London, casual game · 1851
The Immortal Game
White: Adolf AnderssenBlack: Lionel KieseritzkyResult: 1-0 - Adolf Anderssen wins23 moves
Anderssen gives away a bishop, both rooks and finally his queen - and still mates with his three remaining minor pieces. The most romantic game ever played.
The key moments
- 2. f4The King's Gambit: a pawn thrown away on move two. Romance has begun.
- 11... cxb5Black grabs the bishop. Anderssen does not even blink.
- 18. Bd6Anderssen ignores the hanging rook on g1. He wants something bigger.
- 18... Bxg1Black takes the rook. Then he will take the other one too.
- 22. Qf6+Queen sacrifice! Everything is on the table.
- 23. Be7#Bishop to e7. Checkmate with three minor pieces. Immortal.
All moves
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 16. Nc3 Bc5 17. Nd5 Qxb2 18. Bd6 Bxg1 19. e5 Qxa1+ 20. Ke2 Na6 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Qf6+ Nxf6 23. Be7# 1-0
Replay it on the living board
In When Kings Fall this game is replayed with living armies: Adolf Anderssen commands the Light, Lionel Kieseritzky the Shadow. Every capture is a duel, the key moments are shown in slow motion with commentary, and the analysis mode shows Stockfish's evaluation after every move.