The immortal game is one of the most famous games in all of chess. It was played by Adolf Anderssen (1818-1879) and Lionel Kieseritzky (1806-1853) as an informal game, played at the Simpson's on the Strand Divan in London in July, 1851. Anderssen sacrificed his bishop. two rooks, and his queen to deliver checkmate in 23 moves. This may have been a swindle and Black may have resigned in a drawn position, at least prematurely if Black had continued with 20...Ba6 instead of 20...Na6. Black's 20th move may have not even have been played if Kieseritzky really did resign instead of allowing checkmate after 20...Na6, ensuring an immortal combination of a Queen sacrifice that leads to mate after sacrificing a Bishop and 2 Rooks earlier.
Adolf Anderssen was a math teacher from Breslau. He won the 1851 London International, held at the St. George Chess Club, defeating Kieseritzky in the first knockout round, with 2 wins and a draw. He was considered the strongest player of his day.
Lionel Adalbert Bagration Felix Kieseritzky was also a math teacher from Dorpat (now Tartu), Livonia (now inside of Estonia). He was also a chess tutor at the Cafe de la Regence, in Paris, where he gave chess lessons at 5 francs an hour. Two years later, Kieseritsky died penniless in the Hotel du Dieu in Paris, a charity hospital for the insane. No one attended his buriel in a pauper's grave.
The opening was a King's Gambit Accepted, Bishop's variation, Bryan Counter Gambit.
When the game was over, Kieseritsky was so impressed with the game that he telegraphed the moves to his chess club in Paris. The game was publicized in the French chess magazine "La Regence" in July, 1851.
The game was first called the "Immortal Game" by the Austrian player Ernst Falkbeer in 1855.
On September 2, 1923 the town of Marostica, Italy played the immortal game with living persons. They have been recreating this game with living persons every year.
A position of the game after the 20th move has been recreated on a chess stamp from Surinam in 1984.
The final part of the game was used in the 1982 movie "Bladerunner" but the chessboards are not exactly arranged as in the Immortal Game. Sebastian's (Batty) board does not match Tyrell's board.
Adolf Anderssen - Lionel Kieseritzky, London 1851 (ECO "C33")
1.e4 e5 2.f4
[King's Gambit]
2...exf4
[King's Gamit Accepted]
3.Bc4
[King's Bishop's Gambit. More popular is 3.Nf3]
3...Qh4+
[also playable is 3...Nf6 and 3...d5]
4.Kf1 b5?!
[Bryan's Counter-Gambit, named after an American amateur player,
Thomas Jefferson Bryan, who analyzed it in chess clubs around
Paris and London in the middle of the 19th century. First played by Anderssen himself against
Schulten in Paris, 1846. Other moves are 4...Nc6, 4...d6, 4...g5,
4...Bc5, 4...Bd6, 4...f5, and 4...Qh6]
5.Bxb5 Nf6
[5...Bb7 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.d3 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Nf6, 0-1 in 33 moves,
Harrwitz-Kieseritzky, Oxford 1847]
6.Nf3
[6.Nc3 Ng4 7.Nh3 Nc6 8.Nd4 Nd4, Schulten-Kieseritzky,
Paris 1846. Black won in 18 moves.]
6...Qh6
[6...Qh5 7.e5 Ng4 8.d4 Ne3+ 9.Bxe3 dxe3 10.Nc3; 4...Qg4]
7.d3
[A new move. Anderssen had previously played 7.Nc3 c6 8.Bc4 d6
9.d4 against Kieseritzky.
7.Nc3 g5 8.d4 Bg7 9.e5 Nh5 10.Kg1 Bb7, 0-1 in 26 moves,
Raphael-Morphy, New York 1857; 7.Nc3 g5 8.d4 Bb7 9.h4 Rg8
10.Kg1 gxh4 11.Rxh4 Qg6 12.Qe2 Nxe4 13.Rxf4 f5 14.Nh4 Qg3
15.Nxe4 1-0, Short-Kasparov, London 1993]
7...Nh5
[Protecting the f4-pawn and threatening 8...Ng3+, winning the Rook for the Knight. Other ideas are 7...Bc5, 7...Bb7, 7...Be7, and 7...g5; 7...Bc5 8.d4 Bb6 9.Nc3 Bb7,
Anderssen-Pollmacher, 1852]
8.Nh4
[8.Rg1 Qb6 (8...Bb7) 9.Nc3 c6 or 9...a6; 8.Ke2; 8.g4]
8...Qg5
[Threatening 9...Qxh4 and 9...Qxb5. Other ideas are 8...g6 and 8...Bb7;
8...g6 9.g4 Nf6 10.Ng2 Qh3 11.Bxf4 Nxg4 12.Nc3]
9.Nf5
[The only move to stop 9...Qxb5]
9...c6
[9...g6 (9...Bb7) 10.h4 (10.Nd4; 10.g4? gxf5 11.gxh5 fxe4 12.Nc3 Rg8)
Qf6 11.Nc3 or 11 Bd2]
10.g4!?
