Famous Games

The Immortal Game. Anderssen sacrificed both rooks, a bishop, and finally delivered checkmate with three minor pieces, having given up all his heavy material. Played during a break at the London 1851 tournament.

The Opera Game. Morphy played this in a box at the Paris Opera while his aristocratic opponents consulted each other. A textbook demonstration of rapid development, open lines, and decisive attack.

The Evergreen Game. Anderssen's other immortal masterpiece, featuring a queen sacrifice and a mating attack with bishop and knight. The name was given by Wilhelm Steinitz.

The Evergreen Game. Anderssen sacrificed his queen and delivered checkmate with bishop and knight. Steinitz named it 'evergreen' because its beauty would never fade.

Marshall sprang a devastating prepared novelty against Capablanca's Ruy Lopez. Capablanca had never seen Marshall's gambit before, but found the best moves over the board in time trouble, producing one of the greatest defensive games ever played.

The upset of the century. Reti used his hypermodern opening to defeat the seemingly invincible Capablanca, ending the Cuban's 8-year unbeaten streak.

One of the greatest games ever played. Botvinnik demolished Capablanca at AVRO 1938 with a stunning attack, sacrificing material to expose the Cuban's king. It was Capablanca's most devastating loss.

The most watched chess game in history. Fischer surprised Spassky by opening with 1.c4 for the first time in the match, transitioning to a Queen's Gambit Declined. Spassky joined the audience in applauding Fischer's victory after the game.

Kasparov's Immortal. In Round 4 at Wijk aan Zee 1999, Kasparov produced what many consider the greatest game of the modern era. A king hunt that dragged Topalov's king from b8 all the way across the board before finally mating.

The decisive game of the 1985 World Championship. Kasparov won back the title he had lost to Karpov, ending the epic rivalry's second chapter. The Sicilian Defense battle showed both players at their absolute peak.

The game that ended Carlsen's 125-game unbeaten streak in classical chess. Carlsen ground out a win in a long endgame, showing why his endgame technique is considered the greatest ever.

The Game of the Century. Thirteen-year-old Bobby Fischer produced one of the greatest games ever played, sacrificing his queen to launch a devastating king hunt against International Master Donald Byrne.

The Magician from Riga at his most spellbinding. Tal sacrifices material recklessly and then produces a queen sacrifice that forces resignation. The game perfectly captures Tal's philosophy: calculate, sacrifice, and win.

Karpov's positional masterpiece. He squeezes Unzicker with barely any advantage, demonstrating the boa constrictor style that would make him World Champion. Karpov described such games as 'a slowly tightening noose.'

The longest game in World Championship history (136 moves). Carlsen ground Nepomniachtchi down in a seemingly equal position for hours, eventually breaking through. This game broke Nepomniachtchi's spirit and effectively decided the match.

Tal at his most chaotic. A whirlwind of sacrifices and complications that left his opponent completely lost. The Magician from Riga produces magic once again.

The game that launched the Match of the Century. Fischer, having lost Game 1 and forfeited Game 2, came back with a masterful positional performance. Spassky joined the audience in applauding Fischer's victory.

Kasparov opened the 1985 rematch with a Sicilian Dragon that exploded into tactical fireworks. The 22-year-old challenger announced his intentions immediately: he would not be intimidated.