What is rare these days, however, is Black trying to hang on to the extra pawn with 3...g5, which used to be almost universal.
Here is an exciting example from Savielly Tartakower and Julius du Mont's 500 Master Games Of Chess.
Notes in italics are algebraicised from the book, those underlined are by Garry Kasparov in ChessBase Magazine.
Jakob Rosanes - Adolf Anderssen
Breslau, Prussia (now Wrocław, Poland)
A classic, showing how mind can triumph over matter.
1.e4 e5 2.f4
Of course the most popular opening of the mid-19th century. Conventional wisdom at the time assumed that White had an obligation to fight for the initiative at any price. That is why material sacrifice at an early stage of the game was simply a show of good taste, and to decline the opponent's kind material offer was not considered an honourable option.
2...exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5
This variation is known as the Kieseritzky Gambit.
One of the key-positions of underdeveloped chess theory.
5...Nf6
An active defence.
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| How should White proceed? |
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6.Bc4?!
As this immediate action against f7 is easily met, 6.d4 is more useful.
6.d4 was later proved to be a much better move.
The text is easily the most popular continuation in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, while 6.Nxg4!? is recommended by Stockfish17 and Dragon1.
6...d5 7.exd5 Bd6
6...d5 7.exd5 Bd6
Continuing to show an active spirit.
8.d4 Nh5!?
Maintaining the same spirit; not only does the text move guard the gambit pawn, but it indicates Black's future line of play,
9.Bb5+?
He gets entangled in an expedition, which neglects the safety of his own king. If 9.Nxg4 [then] 9...Ng3 etc. The best, in spite of all apparent dangers, is 9.0-0, eg 9...Qxh4 10.Qe1 Qxe1 11.Rxe1 Kf8 12.Nc3 etc.
9...c6!
Playing for sacrifices in material, in order to speed up his action on the sector which he recognises as the most important. Otherwise 9...Kf8 is playable.
Anderssen in action! It's time to change colours and play white!
10.dxc6 bxc6!?
The engines reckon 10...Nxc6 is much stronger.
11.Nxc6 Nxc6
If 11...Qd7 [then] 12.Nxa7 wins.
12.Bxc6+ Kf8!
Great play! 12...Bd7 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.0-0 etc would deprive Black's attack of all vitality, and so he prefers to give up his QR for nothing more than an attacking 'tempo'.
13.Bxa8
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| White is rook and pawn up, but the engines agree Black is winning |
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13...Ng3 14.Rh2
Better is Kf2.
Obviously [to] the unknown club player who was playing white it wasn't clear whether Black had sufficient compensation for the sacrificed rook.
This is a bit harsh on Rosanes who, according to ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, had a score against Anderssen of +2=0-2 (Rosanes had white in every game).
14...Bf5?!
The engines show direct play with 14...Qe7+ is much stronger, thanks to meeting 15.Kf2 with 15...Ne2!, eg 16.Qxe2 g3+ 17.Kf1 Qxe2+ 18.Kxe2 Ba6+, when one line runs 19.Ke1 gxh2 20.g4 Kg7 21.Bf3 Re8+ 22.Kf2 Re2+! etc, or 16.g3+!? fxg3 17.Kg2 gxh2 18.Bh6+ Kg8 19.Nd2 Ng3 etc.
15.Bd5 Kg7 16.Nc3 Re8+ 17.Kf2 Qb6
Threatening 18...Be5.
Any modern player would be jealous about Andersen's confidence in playing with a rook down. Meanwhile ...Be5 is a decisive threat.
18.Na4 Qa6
Threatening mate in four by 19...Qe2+ etc.
In other words, 19...Qe2+ 20.Qxe2 Rxe2+ 21.Kg1 Re1+ 22.Kf2 Rf1#.
19.Nc3
If 19.c4 [then] 19...Qxa4.
19...Be5!?
A great fight for the diagonal, which is but weakly defended by White's QP.
20.a4
Intending, after 20...Qb6, to play 21.Nb5 a6 22.c3 etc, but Black is disinclined to wait, and announces mate in four. If 20.dxe5 [then] 20...Qb6+ 21.Ke1 Qg1+ 22.Kd2 Qe3#.
Even the computer defence 20.Kg1 doesn't save White: 20...Qb6 (20...Qf1+ doesn't work [because of] 21.Qxf1 Bxd4+ 22.Be3!) 21.Rh1 Bxd4+ 22.Kh2 Qf6! is crushing.
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| Black to play and win |
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20...Qf1+!!
A splendid sacrifice of the queen, of which the object is to deflect the opposing queen from the protection of d4.
21.Qxf1 Bxd4+ 22.Be3 Rxe3!
A quiet preparation for the mate on the next move.
Despite the obvious inequality in the players' strength this game gives a clear idea of the chess fashions of Anderssen's time.
Not 22...Bxe3+? as the white king escapes after 23.Ke1, when Black has sacrificed too much material.
Not 22...Bxe3+? as the white king escapes after 23.Ke1, when Black has sacrificed too much material.
23.Kg1
Or 23.Nb5 Re2#. There could be no more impressive demonstration of the power of a double check.
23...Re1#
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