Spanish: Anderssen, 5...d6 – Anderssen Defence
Spanish: Anderssen, 5…d6
Definition
“Spanish: Anderssen, 5…d6” is an early d-pawn defence to the Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening). After the standard moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O, Black plays 5…d6 instead of the more common 5…Be7 or 5…b5. It carries the ECO classification C77 and is named for 19th-century German master Adolf Anderssen, who often employed …d6 setups to bolster the e5-pawn.
Main Line & Move-Order
- e4 e5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bb5 a6
- Ba4 Nf6
- O-O d6
Play often continues 6. d4 Bd7 (or 6…b5 7. Bb3 Be7) leading to a solid—but somewhat cramped—structure for Black. If White prefers a slower approach, 6. c3 is another popular choice, preparing d2-d4 under more favorable circumstances.
Strategic Ideas
- Solidifying e5. The immediate …d6 fortifies the centre and prevents tactics against the e-pawn (e.g., Nxe5 tricks).
- Restricting White’s knight jump. By supporting e5, Black reduces the tactical power of Ng5 ideas aimed at f7.
- Conceding space. The move temporarily shuts in the c8-bishop and gives White a freer hand in the centre. White will try to prove that the extra space outweighs Black’s solidity.
- Transpositional flexibility.
Depending on how Black follows up (…Be7, …b5, …g6, …Bg7, …O-O),
the game can transpose to:
- Old Steinitz Deferred (if …Be7 and …O-O appear quickly);
- Closed Ruy Lopez structures (after …b5, …Bb7, …d6-d5);
- Even Kings Indian-type set-ups if Black fianchettoes with …g6.
Historical Significance
Adolf Anderssen (1818-1879), renowned for romantic attacking games, also explored defensive resources in the Spanish. His adoption of an early …d6 showed that even a swashbuckler appreciated sturdy positional foundations. Although Wilhelm Steinitz later refined many of these ideas (giving rise to the “Steinitz Defence”), the variation kept Anderssen’s name in opening manuals because he employed it before Steinitz’s time. In the 20th century the line went out of vogue at top level, eclipsed by 5…Be7 and 5…b5. Nonetheless, it re-emerges periodically as a surprise weapon.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Rapid centre expansion with d2-d4, sometimes c2-c3 first;
- Pressure on the queenside after a2-a4 to challenge …b5;
- Long-term squeeze on Black’s cramped minor pieces, often manoeuvring Nc3-d5 or Bg5-xf6.
- For Black
- Timely …b5 driving the a4-bishop back, followed by …Bb7;
- Classical development with …Be7, …O-O, possibly …Re8 and …Bf8;
- Breaking with …d6-d5 or …c6-c5 once the pieces are harmonised.
Illustrative Game
Adolf Anderssen – Gustav Neumann, Berlin 1864
In this classic, Anderssen (White!) shows the drawbacks of his own system
when mishandled. After 5…d6 6. d4 Anderssen quickly seized space.
Neumann’s inaccurate 8…Bd7 left his pieces passive, and the game
transitioned into a worse endgame after the centre opened.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Garry Kasparov occasionally analysed 5…d6 in his private files as a surprise weapon but never employed it in a classical game.
- The structure can transpose to the Philidor Defence if Black later plays …Nbd7 and …e5-e4; Anderssen actually employed both defences interchangeably in casual play.
- Even engines like Stockfish evaluate the line as playable (≈ +0.30) but recommend precise manoeuvres such as …h6 and …g6 to avoid long-term cramps.
- Because the Anderssen Variation is seldom seen at elite level, it is a popular choice in correspondence and rapid chess, where surprise value is high.
When to Use It
Choose 5…d6 if you:
- Prefer solid, resilient structures over immediate counter-attacks;
- Want to sidestep heavy Ruy Lopez theory beginning with 5…Be7;
- Are comfortable playing slightly cramped but strategically rich positions that can later explode in the centre.
Conclusion
The Anderssen Variation, 5…d6, is an old yet respectable sideline in the Spanish. While it concedes space, it offers Black a rock-solid centre and opportunities for creative transpositions. Players who master its subtleties can surprise theoretically-oriented opponents who expect the more fashionable 5…Be7.