SPOT ON CHESS PUZZLES MONDAY, June 12th of 2023: Four puzzles from Steinitz Versus Anderssen 1870

Classics - enjoyable games that still have much to say about chess!

In the Baden-Baden tournament of 1870 52 year old Adolf Anderssen scored an impressive tournament victory. Putting his first place prize at risk he even dared to play a risky exchange sacrifice in the final round… and came out on top. Probably more impressive and enjoyable for Anderssen was his shellacking of Steinitz in their two meetings from this event, the second game of which is our game of focus today. I hope you enjoy the four puzzles and this fantastic game from which they are taken. Game given in full down below - S

[Event "Baden-Baden 1870"]
[Date "1870.??.??"]
[White "Steinitz"][Black "Anderssen"]
[Result "0-1"][Opening "Vienna game"]
[ECO "C25"][NIC "VG.04"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 c6 6. fxe5 dxe5 7. Qe2 Nbd7
8. d3 b5 9. Bb3 a5 10. a3 Qb6 11. Nd1 a4 12. Ba2 O-O 13. Ne3 Ba6 14. Nf5 b4
15. axb4 Qxb4+ 16. c3 Qa5 17. Ng5 Rad8 18. Qf3 Qb6 19. Bb1 a3 20. b4 Bxb4
21. cxb4 Qxb4+ 22. Ke2 a2 23. Bd2 Qb5 24. Rxa2 Nc5 25. Rxa6 Qxa6 26. Bb4 Rb8
27. Bxc5 Rb2+ 28. Ke3 Qa5 29. Rd1 Qxc5+ 30. d4 exd4+ 31. Kf4 h6 32. Nh3 Re8
33. Qd3 g5+ 34. Kf3 g4+ 35. Kg3 Rxe4 36. Qf1 Qe5+ 37. Kh4 gxh3+ 38. Kxh3
Rb3+ 39. g3 Rf4 40. Nxh6+ Kf8 41. Qc4 Rh4+ 42. Kg2 Rxh2+ 43. Kxh2 Qxg3+ 44.
Kh1 Qh3+ 45. Kg1 Rg3+ {Black wins} 0-1