Louis Paulsen
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- This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Louis Paulsen (1833–1891) was a German chess player. In 1860s and 1870s, he was among the top five players in the world. He was the younger brother of Wilfried Paulsen.
Paulsen was one of the first players to challenge the notion that an attack could be constructed out of brilliance. He put forward the idea that any brilliant attack would have failed against correct defence. His ideas were grasped by Wilhelm Steinitz,who declared that attack and defence have equal status, and particularly by Aron Nimzowitsch, who listed Paulsen among his six greatest "purely defensive players". Paul Morphy and Paulsen were early masters of the game and of blindfold chess; they were capable of playing 10 blindfold games at the same time without any major errors. In 1862 Paulson challenged Adolf Anderssen for the world championship. The match was a tie and Anderssen kept his title.[1]
[edit] Paulsen Pawns
Paulsen pawns is a term coined by Nimzowitsch for a restricted pawn centre with two pawns on squares d6 and e6 for Black or d3 and e3 for White, often coupled with an open c-file. This restricted centre makes it difficult for the opponent to whip up a quick attack by advancing his centre. Paulsen pawns are the stalwart of the Paulsen variation of the Sicilian Defence.
[edit] Paulsen attack in the Scotch opening
The move Bb5 in the Scotch Game is associated with Paulsen's name, as the Paulsen attack: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bb5