[10.Rg1; 10.Ba4; 10.Bc4; 10.h4 Qg6 11.Ba4 d6 or 11...d5]
10...Nf6
[10...cxb5 11.gxh5; 10...g6 11.gxh5 gxf5 12.h4 or 12.Bc4]
11.Rg1!?
[Sacrificing the Bishop. Safer is 11.Ba4 or 11.Bc4]
11...cxb5
[11...h5; 11...d5 12.h4 or 12.Ba4]
12.h4
[12.Qf3 h5 (12...Ng8) 13.Bxf4 Nxg4 14.Bxg5 Nxh2+ 15.Ke2 Nxf3 16.Kxf3 d5]
12...Qg6
13.h5
[13.Bxf4 h5 14.gxh5 Qxh5]
13...Qg5
[13...Nxh5 14.gxh5 Qf6 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.Bxf4 g6 (16...a6) 17.Nxb5 (threatening
18.Nc7+) Na6 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Nxd6+ Kf8 20.Qf3]
14.Qf3
[Threatening to 15.Bxf4 and 15.e5]
14...Ng8
[Making room for the Queen to escape; 14...Nxg4 15.Rxg4 Qxh5 16.Bxf4 (16.Qxf4) d5 (16...g6 or 16...Bb7) 17.Nc3 Bxf5 18.exf5 Nd7 19.Re1+; 14...Bc5 15.Bxf4 Nxg4 16.Bxg5 (16.Rxg4!) Nh2+ 17.Ke2 Nxf3 18.Kxf3 Bxg1]
15.Bxf4 [15.Nc3]
15...Qf6
[Threatening 16...Qxb2; 15...Qd8 16.Nc3 (16.a4; 16.Bd6) a6 or 16...d6 or 16...g6]
16.Nc3
[threatening 17.Nd5 and 17.Nxb5; 16.c3 Bb7]
16...Bc5?!
[16...Na6; 16...Bb7 17.Nxb5 (17.Qg3 Na6 18.Be5 Qg5) Qxb2 18.Nc7+ Kd8 19.Kg2 or 19.Qd1]
17.Nd5
[17.d4 Bf8 18.Nd5 Qc6 19.Nc7+ Kd8 20.Nxa8 Qxa8
21.Qb3 Ke8 22.Bd6; 17...Bb6 18.Be5; 17...Bxd4 18.Nd5 Qc6 19.Nc7+ Kd8
20.Nxd4 Qb7 21.Bd6; 17...Be7 18.Bd6 Bxd6 19.g5 Qe7 20.Nxe7 Bxe7 21.Nxb5]
17...Qxb2
[17...Qd8 18.Nc7+ Kf8 19.Bd6+ Nxd6 20.Nxd6 f6 21.Nxa8]
18.Bd6
[Offering a rook sacrifice. Some sources give this a brilliant move; others call it a blunder. Other ideas are:
A) 18.Nc7+ Kd8 19.Rd1 or 19.Qd1;
B) 18.d4 Qxa1+ (18...Bf8 19.Nc7+ Kd8 20.Qb3 or 20.Re1) 19.Kg2 Qb2 (19...Qxa2)
20.dxc5 (20.Nc7+) Na6 (20...Qxc2+) 21.Nd6+ (21.Qb3) Kf8 22.Be5 (22.Nxf7) Qxc2+ 23.Kh3 f6 24.Nxf6 Nxf6 25.h6;
C) 18.Be3 Qxa1+ (18...d6 19.Bd4 Bxd4 {19...Qxd4 20.Nxd4 Bxd4 21.Nc7+ Kd8
22.c3 Bxg1 23.Nxa8 f6 24.Kxg1} 20.Nxd6+ Kd8 21.Nxf7+ {21.Qxf7 Rxa1+
22.Ke2 and Black cannot stop the threat of Qc7 mate}
Ke8 22.Nd6+ Kd8 23.Qf8+ Kd7 24.Qf7+ Kxd6
25.Qc7+ Ke6 26.Nf4+ Kf6 27.g5 mate)
19.Kg2 Qb2 (19...Qxa2 20.Nxg7+ Kd8 21.Bxc5 Qxc2+ 22.Bf2 Bb7)
20.Bxc5 (20.Nc7+) Qxc2+ 21.Kh3 (21.Bf2 Kf8) Qxc5 (21...Kd8) 22.Rc1 d6
23.Rxc5 Bxf5 (23...dxc5) 24.Qxf5 (24.Nc7+) dxc5?? (24...Nd7) 25 Qc8 mate;
D) 18.Re1 Na6 19.Bd6 (19.Rg2) Bb7 (19...Bxg1 20.e5 Kd8 21.Nxg7 Bb7 22.Qxf7 Ne7
23.Ne6+ dxe6 24.Bc7+ Kd7 25.Qxe7+ Kc8 26.Qxe6 mate) 20.Bxc5 Nxc5
21.Nd6+ Kd8 22.Nxf7+ Kc8 23.Nd6+ Kb8 24.Qf8+ Bc8 25.Qxc8 mate]
18...Bxg1
[Some books have 18...Qxa1 19.Ke2 Bxg1 (19...Qxg1?? 20.Nxg7+ Kd8 21.Bc7 mate; 19...Qb2! 20.Kd2 or 20.Rc1 Bb6) 20.e5;
If 18...Bxd6?? 19.Nxd6+ Kd8 20.Nxf7+ Ke8 21.Nd6 Kd8 22.Qf8 mate]
19.e5!
