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Classic game replay

Adolf Anderssen vs Louis Paulsen, 1862

This replay preserves the complete 57-ply score of Anderssen playing White across 29 numbered moves. The board can be advanced one ply at a time; the notes stick to observable board changes rather than guessing at the players’ intentions.

On this page
  1. Practice positions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
Adolf Anderssen
Black
Louis Paulsen
Event
London mt
Year
1862
Result
1-0
Opening
C65 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Anderssen Variation

Opening reference: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Anti-Berlin Variation, Anderssen Variation (C65).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 37 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 11 captures and 3 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 34 legal choices. The source score ends after 29.Nf5+ with the recorded result 1-0. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Practice positions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 7.Nc3 — Develop the knight7.Nc3 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 14.Re1 — Improve the rook14.Re1 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 20.Bd4 — Create pressure on f620.Bd4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 28.Qe8+ — A forcing check28.Qe8+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Adolf Anderssen vs Louis Paulsen, 1862

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.e4 to 10...Bb7

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4.

  4. 2...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  5. 3.Bb5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 a6.

  6. 3...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 O-O Nxe4 Re1.

  7. 4.d3 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d3 Bc5.

  8. 4...d6 Advance the d-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d6; from there it controls e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d6 d4.

  9. 5.Bxc6+ Capture with check on c6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on c6; the move checks Black's king; from c6 it attacks Black's pawn on b7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bxc6+ bxc6 d4 exd4.

  10. 5...bxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc6 Nc3.

  11. 6.h3 Advance the h-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from h2 to h3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · h3 g6.

  12. 6...Be7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 Nc3 c5 Nd2.

  13. 7.Nc3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to c3; from there it controls d5 and e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc3 c5 Nd2 O-O.

  14. 7...O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: Black castles kingside, moving the king to g8 and the rook to f8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  15. 8.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · O-O c5 Nh2 Nd7.

  16. 8...Ne8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to e8; from there it controls d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c5 ranked higher · Ne8.

  17. 9.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d3 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 exd4 Nxd4 Bd7.

  18. 9...exd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; from d4 it attacks White's knight on c3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exd4 Nxd4.

  19. 10.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on c6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Bd7 Re1 g6.

  20. 10...Bb7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to b7; from there it controls c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb7 Qd3 Bf6 Re1.

Middlegame · 11.Be3 to 29.Nf5+

  1. 11.Be3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to e3; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Be3 Bf6.

  2. 11...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d6 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · d5 exd5.

  3. 12.Nf5 Create pressure on e7

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d4 to f5; from f5 it attacks Black's bishop on e7 and Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf5 Nd6 Nxe7+ Qxe7.

  4. 12...Bf6 Create pressure on c3

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from e7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's knight on c3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bf6 exd5 cxd5 Bc5.

  5. 13.Bc5 Create pressure on f8

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from e3 to c5; from c5 it attacks Black's rook on f8 and Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Bc5 Nd6.

  6. 13...Nd6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from e8 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's knight on f5 and White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6 Qf3.

  7. 14.Re1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; from there it controls e4 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re1 Re8.

  8. 14...Re8 Rook on the semi-open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to e8; the rook now works on a semi-open e-file; from e8 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re8 Qf3 Nxf5 Qxf5.

  9. 15.Qg4 Create pressure on g7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qg4 h5.

  10. 15...Nxf5 Exchange on f5

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the knight on f5; from f5 it reinforces the pawn on g7; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; g6 ranked higher · Nxf5.

  11. 16.exf5 Recapture on f5

    Board fact: White's pawn recaptures the knight on f5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf5 Bc8 Qf4 h6.

  12. 16...Qd7 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd7 Bd4.

  13. 17.Qf3 Create pressure on d5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from g4 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qf3 Ba6 Na4 Bb5.

  14. 17...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Na4.

  15. 18.Ne2 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from c3 to e2; from there it controls d4, c3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne2 Ba6 Nd4 a4.

  16. 18...a4 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a5 to a4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a4 Ng3 Rxe1+ Rxe1.

