Every chess player has that one game they played that will remain evergreen in their memory.
You can’t stop thinking about that one brilliant game years after you played it: a game that will never die, an immortal game.
In the centuries since chess was invented, a select number of games have stood the test of time and have wowed fans ever since. These games are known as Immortal Games. Flashy sacrifices, silent killer moves, cold and calculated attacks; these games have it all.
Let’s take a look at 10 immortal games every player must know.
1. The Immortal Game: Adolf Anderssen vs. Lionel Kieseritzky, 1851.
A sketch of the two players. Photo Credits: Chess Universe
This game was the genesis of the term “Immortal Game”. It was played in 1851 between the legendary Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky. It was Anderssen’s Magnum Opus, the most beautiful artwork in his gallery of great games.
Anderssen played some exceptional chess in this game, but the real wow moment was in the final stages. The legendary grandmaster sacrificed both of his rooks, and if that wasn’t crazy enough, he also sacrificed the queen, and still won the game.
Lionel Kieseritzky was so impressed and moved by such a display of brilliance that he sent a telegraph of the moves played in the game to his chess club in Paris. The game was then published to the public soon after and remains to this day. It truly is The Immortal Game.
2. The Evergreen Game: Anderssen vs. Jean Dufresne,1852
Adolf Anderssen makes a second appearance on this list; he really was something.
This 1852 game he played against Jean Dufresne was the talk of the chess world back then. Fast forward 173 years, and it still remains one of the best games ever played. The game was named “The Evergreen Game” by Wilhelm Steinitz, the first world chess champion, and rightfully so.
The game featured a unique opening called the Evans Gambit, where White sacrifices their b-pawn early to gain activity.
The Evergreen Game was a masterful display of how to punish an uncastled king. Anderssen ended the game with a beautiful queen sacrifice, followed by a double-bishop checkmate.
3. Morphy’s Opera Game: Paul Morphy vs. Duke Karl / Count Isouard
A sketch of the game. Photo Credits: The Chess Journal
Paul Morphy is widely regarded as one of the best chess players ever.
This game by Morphy against the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard was played in an opera house. It was soon to be known as The Opera Game.
There is also a huge consensus in the chess world that this game was the best game Morphy ever played.
Morphy made his attacking intentions known fairly early into the game. The fireworks started after his opponent attacked Morphy’s bishop with 9…b5.
Morphy would then go on a wild sac-fest, the highlight being a brilliant queen sacrifice on move 16, followed by an unstoppable checkmate.
4. The Game of the Century: Donald Byrne vs. Bobby Fischer, 1956
Byrne v Fischer. Photo Credits:Chess.com
As the title implies, this game was dubbed “the game of the century”. It featured a young Bobby Fischer going against another excellent player, Donald Byrne.
At that point, Fischer was just making a name for himself, and this game really made his stock skyrocket.
Even at such a young age, the American enigma showed excellent mastery of positional imbalance. He easily neutralized any advantage White had in the center.
Fischer would then sacrifice his queen to create a devastating windmill (a repeating sequence of checks) that ended in a stunning checkmate.
5. Kasparov’s Immortal: Garry Kasparov vs. Veselin Topalov, 1999
Garry Kasparov. Photo Credits: David Llada
In 1999, Garry Kasparov was at the peak of his powers. He was widely acknowledged as the best chess player of that era. Some even believe he is the best chess player of all time. Whatever side you’re on, there is no doubt that this game was truly Kasparov’s Immortal Game.
The two artists in this game were Garry Kasparov and another world champion, Veselin Topalov.
This game is the chess equivalent of an action-packed movie. It features one of the wildest king hunts ever seen in chess. Kasparov delivered a masterclass on how to drag this king from his castle and finish him off.
6. Rubinstein’s Immortal: Georg Rotlewi vs. Akiba Rubinstein, 1907
Rotlewi v Rubinstein. Photo Credits: Chessbase
Akiba Rubinstein was a nightmare to play against in his days. In this game, he had the black pieces, and he gave a beautiful demonstration on how to dominate play using Black.
Rubenstein snatched the reins of control from White’s hands, rendered their a1 rook and dark-squared bishop useless, and sacrificed his queen to put a cherry on top.
This deadly combination of moves led to an unstoppable checkmate, and White was forced to resign. This game would forever be known as Rubinstein’s Immortal.
7. Rashid Nezhmetdinov vs. Oleg Chernikov, 1962
Rashid Nezhmetdinov. Photo Credits: Unknown
The strongest player to never become a grandmaster, Rashid Nezhmetdinov, was a dazzling chess player. A master of brutal attacking chess, he was among the best Soviet players in the 60s. Some chess fans regard this game against Oleg Chernikov as the “greatest queen sacrifice in chess history”.
The game starts off with the Sicilian Dragon variation, with both sides developing as they usually would. The game was heading for a theoretical draw until Chernikov played 11…Bf6, threatening Nezhmetdinov’s queen.
The expected move would be for White to retreat, but Nezhmetdinov was a player who loved the unexpected. He sacrificed his queen for a bishop on move 12! What followed was a brilliant display of chess mastery and positional brilliance.
Nezhmetdinov would not only win back his queen, but he would also go into the endgame with a superior position that was winning.
Everyone at the tournament was so impressed by Nezhmetdinov’s attacking prowess that none of them put forward their games for the brilliancy prize. There was a general agreement that only one person deserved the prize, and his name was Rashid Nezhmetdinov.
8. The Chinese Immortal: Bai Jinshi vs. Ding Liren 2017
Former World Champion Ding Liren is China’s greatest player and one of the strongest players of the 21st century. He played this game against another Chinese grandmaster, Bai Jinshi. Ding proved that although the queen is the strongest piece on the board, it can be expendable.
Ding traded his queen for a knight and rook, and completely dominated the game, winning it in style.
9. Alexander McDonnell vs. Louis Charles Mahe De La Bourdonnais, 1834.
A sketch of the two players. Photo Credits: Chess Universe
You might think you know all about pawns, but after seeing this game, you’ll definitely learn something new.
This old-but-gold gem was played in 1834 between two eternal rivals, Alexander McDonnell and Louis Charles Mahe De La Bourdonnais.
The game showcases how pawns can become the strongest pieces on the board if used correctly.
The wow moment of this game comes at the end, where Black has 3 connected passed pawns on the 7th rank. White has a queen and a rook, but both pieces are completely powerless against three pawns!
10. Anand’s Immortal: Levon Aronian Vs. Viswanathan Anand, 2013
Levon and Anand, 2013. Photo Credits: Chess.com
Viswanathan Anand and Levon Aronian are two names in the world of chess that don’t require much introduction. The two super grandmasters created one of the best chess games ever in the 2013 Wijk aan Zee tournament.
The middlegame was a beautiful symphony of chaos. Anand kept offering pieces for Levon to capture, but every one of those offerings was poisoned.
Levon fought hard to keep up with the pace of the former World Champion, but Anand was too much for him to handle, and by move 23, Levon had to resign.
Conclusion
These games are immortal because they embody the spirit of chess, showcasing the beauty, complexity, and strategic depth of the game. They are stories of tactical brilliance, strategic mastery, and unforgettable moments of chess artistry.
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