The Immortal Game
One
of the most famous games in the history of chess was a King’s Bishop Gambit.
This ‘friendly’ game, played in London at the Café de la Regence in July
1851,has been played over and enjoyed by countless chess players around the
world ever since.
Perhaps the most impressive
game to come out of the 19th century, it features an incredible
double rook sacrifice, the soundness of which has been argued over by Tchigorin,
Euwe, Reti and Steinitz to name a few. The game is presented below:
[Event
"London 'Immortal game',1851"]
[White
"Anderssen, A."]
[Black
"Kieseritzky, L."]
[Result
"1-0"]
[ECO
"C33"]
1.
e4 e5 2. f4 exf4
3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1 b5
5. Bxb5 Nf6 6.
Nf3 Qh6 7. d3 Nh5 8. Nh4 Qg5
9. Nf5 c6 10. g4
Nf6 11. Rg1 cxb5 12. h4 Qg6
13. h5 Qg5 14.
Qf3 Ng8 15. Bxf4 Qf6
{Black is behind in development.}
16.
Nc3 Bc5
(16... Na6 {is an interesting idea} =+)
17.
Nd5
{White
can be proud of that piece} (17. d4 Bf8
18. Be5 is winning for White {18. Nxb5 ?! is
much worse 18... Ba6 19. c4 Bxb5 20. cxb5 Qb6 =)
17...
Qxb2 = 18. Bd6 ??
(18.
Nc7+ was a
good chance to save the game 18... Kd8
19. Rd1 with
an equal position)
18...
Bxg1
(18...
Qxa1+ and Black wins ,for example 19. Ke2 Bxg1
20. Bxb8 Bc5 21. Nc7+ Kf8
22. Nxa8 Qxa2 with a
winning position for Black)
19.
e5
(19.
Nc7+ Kd8 20. Rd1 Na6
{20... Qxa2 21. Nxa8 Na6 22. Kxg1 +=,
20... Qxc2 21. Kxg1 Qc6 22. Qf4 =+ } 21. Nxa8 g6 22.
Kxg1 gxf5 and
Black wins.)
19...
Qxa1+ 20. Ke2
Na6
(20...
f6 21. Nxg7+ Kf7
22. Nxf6 Qe1+ 23. Kxe1 Bf2+
24. Kd1 Ne7 25.Nxd7+
Nf5 26. Qxf5+ Kxg7 27. Qf6+ Kg8
28. Qf8#)
21. Nxg7+ Kd8 (See Diagram)
Position
after Black's 21st move.
White to Play and win
22.
Qf6+ !!
{the
final blow}
22...
Nxf6 Deflection from e7 23. Be7#
1-0
Back To Chess
Curiosities
Return To Homepage