In some sources I see advice that I agree with, which is simply to commit these games to memory. As daunting of a task that this sounds, it is possible to do, especially if we absorb a little bit at a time. It also takes much repetition, but that is the nature of memory.

Over time I will add analysis to some of these games, but it is not necessary to have analysis to start learning from these games. Human beings learn by example, and even if we don't fully understand the games, we can slowly pick up ideas.

2014-10-12

Anderssen vs. Staunton


[Event "London"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "1851.??.??"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Adolf Anderssen"]
[Black "Howard Staunton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[Annotator "Coffey,John"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1851.??.??"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 g6 { This will create dark square weaknesses that black will later regret.} 3. Bd3 Bg7 4. Be3 {The natural developing move Nf3 is slightly better.} c5 (4... d5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Nf3 {is only minuscule better for white.}) 5. c3 (5. dxc5 { Amazingly is stronger.} Bxb2 6. Nd2 Bxa1 {A mistake.} 7. Qxa1 f6 8. Nc4 { with a better game.}) 5... cxd4 6. cxd4 Qb6 {Premature.} 7. Ne2 (7. Nc3 { is slightly better. Obviously not Qxb2?? 8. Nb5} Qxb2 8. Nb5 Na6 9. a3) 7... Qxb2 {White's counterplay is too great.} (7... d5 8. Nbc3 Ne7 9. Qd2 { with a slight edge for white.}) 8. Nbc3 Qb6 9. Rc1 Na6 10. Nb5 Bf8 (10... Ne7 { is a little better.} 11. d5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qb6 13. Qa4 exd5 14. Qa3 { And black has a lot of problems.}) 11. O-O d6 { Black's position is falling apart.} (11... Qd8 {And black survives longer.} 12. Qa4 f6 13. Bf4 Kf7 14. Bc7 {and black is constrained.} Qe8 15. Nd6+) 12. d5 Qa5 13. Bd4 (13. dxe6 {Is stronger.} Bxe6 (13... fxe6 14. Nf4) 14. Bd4 f6 15. Nf4) 13... e5 14. Bc3 Qd8 15. f4 f6 16. fxe5 fxe5 { The open file for the rook will be ruinous.} (16... dxe5 17. d6 Bh6 { Is not as bad.} 18. Bd2) 17. Qa4 Bd7 18. Bb4 (18. Qa3 {Is stronger.} Nh6 (18... Nc5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Rxc5 Bxc5+ 21. Qxc5) 19. Bxe5 Qb6+ (19... dxe5 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Nd6+ Ke7 22. Nxb7+) 20. Bd4) 18... Nh6 (18... Nf6 {Is a little safer.} ) 19. Kh1 {White misses the winning move.} (19. Rxf8+ Kxf8 20. Bxd6+ Kg8 21. Bxe5 Nf7 22. Bb2 Rc8 23. Qd4 {Leads to complicated tactical threats}) 19... Nf7 20. Qa3 (20. Qb3 Be7 21. Rxf7 Kxf7 22. Nxd6+ Bxd6 23. Bxd6 Qf6 24. Qa3 Rae8 25. Ng3 Kg7 26. Rf1 Qg5 27. Qb2 Nb8 28. Qxb7) 20... Nc5 (20... Be7 {Is much safer.} 21. Nxd6+ Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Nxd6 23. Bxa6 Qe7 24. Bd3) 21. Nxd6+ (21. Bxc5 { Is apparently crushing.} dxc5 22. d6 Nxd6 23. Qxc5 Nxb5 (23... Bxb5 24. Bxb5+ Nxb5 25. Qxb5+ Qd7 26. Qxe5+) 24. Qxe5+ {is crushing.}) 21... Bxd6 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Qxc5 Qe7 (23... b6 { first is a little better because it makes it harder for white to play d6.}) 24. Qc7 (24. d6 {is slightly stronger.} Qxd6 (24... Nxd6 25. Nc3 Bc6 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 a6 28. Rc7 Qxc7 29. Qxe5+ Kd7 30. Qg7+) 25. Bc4) 24... Nd6 25. Qa5 h5 {Suddenly black's game is worse.} (25... a6 { allows black to defend Rc7 with Rc8.}) 26. Rc7 Rf8 27. Rfc1 a6 28. Nd4 Rc8 29. Ne6 Rxc7 30. Rxc7 Rf7 31. Qb6 Rf6 {Everything goes bad after this.} (31... Qf6 32. Rc1 {takes some of the pressure off.}) 32. h3 g5 (32... Rxe6 33. dxe6 Qxe6 {allows black to live longer.}) 33. Qb2 (33. Qe3 g4 34. Nc5 Qg7 35. Rxd7 { is a little stronger.}) 33... Nb5 (33... Rxe6 34. dxe6 Qxe6 35. Rc5 Nf7 36. Qxb7 {is less disastrous.}) 34. Bxb5 (34. Rxb7 { Wins faster, but this leads to many complicated lines.}) 34... axb5 35. Qxe5 h4 (35... Rf1+ {Is a little better.} 36. Kh2 Rf6 37. Rxb7) 36. Rxb7 {If black take s with either piece on e6 it will prevent forced mate, but at great cost.} Rf1+ 37. Kh2 {Now Bxe6 delays mate, not that it matters.} Qf6 (37... Rf6 38. Rb8+ Kf7 39. Nxg5+) 38. Rb8+ Ke7 (38... Bc8 39. Qc7) 39. d6+ Kf7 40. Rf8+ Kg6 41. Rxf6+ Rxf6 42. Qxg5+ Kf7 43. Qg7+ Kxe6 44. Qe7# 1-0

2014-09-18

Adolf Anderssen vs. Howard Staunton

Play online chess

2014-04-25

French