Anderssen Opening and Classical Defense
Anderssen Opening
Definition
The Anderssen Opening is defined by the single move 1. a3 by White. By advancing the a-pawn one square on the very first turn, White deliberately avoids staking an immediate claim in the centre, instead keeping the game in un-charted, “un-bookish” territory. The ECO code is A00.
Typical Move Orders & Structures
- Main line: 1. a3 e5 (or 1…d5) when White may follow up with 2. e3, 2. c4 or the flamboyant 2. h3 (the so-called Creepy Crawly—see below).
- Gambit idea: 1. a3 d5 2. e4!? (the Anderssen – Polish Gambit) offering a pawn for rapid central occupation.
- Transpositional weapon: 1. a3 can transpose to a reversed Sicilian (after …c5 and …e6) or even to a Queen’s Pawn Opening if White later plays d4.
Strategic Themes
Because 1. a3 carries no direct central impact, White must later justify the move by:
- Preventing …Bb4 pinning the c3-knight in many e4-based transpositions.
- Supporting a potential b2–b4 pawn-storm (Queenside space gain).
- Creating surprise and psychological pressure; opponents are rarely “booked-up” after 1. a3.
Historical Significance
The opening is named after 19th-century combinational genius Adolf Anderssen, who experimented with it in casual and off-hand games. While it never became mainstream, its very existence reminds us that originality has always been part of chess culture.
Illustrative Example
[[Pgn|Adolf Anderssen – NN, Breslau 1862 1.a3 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.Nxe5! Nxe5 6.d4|fen|r1bqk2r/pppp1ppp/5n2/2bnp3/P2PP3/2N5/1PP2PPP/R1BQKBNR b KQkq - 0 6]]Anderssen rapidly steered the game back to a familiar Open Game structure, but the early a-pawn meant Black never had …Bb4 in reserve.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In 2014, GM Hikaru Nakamura opened with 1. a3 in a blitz game against GM Fabiano Caruana—and won.
- On most major databases, 1. a3 scores near 50 % for club players (rapid & blitz) because of the surprise factor, despite being objectively inferior.
Creepy Crawly Formation
Definition
The “Creepy Crawly” is not a single opening move but a formation in which a player (usually Black) makes a series of apparently creeping rook-pawn moves—…a6, …h6, …a5, …h5—thus sealing the b4- and g4-squares and waiting to see how the opponent commits the centre. The shape resembles a spider inching its way along the board’s edges—hence the nickname.
Typical Move Sequence
A classic illustration arises after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. a3 (Anderssen Opening) a6 4. h3 h6 when the board after four moves shows all four corner pawns advanced one square.
♜ ♞ ♝ ♛ ♚ ♝ ♞ ♜ ♟ . . ♟ . ♟ . ♟ . . ♟ . ♟ . ♟ . . . . ♟ . . . ♟ . . . . ♙ . . . ♙ . . . . ♙ . . . ♙ ♙ ♙ . ♙ ♙ ♙ ♖ ♘ ♗ ♕ ♔ ♗ ♘ ♖
Strategic Purpose
- Flexibility: By avoiding early central commitments, the side employing the formation keeps the opponent guessing.
- Square control: …a6/a5 restrain White’s bishops and knights from the b5, b4 squares; …h6/h5 clamp down on g5/g4.
- Psychological weapon: The irregular look can tempt the opponent into over-extending, which the “creeper” hopes to punish later with a timely central break.
Real-Game Usage
The Creepy Crawly is most popular in bullet and blitz chess where its surprise value is highest, but even strong titled players occasionally indulge in rapid events:
- Jobava vs. Morozevich, European Blitz 2017, began 1. e4 g6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 h6 and transposed into a full Creepy Crawly; Morozevich ultimately won.
- Magnus Carlsen toyed with a half-Creepy Crawly (…a6/…h6) versus GM Vidit in a 2021 online blitz arena, later unleashing …d5 to equalise.
Related Concepts & Transpositions
- Hedgehog System: Both feature restrained pawn moves and delayed central pawn pushes (…d6, …b6, …e6).
- The Creepy Crawly may convert into a English Defence or King’s Indian set-up once …g6/…b6 and …Bg7/…Bb7 appear.
Fun Facts
- In ICC chat culture of the early 2000s, “Creepy-Crawly Attack” became synonymous with anything involving the edge pawns—folk-lore rather than codified theory.
- Engines evaluate the pure four-pawn Creepy Crawly (…a6, …h6, …a5, …h5) at roughly +0.6 for White, yet practical results in blitz run close to 45 % for Black.
Classical Defense (Ruy Lopez)
Definition
The term “Classical Defense” most commonly refers to Black’s reply 3…Bc5 in the Ruy López (Spanish Opening):
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5
Instead of the more popular Morphy Defense (3…a6), Black immediately develops the queen’s bishop to c5, aiming at both the f2-square and the centre.
Strategic Features
- Piece Activity: Rapid development and pressure on f2 often force White into careful defensive play.
- Central Tension: Neither side clarifies the pawn structure early; the e4/e5 pawns and the pin on the c6-knight create rich strategic complexity.
- Risk of …Nxe4: After 4. c3, Black may sacrifice a pawn with 4…Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ (the Cordel Gambit), seeking dynamic compensation.
Main Continuations
- 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 (Max Lange idea) – White chases the f6-knight and grabs space.
- 4. O-O Nf6 5. c3 O-O 6. d4 (Modern line) – Both sides castle before opening the centre.
- 4. Nc3 (Paulsen Variation) – White reinforces e4, eyeing d5.
Historical Highlights
- Wilhelm Steinitz employed the Classical Defense in his 1889 world-championship match versus Chigorin, defending several critical positions.
- In modern times, GMs Bologan and Leinier Domínguez have revived the line as an occasional surprise weapon.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn|Rubinstein – Tarrasch, San Sebastián 1912 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Nd5 7.O-O O-O 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 Nce7 10.Bc4 c6 11.Bg5 d6 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bxd5|fen|rnb2rk1/ppp1nppp/1b1pp3/3n2B1/3P4/P1P1P2P/1P3PP1/RNBR2K1 b - - 0 13]]Rubinstein’s positional mastery overcame Tarrasch’s two bishops, illustrating both the dynamism and the latent weaknesses of Black’s setup.
Interesting Nuggets
- The Classical Defense was once dubbed “the Berlin of the 19th century” because Berlin-based masters (e.g., Anderssen, later Tarrasch) championed it.
- Chess author Fred Reinfeld called 3…Bc5 “a move of great Victorian dignity,” contrasting it with the swashbuckling 3…a6 of the Morphy.