Anderssen Opening Polish Gambit
Anderssen Opening
Definition
The Anderssen Opening is defined by the single move 1. a3 by White. Named after the great 19th-century tactician Adolf Anderssen, it is catalogued under ECO code A00 (“irregular openings”). The move advances the a-pawn one square, taking space on the flank while leaving the centre completely untouched in the first move.
How It Is Used
1. a3 is most often employed as a surprise weapon to:
- Sidestep mainstream opening theory—after 1. a3 virtually everything is “out of book.”
- Provoke Black into committing prematurely; for example, tempting …d5 or …e5 so that White can later decide which central pawn (c- or d-pawn) to advance.
- Prepare a quick queenside fianchetto (b2–b4 and Bb2) or a pawn storm with b2–b4–b5.
The opening is seldom played in elite tournaments, but it has appeared in correspondence, blitz, and computer chess where theory-avoidance is at a premium.
Strategic Ideas
- Flexibility: By not staking an early claim in the centre, White remains free to transpose into a variety of set-ups, including reversed Sicilian or English structures.
- Queenside Expansion: The pawn on a3 supports an eventual b4, gaining space and kicking away a black knight on c5, should it appear.
- Psychological Value: Many opponents faced with 1. a3 will burn time deciding on a set-up, which can be useful in rapid or blitz.
Historical Significance
Adolf Anderssen reportedly used 1. a3 in offhand games to throw his opponents off balance. In modern times, Michael Basman and Ulf Andersson have experimented with the move, while correspondence databases show a modest but consistent trickle of games beginning with 1. a3.
Illustrative Example
One of the best-known practical wins with the Anderssen Opening is the blitz game Nakamura vs. Bauer, ICC Blitz 2009:
After a tactical skirmish, White’s queenside space and the lurking bishop on b2 proved decisive.
Interesting Facts
- ECO code A00 contains a cluster of “one-move” openings (1. a3, 1. h3, 1. g4, etc.). Of these, 1. a3 scores the best in computer databases, hovering around 46-47 % for White.
- In some engine matches, Stockfish has used 1. a3 as a drawing weapon against weaker engines because it avoids the mainline theory they “know” yet still keeps the position solid.
Polish Gambit
Definition
The term “Polish Gambit” most commonly refers to Black’s immediate counter-strike 1. a3 b5 !? after White has played the Anderssen Opening. In ECO tables this is listed as A00: Anderssen Opening, Polish Gambit. Some authors also call 1. b4 e5 (against the Polish/Sokolsky Opening) a “Polish Gambit,” but the line 1. a3 b5 is the primary modern usage in databases.
How It Is Used
By replying 1…b5, Black:
- Offers the b-pawn to accelerate development—if White captures with 2. axb5, Black will answer 2…Bb7 and get swift piece play.
- Seizes space on the queenside, mirroring White’s a-pawn advance and aiming to fianchetto the light-squared bishop on the long diagonal.
- Drags the struggle away from conventional pawn structures, hoping to catch an unprepared opponent.
Strategic & Tactical Themes
- Open a-file Dynamics: After 2. axb5 Bb7 3. e3, the a-file can become a highway for Black’s rook (…Ra8-a1 in some lines).
- Central Counter-punch: Because neither side has yet committed a central pawn, Black often plays …e5 or …d5 soon, challenging the centre once development is underway.
- Piece Activity Over Material: The gambit works only if Black gains quick piece pressure; otherwise the pawn deficit leaves Black worse in an endgame.
Historical Notes
The name “Polish” echoes the Polish Defence (1…b5 against 1. d4) and the Polish/Orangutan Opening (1. b4 by White). The 1. a3 b5 idea gained database prominence after the 1980s when computer engines began exploring offbeat counter-punches. A handful of correspondence players from Poland and the Czech Republic championed it, cementing the nickname.
Model Game
An entertaining example is Basman vs. Bowley, British League 1996:
Despite accepting the gambit pawn, White’s kingside weakened, and Black’s fianchettoed bishop on b7 soon dominated the long diagonal, giving Black winning chances.
Typical Continuations
- 2. e4 bxa4 3. d4 Bb7 – Black retains material while fighting for the centre.
- 2. c4 bxc4 3. e3 d5 – Both sides enter an unbalanced Benoni-like structure.
- 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nf3 e6 – A calmer, positional line where material stays level.
Interesting Facts
- The ECO code A00 lumps numerous flank gambits together; engines rate 1…b5 after 1. a3 at roughly –0.15 to –0.25 —which is relatively respectable for a gambit pawn.
- In online bullet, the gambit’s surprise value is enormous: in Lichess databases it scores above 50 % for Black below 2200 rating, largely due to practical complications.
- Grandmaster Baadur Jobava once toyed with 1. a3 b5 in a casual blitz stream, calling it “chess boxing on move one.”