Bishop's Opening and Anderssen Gambit
Bishop’s Opening
Definition
The Bishop’s Opening is the chess opening that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4. Instead of the more common 2.Nf3 (the King’s Knight Opening), White develops the king’s bishop first, immediately eyeing the sensitive f7–square and keeping the f-pawn free for a later advance. Its ECO codes are C23–C24.
Typical Move Orders
The Bishop’s Opening can transpose into many other systems; some of the most important branches include:
- 2…Nf6 – the Berlin Defence, which may lead to the Anderssen Gambit (3.d4) or the familiar Italian Game after 3.Nf3.
- 2…Bc5 – symmetrical development, often transposing to the quiet Giuoco Pianissimo or the sharp Evans Gambit if White plays 3.b4.
- 2…c6 / 2…Nc6 / 2…d6 – flexible setups where Black waits to see whether White commits to an early d4 break.
Strategic Aims and Ideas
- Pressure on f7. The bishop on c4 immediately bears down on f7, sometimes in tandem with Qh5 or Ng5 ideas.
- Early central strike. By postponing Nf3, White keeps the d-pawn mobile. Typical plans include an immediate d4 (as in the Anderssen Gambit) or a later c3–d4 setup reminiscent of the Italian Game.
- Flexible pawn structure. Because the f-pawn is still at home, White can choose between kingside attacks with f4 (invoking King’s Gambit–style themes) or slower, positional play with d3.
Historical Significance
The opening dates back to the 16th-century Italian masters (Polerio and Greco) and was later a favourite of Howard Staunton and Adolf Anderssen. Although it lost popularity when the Spanish (Ruy Lopez) became fashionable, it experienced several revivals:
- Paul Morphy used it for lightning development in casual games.
- Nigel Short employed it to defeat Anatoly Karpov (Linares 1992).
- Magnus Carlsen has used it as a surprise weapon in rapid and blitz play.
Illustrative Example
In this quiet line (Short–Karpov, Linares 1992) White avoided the immediate gambit and relied on flexible piece play; Short eventually won in a long end-game.
Interesting Facts
- The Bishop’s Opening was once nicknamed “The Paris Opening” because of its popularity in mid-19th-century French cafés.
- Many transpositions are possible: after 2…Nf6 3.Nf3, we have simply returned to a Two Knights/Italian Game, showing the opening’s chameleon-like nature.
Anderssen Gambit
Definition
The Anderssen Gambit is an aggressive pawn sacrifice that typically arises from the Bishop’s Opening after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nf3. Named after the 19th-century attacking legend Adolf Anderssen, it offers a central pawn to accelerate development and open lines toward Black’s king.
Key Position
After 5.Qxd4 Nc6 the position is highly unbalanced: White has regained the pawn and threatens mate on f7, while Black counts on central piece activity for compensation.
Strategic Themes
- Rapid Development. White’s pieces (queen, bishop, and knight) spring into action, often aiming at f7 and g7.
- Open Lines. By giving up the d-pawn, White opens the e- and d-files, which can be exploited by rooks later on.
- King Safety Trade-off. Black usually keeps the extra pawn (for a move or two) but must navigate immediate tactical threats.
Theory at a Glance
- 4…Nxe4 is critical. After 5.Qxd4, Black can try 5…Qe7 6.O-O Nc6 or 5…Nf6 6.O-O.
- 4…d5?! looks natural but often favours White after 5.exd5 Bb4+ 6.c3, when Black’s king remains in the centre.
Historical & Modern Practice
Although Anderssen himself experimented with the idea, the gambit has rarely appeared in top-level classical games. Its spirit lives on in rapid and correspondence chess, where surprise value counts:
- Anderssen – Mayet, Berlin 1851: the earliest known specimen, ending in a dazzling mate on f7.
- Sveshnikov – Beliavsky, USSR Ch. 1973 (training game): Sveshnikov used the gambit to catch his opponent off-guard and won in 23 moves.
- Online blitz specialists such as Jerry and Tryfon Gavriel occasionally wheel it out for entertainment value.
Practical Tips
- If you play White, castle quickly after regaining the pawn and aim rooks at the e- and d-files.
- If you are Black, neutralise the f7 threat (…Qe7 or …Nc6) and return the pawn when convenient to complete development.
- The gambit is most effective in faster time controls where detailed refutations are harder to recall.
Trivia
Adolf Anderssen is more famous for the Evans Gambit and King’s Gambit brilliancies (the “Immortal” and “Evergreen” games), but this lesser-known pawn sacrifice still bears his name—proof that he was always searching for new ways to open lines and attack.
Bishop’s Opening: The Anderssen Gambit in Context
Why They Belong Together
The Anderssen Gambit cannot arise without the Bishop’s Opening move order—hence many databases catalogue it as C24: Bishop’s Opening, Berlin Defence, Anderssen Gambit. Studying them together helps players understand:
- How a single tempo (delaying Nf3) changes the character of a familiar open-game position.
- The transition from quiet development to a full-blooded pawn sacrifice on move 3.
Model Miniature
A composite of ideas seen in early Anderssen games: the f7-square collapses under combined queen, knight, and rook pressure.
Summary
Whether you adopt it as White or face it as Black, the Bishop’s Opening – Anderssen Gambit package offers a laboratory for studying tempo, initiative, and central tension. Its theory remains manageable, making it a practical choice for club players who enjoy open, tactical play.