Luis Paulsen vs. Blachy

About the players

Louis Paulsen was a German chess player who ranked among the top players in the world during the 1860s and 1870s. He was the younger brother of Wilfried Paulsen.

He challenged the idea that brilliance alone could construct an attack. Paulsen argued that any brilliant attack would fail if the opponent defended correctly. Wilhelm Steinitz adopted these ideas and declared that attack and defence have equal status. Aron Nimzowitsch also admired him, listing Paulsen among his six greatest purely defensive players.