| NAME: | Adolf Anderssen |
| BIRTHDATE: | July 6, 1818 |
| BIRTHPLACE: | Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland) |
| CREDENTIALS: | Considered one of the greatest chess (and checkers) players of the 19th century. He lived before the time when world chess championship matches were held. He lost a match to Paul Morphy in 1858; later won the strongest tournament ever held up to its time in 1870. |
| MODUS OPERANDI: |
Known to be a gentleman and fine sportsman willing to make daring sacrifices of material to gain the initiative. |
| BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: |
Taught the game of chess at age nine by his father. Did not become an outstanding chess player until he was an adult. Worked as a professor of mathematics. Never married, he lived with and supported his widowed mother and a sister. When he died in 1879, his obituary was reportedly 19 pages long! |