CHESSTHRILL

Immortal Games

Some games of chess are played, recorded and forgotten. A few are replayed for centuries. They are studied by beginners and grandmasters alike, and every generation finds something new in them.

This is where we tell their stories. Each one is explained move by move, with the people who played it and the circumstances in which it was played. Every move and every claim about the position has been checked with a modern chess engine — which sometimes confirms the legend, and sometimes shows that even the most famous moves in history were not quite what they seemed.

The Immortal Game: Anderssen’s sacrifices, move by moveLondon, 1851: Adolf Anderssen gives up a bishop, both rooks and his queen. The most famous attacking game ever played, explained move by move.The Opera Game: Morphy’s masterpiece, move by moveParis, 1858: Paul Morphy sacrifices a knight, a rook and his queen to mate in 17 moves. The most famous game in chess history, explained move by move.The Game of the Century: Fischer’s queen sacrifice, move by moveNew York, 1956: a 13-year-old Bobby Fischer gives up his queen against one of America's best masters. The Game of the Century, explained move by move.

New to chess, or want to brush up on the rules? Start with the Chess Thrill guide.

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Chess pieces: “cburnett” set by Colin M. L. Burnett, CC BY-SA 3.0.