[Sacrificing another rook and threatening 20.Nxg7+ Kd8 21.Bc7 mate]
19...Qxa1+
[19...Ba6 20.Nc7+ (20.Rd1) Kd8 21.Nxa6 (21.Re1) Qxa1+ (21...Bb6
22.Qxa8 Qxa1+ 23.Ke2 Qc3) 22.Ke2 Qc3]
20.Ke2
[20.Kg2 f6 21.Nxg7+ Kf7 22.Nxf6 (threatening 23.Nxg8+ and 24.Qf8 mate)
Qd1 (22...Kxg7 23.Ne8+ Kh6 24.Qf4 mate) 23.Qxd1 Bb7+
24.Kxg1 Ne7 (24...Kxg7 25.Ne8+ Kf7 26.Qf1+ leading to mate) 25.Qf1 Kxg7
26.Bxe7, threatening 27.Ng8 and mating at Qf6 or Qf8]
After 20.Ke2, Kieseritzky resigned. Some sources give the following continuation.
20...Na6 [A) 20...f6 21.Nxg7+ Kf7 22.Nxf6 Qe1+ (22...Kxg7 23.Ne8+ Kh6 24.Qf4 mate; 22...Bb7 23.Nd5+ Nf6 {23...Kxg7 24.Qf8 mate} 24.Qxf6+ Kg8 25.Ne7 mate) 23.Kxe1 Bf2+ 24.Kd1 Ne7 25.Nxd7+ Nf5 26.Qxf5+ Kxg7 27.Qf6+ Kg8 28.Qf8 mate; B) 20...Ne7 21.Nxg7 Kf8 22.Bxe7+ Kg8 23.Nf6+ Kxg7 24.h6 Kxh6 25.Ng8+ Rxg8 26.Qf4+ and mate next move; C) 20...Bb7 21.Nxg7+ Kd8 22.Qxf7 (threatening 23.Qf8 mate) Nh6 23.Ne6+ dxe6 24.Qc7+ Ke8 25.Nf6 mate; D) 20...Ba6!? 21.Nc7+ Kd8 22.Nxa6 (22.Nxa8? Kc8) D1) 22...Bb6 23.Qxa8 Qc3 24.Qxb8+ Qc8 25.Qxc8+ Kxc8 26.Bf8 h6 27.Nd6+ Kd8 28.Nxf7+ Ke8 29.Nxh8 Kxf8 30.Ng6+ Kf7 31.Nb8 Ke8 32.c3 Ne7 33.Nxe7 Kxe7 34.Na6 Ba5 35.Kd2 Ke6 36.d4 Kd5 37.Kd3 Bb6 38.Nb4+ Ke6 39.c4 bxc4 40.Kxc4 and White has an extra pawn in a tough endgame; D2) 22...Qxa2 23.Bc7+ Ke8 24.Nb4 Nc6 25.Nxa2 Bc5 (25...f6) 26.Qd5 (26.Bd6) Bf8 27.Qxb5 Nd8 28.Bd6 Nh6 29.Nxh6 gxh6 30.Qd5 Rc8 31.c4 Bxd6 32.exd6 Nc6 33.Nb4 and White should have the edge; D3) 22...Qc3 23.Bc7+ Qxc7 24.Nxc7 Kxc7 25.Qxa8 Nc6 (25...Bc5) 26.Nd6 Nxe5 27.Ne8+ (27.Nxb5+) Kb6 28.Qb8+ Ka5 (28...Ka6?? 29.Nc7+ Ka5 30.Qxb5 mate) 29.Qxe5 f6 30.Qd6] 21.Nxg7+ Kd8 22.Qf6+! Nxf6 23.Be7 mate 1-0
References: Assaic, The Pleasures of Chess, page 45 Behein, Chess With the Masters, page 21 Brace, An Illustrated Dictionary of Chess, page 137 Burgess, The Mammoth Book of Chess, page 51, 470 Burgess, Nunn, & Emms, The World's Greatest Chess Games, page 15 Chernev, 1000 Best Short Games of Chess, page 517 Euwe, The Development of Chess Strategy Fine, The World's Great Chess Games, page 16 Fox & James, The Complete Chess Addict, page 101 Golombek, Chess, page 36 Hooper & Whyld, The Oxford Companion to Chess, page 180 Horowitz, The Golden Treasury of Chess, page 26 Hubner, ChessBase Magazine Levy & O'Connell, Oxford Encyclopedia of Chess, page 176 Napier, Paul Morphy and the Golden Age of Chess, page 52