Adolf Anderssen vs. Jean Dufresne (Berlin, 1852; Evans Gambit)

[Event "Casual Game"]

[Site "Berlin GER"]

[Date "1852.??.??"]

[White "Adolf Anderssen"]

[Black "Jean Dufresne"]

[Result "1-0"]

“The Evergreen Game”

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {The "Evans Gambit" is considered

to be an aggressive mutation of the "Giuoco Piano. The main purpose is to

temporarily divert black's bishop to be to be followed up by c3 and d4 to

Anderssen vs. Dufresne (After 7.__d3)

create a very strong center for white. The main focus of white's attack is the f7 square.} 4... Bxb4 {The most accepted reply is to accept the gambit pawn.

While the gambit can be declined by 4.__Bb6, the lost of tempo is not favored by most players.} 5. c3 Ba5 {This is considered to be the most popular retreat

as it pins the pawn on c3. But, Be7 is a very good alternative and is perhaps the safer reply.} 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3 {Black tries to give back the pawn. In most gambit openings, giving up the pawn usually creates a placid position. More often, the chaos on the board due to a "gambit" creates confusion which immediately results to a win or a loss. Chess history narrates that Reuben Fine lost to Bobby Fischer in 1963 with this gambit in only 17 moves! While Kasparov again employing this gambit demolished Anand in just 25 moves in Riga, 1995.} 8. Qb3 {By declining black's offer, white focuses on the f7 square and intensified the fire in the already raging

chessboard.} 8... Qf6 {Black desperately defends the f7 square.} 9. e5 Qg6

10. Re1 Nge7 11. Ba3 {Both white's bishops are now poised for attack while

black's pieces appear to be cramped.} 11... b5 {Black again attempts to return

Anderssen vs. Dufresne (After 17. Nxf6)

the pawn and desperately tries to create counter-play.} 12. Qxb5 Rb8 13. Qa4 Bb6 14. Nbd2 Bb7 {At first glance, it appears that black is able to consolidate his pieces but white' position is still very dominant. } 15. Ne4 Qf5 {Black should have continued to consolidate his pieces and perhaps castling is an alternative that should be deeply considered.} 16. Bxd3 Qh5 {This is the losing move.} 17. Nf6+ gxf6 {Black has no other option but to take knight as it forks the queen on h5.} 18. exf6 Rg8 19. Rad1 {White continues harmonize his pieces for purposes of attack. There is really no hurry to take the knight on e7 and the threat of Qxf3 can be ignored.} 19...

Anderssen vs. Dufresne (After 24. Bxe7#)

Qxf3 20. Rxe7+ Nxe7 21. Qxd7+ Kxd7 22. Bf5+ Ke8 23. Bd7+ Kf8 24. Bxe7# 1-0