Evergreen game (chess)

The evergreen game is the name of a famous chess game was played in 1852 by Adolf Anderssen and Jean Dufresne.

Adolf Anderssen was one of the stongest players of his time, and was considered by many to be the world champion after winning the 1851 London tournament. Jean Dufresne was popular author of chess books, and did manage to win a few games against masters.

This was an informal game, like the "immortal game". Grandmaster Wilhelm Steinitz later identified the game as being the "evergreen in Anderssen's laurel wr[e]ath", giving this game its name.

The game is recorded below in algebraic notation. It can also be .

'''1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4

This is the "Evans Gambit", a favorite opening in the 1800s and still used today. White gives up material to gain an advantage in development.

4...Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. O-O d3?!

This isn't considered by many to be a good response; alternatives include dxc3 or d6.

8. Qb3!?

This immediately attacks, in particular the f7 pawn, but Burgess suggests Re1 instead.

8.... Qf6 9. e5 Qg6

The e5 pawn can't be captured right now; if 9... Nxe5, then 10. Re1 d6 11. Qb5+ at which point black has lost a piece.

10. Re1! Nge7 11. Ba3 b5?!

Instead of defending, this is a counter-sacrifice. This is a bad idea, since white has a better strategic position. Burgess suggests instead ...a6, to allow the b-pawn to advance later.

12. Qxb5 Rb8 13. Qa4 Bb6

Black cannot play O-O here, because 14. Bxe7 would overwhelm the knight on c6.}

14. Nbd2 Bb7 15. Ne4 Qf5? 16. Bxd3 Qh5 17. Nf6+!?

This is a beautiful sacrifice. Burgess notes that 17. Ng3 Qh6 18. Bc1 Qe6 19. Bc4 wins material in a much simpler way.

17.... gxf6 18. exf6 Rg8 19. Rad1! 19.... Qxf3

The black queen can just dangle on f3, because the rook on g8 pins the white pawn on g2.

20. Rxe7+! 20.... Nxe7? 21. Qxd7+!! Kxd7 22. Bf5+

A double-check, which is almost always dangerous. It's certainly dangerous in this case.

22.... Ke8 23. Bd7+ Kf8 24. Bxe7# 1-0

References

Burgess, Graham, John Nunn, and John Emms. The Mammoth Book of the World's Greatest Chess Games. 1998. New York: Carroll and Graf Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-7867-0587-6.

Eade, James. Chess for Dummies. 1996. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. ISBN 0-7645-5003-9.

Wheeler, David A. http://www.dwheeler.com