowned unofficial world champion. He was one of the strongest attacking players of his time. He held "The World's Best Chess Player" title until Paul Morphy convincingly beat him is Paris.
Anderssen is well known for his combinational power in chess. He build up his positions much like Morphy would, with a lead in development and play in the center, but the difference lies in the way he set up his position to make possible artistic finishes.
Adolf Anderssen (Right)We shall examine how Anderssen builds up his positions in this blog.
First things first, it will be wise to read "Morphy's Method" before continuing this article as some interesting points will arise. The link is below at the end of this article.
Secondly one should have some basic grasp over the following tactic building blocks,
Basic Tactical Motifs:
- Pin
- Fork
- Discovered check
- Discovered attack
- Double attack
- Double check
- Deflection
- Overloaded piece
So what is the difference between a tactic and a combination? The answer, "In chess, a combination is a sequence of moves, often initiated by a sacrifice, which leaves the opponent few options and results in tangible gain." ~ Wikipedia
By a combination we mean a sequence of forcing moves with a specific goal that is grounded in tactics. Thus the above mentioned tactics are building blocks for a combination.
Anderssen was well versed in the attack, especially on the King, but what he was even more famous for was his capability to combine tactics in artistic combinations. He would often play 'Quiet Moves' setting up a finishing blow even if the quiet move was not the most sound. Thus the best lessons we can learn from Anderssen is in his combinational play, but his attacking play is equally good.
Terms:
Anderssen's Quiet Move ~ This move involves a move that seems at first to not do much but is helpful in later play.
Anderssen's Queen Sac ~ This move was used by Anderssen as a finishing deflection. It involves a Queen sacrifice that the opponent did not expect, but forces a deflection and at end usually a mate to follow.
So what is Anderssen's Method? Indeed it is not as easy to explain his characteristic method. It is not as well defined as Morphy's. One cannot decipher all method's exactly, but the following serves as Anderssen's style basic guideline,
Anderssen's Method:
-  Control of the center and open at right time Â
-  Gain Development Advantage            Â
-  Gain maximum piece activity             Â
-  Attack the King                        Â
-  Force Weaknesses                      Â
-  Attack weak points                     Â
-  Combinations!                         Â
Of course this is not always set in stone and variants and differences may occur.
Example 1:
We shall show Anderssen's blueprint in the following game. Notice how he employs the 'Quiet Move' as well as his famous Queen sacrifice.
Key Aspects:
- Anderssen's Quiet Move
- Anderssen's Queen Sacrifice
- Development
- Double Attack
- Weakening Opponents Pawn Shield
- Combinations!
We can clearly see in this game Anderssen's mastery skill of combinations. He did this in quite a few games. The 'Quiet Move' followed by a Queen sacrifice with artistic combinations. Notice how he surrounds the opponent King with his pieces either directly or indirectly. This is what is meant with he builds up the position to perform extraordinary combinations that lead to a mating net..Â
Example 2:
Here follows another example of the classic 'Queen Sac' as well as surrounding the enemy King with pieces. Thus at end setting up a extraordinary combination involving the mating net.
Key Aspects
- Pin
- Anderssen's Queen Sac
- Mating net
- Discovered Check
Once again the amazing combinations of Anderssen is shown. It is key to note here that any chess player should be familiar with combination play as it is a decisive skill to have and will indeed come forth in most games. Tactics exist in every game, thus combinations as well.
Example 3:
Anderssen was one of the best attacking players of his time. Even modern players still strace back to Anderssen to learn how to attack. The following game illustrates well his grasp over opposite side castling. He understood that a pawn storm is only possible with a firm grip over the centre. Once again as in the previous games he weakens the opponent's King position and the illustrates his supreme combinations.
Key Aspects:
- Pawn Storm
- Centre Control
- Outpost
- Isolated Pawn Weakness
- Open files
- Pawn Break
- Development
- Prophylaxis
- Space Advantage
- Converting the Advantage
Indeed one can learn many thing from Anderssen's games. He uses the space advantage to convert to static pawn weakness and then uses his supreme knights in a dazzling combination.
Example 4: The Immortal Game
This game has been a subject of study for many player's. It has also been subject to many critics. Nonetheless it is an awesome game and is noted for its brilliancy, not its accuracy.
Key Aspects
- Anderssen's Queen Sac
- Combinations!
- Mating Net
- Sacrifice
- Blockading Activity
- Gaining Tempo
- Attacking the Queen
- Piece Activity
Noted as Anderssen's Immortal game and once again showcasing his extreme understanding of combinations.
Example 5: The Evergreen Game
Following Anderssen's death in 1879, Wilhelm Steinitz published a tribute in The Field in which he annotated Anderssen's two most famous games, the Evergreen and the Immortal Game against Lionel Kieseritzky. Annotating 19.Rad1, Steinitz wrote, "An evergreen in the laurel crown of the departed chess hero", thus giving this game its name.~Wikipedia
Key Aspects
- Anderssen's Quiet Move
- Anderssen's Queen Sac
- Development
- Center Control
- Center Play
- Mating Net
It is perhaps wise to note here that 'Anderssen's Quiet Moves' did not always work according to best play , however unique to his style he always set up the mating net and the opponent's missed their chances.
Morphy vs. Anderssen
So why is it that Morphy convincingly beat Anderssen? What did Morphy understand that Anderssen did not? Let us analyze the following games in order to inspect Morphy's uniqueness.
Clearly Morphy showed his understanding of the positional key point d5 in this game. Thus he understood the position better.
Here too Morphy showed better positional understanding than Anderssen. Thus we can conclude both players were exceptional attacking players but between the two Morphy understood positional advantages better than Anderssen and that was his trump card in their games.Â
Summary:
We summarize this article with the following key points,
- Understand how pieces work together.
- Understand how tactics form combinations.
- Gain maximum piece activity for your pieces
- Gain Space advantages
- Control the center
- Surround the enemy king with pieces to create a mating net.
- Few suspect a Queen Sacrifice as a deflection tactic
- Force weaknesses in opponents camp
- Attack the weak points
- Not all quiet moves are the best moves
- Study the positional elements as well
Have a look at Morphy's method and feel free to criticize 
https://www.chess.com/blog/almaroockert/paul-morphy-method-development-advantage
