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Max Lange on Morphy-Anderssen
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Apr 25, 2017
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#4
I love your threads batgirl. Are you perhaps a chess historian? You are the single jewel of these forums!
Apr 28, 2017
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#6
I thought someone might have commented on Lange's presentation of Anderssen as somewhat different as the commonly held view. I guess no one had an opinion on it.
My suspicion is that Anderssen had some tendency towards saying what he thought listeners wanted to hear.
Your posts are always interesting. These forums are such a disgrace though, I hope you post this stuff elsewhere..
batgirl wrote:
I hope you don't think it's Max Lange's fault!
He'd better have a solid alibi!
Great stuff batgirl!! 
The common view of Anderssen as a chessplayer dates from reti's books, where he was used as an example of the combitative style. Generally, he was a very solid player in his competetive games, and a lot of the time was out of practice. He was certainly much stronger in the 1860's than in the 1850's. ( Other opinions are available!!)
Perhaps a slightly different take on of both Morphy and Anderssen than to which most are accustomed.
Lately, Anderssen has devoted his leisure hours to private studies, whilst his only recreation, which is not of a literary nature, consists in a game of Chess, although amongst the members of the Breslau Club there is not one player of his strength. This want of practice with first-rate players exercised a greater influence, than Anderssen could or would have believed before, on his unlucky match in Paris. He began his journey to the French capital on the 11th December, passing through Berlin, and only stopped a short time at Cologne, at the house of Mr. A. C. (Adolphus Carstajen of the business firm, "Vom Rath, Joest and Carstanjen" in Cologne who operated the most extensive sugar factories, farms and refineries in Europe at the time. -batgirl)
On the evening of the 14th he arrived in Paris, and, to his surprise, was informed that Paul Morphy was ill in bed. This accident may be viewed in any light, but in no case could it be considered favourable to Anderssen, who has even expressed his regret that he remained under such circumstances. However, the vivacity and spirited manner with which the patient joined in the conversation, promised a speedy beginning of the fight. The mean time the German master employed in an encounter with his countryman, Harrwitz, with whom he won three games, lost one, and drew three. He also played a few games with Arnous De Riviere, and some other French players. The match with the American began on Monday, December the 20th, and was continued without intermission. Besides these chief games, there were played a few off-hand contests, to which, however, Anderssen attached no importance whatever. They met for another distinct purpose, but the preparations were, through mistake, not finished; and just in order to pass the time, a few games were played in a skittling style. Afterwards, great emphasis was laid upon these games by French and English writers; often, also, the most innocent expressions, which sometimes had quite a different meaning, or were spoken occasionally by the German player, were laid hold of, and undue importance attached to them. Amongst these may be mentioned the words attributed to him, "that it was a rare fortune for a player to win one or two games against Morphy." The fact is, that at dinner, before the last game was played, Anderssen said, jokingly and in good temper, " He was glad to have already two sheep in safety." Again, Anderssen is reported to have said, "Il joue non seulement le coup juste, mais le coup le plus juste." (Morphy makes not only the best, but the very best move.) "No living player has a chance in play against Morphy ; it is uncertainty struggling against certainty."
The truth is, that Anderssen only spoke of the great correctness of Morphy's play, and simply remarked, that the American never made a mistake, and very rarely an error. We do not intend, by correcting these misstatements, to diminish the glory of the American; for, after all we have said before, it is evident this can not be our intention; but an impartial presentation of facts, devoid of national vanity, can only be in favour of the youthful champion who came off victorious; and, therefore, we will add here a few expressions of Anderssen's, which we can warrant to be authentic.
He was asked if the American was superior in coolness and self-possession, and if his play in general had seemed to him superior to his own. The first part of the question was not strictly answered, for Anderssen merely replied to it as follows :—" I cannot say I believe so; for, in my own opinion, I was quite cool, but still I have overlooked the most simple moves." The second question was answered without reserve:—" He did not even in his dreams," he said, "believe in the superiority of his opponent; it is, however, impossible to keep one's excellence in a little glass casket, like a jewel, to take it out whenever wanted; on the contrary, it can only be conserved by continuous and good practice."
It was asked of him, if there were any external disturbing influences at work, and how the witnesses and spectators behaved. As to the first question, it was not denied that unwonted noisy surroundings in the hotel chosen (Hotel Violet), produced sleepless nights, which by no means contributed to fortify him for the exhausting play of a match. The near spectators, as Messrs. A. de Riviere, Preti, Journoud, and Edge, as well as the proper witnesses or honorary seconds, Messrs. St. Amand, Lequesne, Mortimer, and Grandboulogne, behaved, all of them, most honourably; amongst the other spectators, however, there were unmistakable, and sometimes very disturbing, sympathies shown for his opponent. Signs of impatience were chiefly exhibited when the German player took time for reflection; especially conspicuous therein was a certain bald-headed Italian, who generally managed to place himself close to the American player. To such influences may be attributed the turn in the sixth game of the match, move twenty-eight. The German master was, amongst other things, also asked wherein the strength of his opponent lay, and what was his opinion of the lost games in comparison with those he won. As to the first part, he had already mentioned that the American never committed a mistake, and very seldom an error. As to the second point, the games won by the German player must be good, because Morphy never loses through mistakes or errors. The contrary may be said of the other games, which were generally thrown away by evident blunders.
Besides, the question has been addressed to Anderssen, and especially from Leipzig, if he would again fight with Morphy, and how the latter had behaved to him. The answer was, that Morphy was invariably polite to him, but more so after his victory, and that he manifested his satisfaction by several little attentions. He had distinctly promised, besides, to pay a return visit to Germany in the month of March; whereupon, if he had no objection to idle away a fortnight in Breslau, most likely a return match could be arranged. Finally, the same parties inquired how the American master spoke of Anderssen's play. Upon this the German player replied with well-founded confidence:— "To express an opinion upon this subject was impossible for Morphy, as I had not gone to Paris to get a certificate of ability. Those who surrounded the American, however, seemed to think that they flattered me most when they said, how high an opinion the American had of my play, and that he considered me the strongest of all opponents he had met till now. But to be reckoned stronger than a Lowenthal I consider next door to nothing!"