ChessIn 1851, London hosted the first modern international tournament. During a break in the event, Anderssen of Germany and Kieseritzky, who lived in Paris, played a casual game. Anderssen kept giving pieces away, a bishop and then both rooks, and Black still couldn't stop his attack. In the version handed down to us, he even gives up his queen and mates with the three minor pieces he has left. A few years later someone named it "the Immortal Game", and the name has stuck ever since. Want to try an attack like this yourself after reading? Head to play free chess online.
Opening: the King's Gambit
Players of that era loved openings like this: give a pawn, get fast development and an attack in return. White's king can no longer castle, but Black's queen came out too early and will be chased around by White's pieces for the rest of the game.
Middlegame: first a bishop, then the rooks
White is now a bishop down, but most of Black's pieces are still on the back rank and the black queen keeps getting chased. Anderssen's idea: development matters more than material. If Black's pieces can't get out, a few extra ones don't help.
Giving up both rooks
This is the most astonishing part of the game: both white rooks are gone and White doesn't care. Black's queen and bishop have wandered off to the corners to eat material, far from their own king, while White's queen, both knights and a bishop are all gathered around the black king.
The finish handed down: a queen sacrifice and mate with three minor pieces
In the final position White is attacking with just two knights and a bishop, yet they cover every escape square: the knight on d5 watches c7 and e7, the knight on g7 watches e8, the bishop on e7 gives check, and c8 and d7 are blocked by Black's own bishop and pawn.
That said, Kieseritzky is said to have resigned after the white king went to e2, and this three-move mate was probably a finish added later. Whether or not it was actually played, White's pieces already had the black king surrounded, and nothing Black could do would hold.
Why this game is famous
- It gives away so much: a bishop, both rooks, and in the version handed down the queen as well. Almost every big piece is gone, and White still wins.
- It makes a point: speed of development and attack can matter more than a few extra pieces. It's the best textbook example of a sacrifice.
- It sums up an era: 19th-century players loved bold, romantic attacks, and this game is that era in miniature.
Checked with a computer, both sides had better moves along the way; for example, on move 18 Black took the g1 rook with the bishop, and some think taking the a1 rook with check first would have been stronger. None of that dents its fame: it's one of the most replayed and most taught games in history. Another famous game from the same era is the Opera Game.
Puzzle: replay the final mate
Show answer
22. Qf6+ Nxf6 23. Be7# The queen goes to f6 with check, and the black knight has to take it. Then the bishop goes to e7, mate: the knight on d5 covers c7 and e7, the knight on g7 covers e8, and c8 and d7 are blocked by Black's own bishop and pawn.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Immortal Game a tournament game?
No. It was a casual game Anderssen and Kieseritzky played during the 1851 London international tournament. Precisely because it wasn't an official game, both of them played with real freedom.
Who named it "the Immortal Game"?
It's generally believed that the Austrian player Falkbeer gave it the name a few years later. Everyone kept using it, and it became the game's official name.
Do strong players still play like this today?
Rarely. Modern defensive technique has come a long way, and if you give away pieces like this, an opponent will usually just calmly take them. But the lesson still holds: getting your pieces out fast and around the enemy king is often worth more than an extra piece.
Give it a try
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the King's Gambit position and see whether you dare to sacrifice and go for the king like Anderssen. For another classic game, read the Opera Game next; to try a different level, go back to play chess online.
Play this opening against the computer