Anderssen, whose g1 Rook was under attack from Kieseritzky’s c5 Bishop, did a shocking and unsettling thing: he ignored it, instead launching a series of moves that turned an insignificant practice game into something immortal. 17. Nd5 (White Knight to d5) In moving his Knight further up the board, Anderssen not only ignored the threat to his King’s Rook, he also reexposed his Queenside. In fact, by attacking the Black Queen (dashed line), he forced the Queen to move somewhere—essentially inviting Kieseritzky to take the b2 Pawn and attack his other Rook. This was unusual and intriguing, to say the least. Rooks are widely considered to be the second-most-powerful pieces on the board, behind the Queen. A player like Anderssen doesn’t accidentally expose two Rooks. What was going on? 17….Q×b2 (Black Queen captures Pawn at b2) Suspicious but not yet aware how an opportunity to go after two Rooks could put him in jeopardy, Kieseritzky took the bait. He captured a Pawn with his Queen and threatened Anderssen’s a1 Rook.