  17. 19.c3 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c3 Ba6 Ng3 Rxe1+.

  18. 19...Ra5 Create pressure on c5

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to a5; from a5 it attacks White's bishop on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; h6 ranked higher · Ra5 Bd4.

  19. 20.Bd4 Create pressure on f6

    Board fact: White moves the bishop from c5 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's bishop on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd4 Bxd4 cxd4 Raa8.

  20. 20...Qd6 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to d6; from there it controls d5, e5 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd6 Ng3 Raa8 Nh5.

  21. 21.Ng3 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from e2 to g3; from there it controls e4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ng3 Raa8 Nh5 Bxd4.

  22. 21...Be5 Create pressure on d4

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from f6 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's bishop on d4 and White's knight on g3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Raa8 ranked higher · Be5 Nh5 f6 Rxe5.

  23. 22.f6 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f5 to f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from f6 it attacks Black's pawn on g7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f6 Bc8.

  24. 22...Qxf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on f6; from f6 it attacks White's queen on f3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; c5 ranked higher · Qxf6 Qg4 Ba6 Nh5.

  25. 23.Qh5 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from f3 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's bishop on e5 and Black's pawn on f7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qg4 ranked higher · Qh5 g5 Qg4 Re6.

  26. 23...g5 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g5; from there it controls f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · g5.

  27. 24.Qe2 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h5 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's bishop on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rxe5 ranked higher · Qe2 Qg6.

  28. 24...Qh8 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from f6 to h8; from there it controls e5 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qg6 ranked higher · Qh8 Bxe5 Qxe5 Qxe5.

  29. 25.Bxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the bishop on e5; from e5 it attacks Black's queen on h8 and Black's pawn on c7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxe5 Ba6 Bxh8 Rxe2.

  30. 25...f6 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's bishop on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Ba6 ranked higher · f6 Qh5 Raa8 Bd4.

  31. 26.Qh5 Create pressure on e8

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e2 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's rook on e8 and Black's pawn on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qh5 Raa8 Bd4 Re4.

  32. 26...Rxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: Black's rook takes the bishop on e5; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e5 it attacks White's rook on e1; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Raa8 ranked higher · Rxe5 Rxe5 Qg7 Re8+.

  33. 27.Rxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the rook on e5; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e5 it attacks Black's pawn on d5 and Black's pawn on g5; white is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe5 fxe5 Qe8+ Kg7.

  34. 27...fxe5 Recapture on e5

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the rook on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe5 Qe8+ Kg7 Nh5+.

  35. 28.Qe8+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from h5 to e8; the move checks Black's king; from e8 it attacks Black's pawn on c6 and Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe8+ Kg7 Nh5+ Kh6.

  36. 28...Kg7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Nh5+ Kh6 Qe6+.

  37. 29.Nf5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the knight from g3 to f5; the move checks Black's king; from there it controls d4, d6 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Nh5+ ranked higher · Nf5+ Kf6 Qxh8+ Kxf5.

PGN

[Event "London mt"] [Site "?"] [Date "1862.??.??"] [White "Anderssen, Adolf"] [Black "Paulsen, Louis"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. h3 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O Ne8 9. d4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Bb7 11. Be3 d5 12. Nf5 Bf6 13. Bc5 Nd6 14. Re1 Re8 15. Qg4 Nxf5 16. exf5 Qd7 17. Qf3 a5 18. Ne2 a4 19. c3 Ra5 20. Bd4 Qd6 21. Ng3 Be5 22. f6 Qxf6 23. Qh5 g5 24. Qe2 Qh8 25. Bxe5 f6 26. Qh5 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 fxe5 28. Qe8+ Kg7 29. Nf5+ 1-0

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:204dd75c622841dcb7e48df248badda02f60895ddf4c8d0fa6d67086f3ac7414 and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Anderssen, Adolf"; Black="Paulsen, Louis"; Event="BCA-05.Kongress"; Date="1862.06.30"; Result="1-0".
Reviewed display mapping: event BCA-05.Kongress → London mt. LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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