Immortal Game
The Immortal Game is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and brilliant chess games ever played—a true paragon of the Romantic era. In 1851, Adolf Anderssen captivated the chess world by sacrificing a staggering amount of material—including both rooks, a bishop, and his queen—to deliver a breathtaking checkmate against Lionel Kieseritzky.
So dazzled was Kieseritzky by the brilliance of the game that he telegraphed the moves to his chess club in Paris immediately after it concluded. The game was soon published, and in 1855, Austrian master Ernst Falkbeer fittingly gave it the enduring name it’s known by today: The Immortal Game.
The Players
• Adolf Anderssen: A German master renowned for his aggressive and imaginative style. His victory at the London 1851 tournament established him as the unofficial strongest player in the world and a symbol of Romantic chess.
• Lionel Kieseritzky: A French-based chess master and respected theoretician, Kieseritzky was best known for his sharp analytical mind and for playing countless games at the Café de la Régence. While dominant against amateurs, he often struggled to convert that success against elite opponents.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at The Immortal Game!
The Game
1. e4 e5 2. f4
The King’s Gambit was immensely popular in the 19th century, epitomizing the Romantic era’s fearless and flamboyant approach to chess. Though it has fallen out of favor in modern top-level play due to the advent of computer engines, it remains a beloved choice among adventurous players.
**2… exf4 3. Bc4
The Bishop’s Gambit—an aggressive but less common line that invites 3…Qh4+, depriving White of castling rights.
**3… Qh4+ 4. Kf1 b5?!
This is the Bryan Countergambit, a line deeply analyzed by Kieseritzky and occasionally named after him. While ambitious, it is not considered sound by most modern players.
**5. Bxb5 Nf6 6. Nf3 Qh6 7. d3 Nh5
Threatening …Ng3+ and protecting the pawn on f4. However, it also sidelines the knight—and as the saying goes, a knight on the rim is dim.
**8. Nh4 Qg5 9. Nf5 c6 10. g4?!
An aggressive move that capitalizes on the pinned f5-pawn. While effective in a practical game, modern engines label it as dubious.
**10… Nf6 11. Rg1! cxb5?
Accepting the bishop sacrifice is risky for Black, who is already behind in development and with the queen awkwardly placed.
**12. h4! Qg6 13. h5 Qg5 14. Qf3
White now poses two immediate threats:
• Bxf4, trapping Black’s queen, leaving her with no safe escape squares. • e5, attacking the knight on f6 and unleashing a discovered attack on the a8-rook.
**14… Ng8 15. Bxf4 Qf6 16. Nc3 Bc5
A natural developing move by Black that also attacks the rook on g1.
**17. Nd5 Qxb2
Anderssen calmly ignores Black’s threats—and now both his rooks are hanging!
**18. Bd6!!
An absolutely stunning move—Anderssen fearlessly offers both of his rooks to launch an attack against Black’s king!
**18… Bxg1? 19. e5!!
This move sacrifices yet another White rook! The idea is to cut off Black’s queen from the defense and set up a lethal mating net.
**19… Qxa1+ 20. Ke2
At this point, Black’s attack has completely fizzled out. Although he has a queen and bishop on White’s back rank, he lacks any real coordination or immediate threats. Meanwhile, White is poised to storm forward with a decisive mating attack.
**20… Na6 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Qf6+!
Another brilliant sacrifice! Anderssen gives up his queen, forcing Black to abandon the defense of e7. Checkmate is now inevitable.
**22… Nxf6 23. Be7# 1–0
What an incredible end to an unforgettable game! Despite being massively ahead in material—a queen, two rooks, and a bishop—Black is completely powerless. Anderssen, armed with only two knights and a bishop, delivers a stunning checkmate.
Legacy and Influence
The Immortal Game continues to inspire generations of chess players, revered for both its aesthetic brilliance and instructional depth. While modern analysis reveals that some moves may be objectively unsound, the sheer creativity, boldness, and artistic flair on display still captivate enthusiasts around the world.
Relive the Immortal Game!
Ready to experience Anderssen’s legendary tactical brilliance yourself? Practice the key position and moves from the Immortal Game against the world’s most human-like chess AI, and test if you can match the ingenuity and daring of one of chess history’s greatest attackers.
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