My Favorite Game Of. Number 4. Louis Paulsen.

Well, this post might end up being a little longer than I had planned!! Hans Renette, who is FM.Like-a-Hurricane on this site, recently had an article on Paulsen published in New in Chess. He has a book on Paulsen at the editorial stage - another book to look out for  

Hans also pointed me in the direction of this article  that is well worth looking at.

As someone who looks at how chess thinking has evolved, Paulsen is a player who fascinates me. His thinking and ideas, particularly in the , then, virtually unexplored concept of 'defence'  were undoubtedly an influence on Steinitz and 'The Modern School' . Lasker clearly studied him, and many of his ideas were genuinely 'Hypermodern', half a century before that term was used.

Above all, he was one of the greatest opening thinkers and innovators in the whole history of the game.

Off the top of my head, he made major contributions  as White, in the Scotch, Vienna , Four Knight's game and Sicilian Defence, as well as being credited with introducing 3. Nc3 in the French Defence. With Black he was incredibly prolific in his inventions, finding innumerable ideas, improvements and systems in the King's Gambit, Evan's Gambit, Ruy Lopez. He was playing the 'Pirc' before Pirc was born. He was, I think, the first to play both the  Leningrad Dutch, and the King's Indian Defence. And, above all, he was the man who's ideas underpin the development of the Sicilian Defence. His chess legacy is incredible!!

Renette's article says this.

My choice of favorite game will probably come as a surprise - just a draw, and no obvious 'brilliancy'. For me, however , it is a great battle on many levels.

A battle of chess ideas, culture and thinking. A battle where the 56 year old Paulsen, past his prime and not in great form, had to defend himself with Black against one of the all time greats, who was dominating just about every tournament he played in.

I hope you enjoy the game, and that the notes go some way to showing why it is my favorite game of a remarkable chess player.

  O.K. I did say that this article might get to be a bit longer than planned. I have decided to throw in some relevant games without notes, and also a rare image. As usual, all comments - polite!! - additions, games, etc, are most welcomed. 

With Thanks to Hans Renette for permission to use his material.