GM-RAM #1: Mayet-Anderssen, Berlin 1851

Questions, comments, and especially criticism are welcome. You can also view this game and my commentary on an interactive board courtesy of chess.com.

[Event "Berlin -"]
[Site "31232"]
[Date "1851.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Karl Mayet"]
[Black "Adolf Anderssen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C64"]
[Annotator "likesforests"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1851.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 $5 {The Classical Defense. With Bc5, Black chooses to counter-attack rather than defend the e5-pawn. This line dropped out of favor by the 1920s due to the discovery of 3...a6, but the line's still occasionally played even at the GM level. Fine calls this defense inadequate, because it fails to prevent White from building up a strong center.} 4. c3 { Planning d4.} (4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nxe5 $2 {The e5-pawn is not hanging, of course.} Qd4 $11) 4... Nf6 5. Bxc6 $6 $146 {Weak. c3 already prepared d4, and this doesn't really prepare Nxe5 because, now that Nf6 has been played, that can be met by Nxe4.} dxc6 6. O-O $6 {Pins are quite effective when the king has already castled on the same side as the pin. And they are extremely so when the bishop that would otherwise defuse the pin has been exchanged off.} Bg4 { Naturally!} (6... Nxe4 $2 { The e4-pawn is not hanging, but the tactics behind its safety are interesting.} 7. Qe2 $1 (7. Re1 $2 Bxf2+ $1 8. Kf1 Bxe1 $19) (7. Qe1 $2 Qd5 $15) 7... Qd5 8. c4) 7. h3 h5 $6 {A shocking sacrifice! This is also played frequently in the Exchange variation, and Nigel Davies suggests it in his video, "Dirty Tricks".} (7... Bh5 {Also reasonable, since g4 would further weaken White's kingside.}) 8. hxg4 $2 hxg4 9. Nxe5 $2 {Mayet was seeing such a sacrifice for the first time, but masters nowadays usually decline the sacrifice or return most of the material.} (9. Nh2 $2 g3 10. Nf3 gxf2+ 11. Rxf2 Nxe4 12. d4 Rh1+ 13. Kxh1 Nxf2+ $19) (9. Ne1 $2 Nxe4 10. Qxg4 Bxf2+ 11. Rxf2 Rh1+ 12. Kxh1 Nxf2+ $19) (9. d4 $3 gxf3 10. dxc5 $1 fxg2 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8 12. Kxg2 Nxe4 $16 { White gave back two pawns and ends up ahead one pawn with good chances.}) 9... g3 $6 (9... Nxe4 10. Qxg4 Bxf2+ 11. Rxf2 Rh1+ 12. Kxh1 Nxf2+ 13. Kg1 Nxg4 14. Nxg4 $17) 10. d4 $1 Nxe4 11. Qg4 $2 {White acts quickly to prevent Qh4, but this move allows a second devastating tactic which Anderssen has spotted!} (11. fxg3 $1 Nxg3 12. Re1 $1 Rh1+ $16 {White must walk a tight-rope but it's possible to withstand the attack and even come out on top with extremely precise play.}) 11... Bxd4 $6 (11... gxf2+ 12. Rxf2 Rh1+ 13. Kxh1 Nxf2+ 14. Kg1 Nxg4 15. Nxg4 $17) 12. Qxe4 {Mate-in-5.} (12. cxd4 gxf2+ 13. Rxf2 Rh1+ 14. Kxh1 Nxf2+ $19) 12... Bxf2+ 13. Rxf2 Qd1+ {Mate after 14.Rf1 Rh1+ 15.Kxh1 Qxf1#. Arpad Elo estimates that Andersson was the first chess master with a GM-level (2600) playing ability. It's clear that his strategic knowledge and tactical vision was deeper than Mayet's. Mayet was a master, but his lifetime record against Anderssen was only +3-16=1.} 0-1