Anderssen Opening, named after the renowned unofficial World Chess Champion, Adolf Anderssen, gained its moniker due to his notable usage of the opening strategy during his 1858 match against the great Paul Morphy, employing it on three separate occasions.
Anderssen Opening can hold appeal for players who enjoy the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense, as it shares the similarity of advancing the a-pawn one square forward. This resemblance allows for an intriguing transformation, as illustrated in the following diagram, where the game takes on the characteristics of the Najdorf Sicilian but with reversed colors and an extra tempo.
Anderssen Opening is characterized by its limited impact on development and control of the center, as it often serves as more of a passive move, allowing the opponent to take the initiative. Despite its apparent drawbacks, some players find psychological value in employing this opening or believe it can be advantageous against opponents well-versed in opening theory.
Let’s take a look at the game that gave the name to the opening:
And one more game from the past, won by the first official World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, in 1873: