q

Sadly, the Evergreen is losing its green, probably in large part due to the fact that while it is indeed a brilliant finale, it (unlike its brother the Immortal Game, where White's conceptions were sound throughout, although against best defence Anderssen would have had to win prosaically in the endgame rather than be able to sacrifice his Queen) depends heavily on a final error by Dufresne.

This final error is not 20 ... Nxe7, in fact. Indeed, after 20 Rxe7+, mate or the loss of Black's Queen is already forced. There are no notable variations after 20 ... Nxe7 (if 22 ... Kc6 simply 23 Bd7#), so he must move his King at this point if he wants to hope to save the game. But -

20 ... Kf8 21 Re3+ and snags the Queen, or

20 ... Kd8 21 Rxd7+! Kc8 (if Kxd7 22 Be2+ snags the Queen again, if Ke8 22 Re7+ Kd8 23 Be2+ with even greater destruction) 22 Rd8+!! is the specific in all cases: 22 ... Rxe8 23 gxf3, or 22 ... Kxd8 23 Be2+, or 22 ... Nxd8 23 Qd7+!! Kxd7 24 Bf5+ and 25 Bd7#.

Therefore, we look back one move, and, in fact, 19 ... Qxf3? proves to be Black's undoing. Black's game is difficult here, and it is indeed difficult to see a saving clause over the board; we cannot fault Anderssen's play, even though it does prove the case that it is only sufficient for a draw. Many alternatives have been suggested, such as 19 ... Rg4 or 19 ... Rxg2+, and most have been found to allow White to still win, though with greater sweat.

However, there is one move that poses a problem that does not apparently give White a solution, and that is 19 ... Qh3. This move is often completely overlooked by analysts - which is surprising, given that it is in fact very obvious. Like 19 ... Qxf3, Black responds to White's strong threats with a counterthreat of immediate mate - however, unlike 19 ... Qxf3, Black retains control of d7 with his Queen, thus preventing the deadly magnet sacrifice that is the core of White's combination (note that in both the game line, as well as the ... Nxd8 sideline of the ... Kd8 defence, White needs to be able to bring Black's King to d7 to give the double check Bf5+ in order to be able to mate).

White needs to defend the mate at g2. For this there is only one viable choice, 20 Bf1. (If 20 Nh4 Rg4! forks Knight and Queen and White is lost, while if 20 g3 Rxg3+!! with total destruction) Now 20 ... Qxf3 is still bad on account of 21 Rxe7+, and with his King secured White has numerous threats looming involving bringing his Rooks into the attack against Black's King, stranded in the centre.

Now, however, White's Bishop has been decoyed from d3. This allows Black to play 20 ... Qf5, which threatens to eliminate White's strong Pawn at f6. It cannot be directly defended, and in most cases allowing it to be captured causes White to drift into a draw, as his winning plans (including the mating position in the game) depend on the Pawn at f6. White's best move is 21 Bd3, where 21 ... Qxf6 22 Be4 gives White some attacking chances based on eliminating the defender of the pinned Knight, and of course 21 ... Qxf3? loses as in the game, but Black can avoid all difficulties here with the simple repetition of moves: 21 ... Qh3! =, as White has again no alternative to 22 Bf1, etc.

you do not see games like this anymore. chess has progressed with all the theory etc etc of course, but maybe the game has lost something.The slashing attacks and sacrifices are rarely seen in top level play nowadays.Mores the pity!!!

you are mistaken. this is the evergreen.

UNBELIEVABLE

I think this is called the immortal game, the evergreen is another one!

I never seem to tire of reviewing these great old games.  Thanks!

Good game.

I also learned something I play Evans Gambit wrong.

absoulety amazing!!!

Fantastic game

There is a book that goes through the immortal game move by move at the end of each chapter and is REALLY interesting. It is written by David Shenk, a descendant of Rosenthal.

It is called The Immortal Game. A History of Chess.

There are many chapters from its use in Islam, to the Lewis Chessmen, to the Psychology of chess and artifcial chess computers. A good book :>

(This game is also a good one)

This demonstrates the power of double check!! That is truly a beautiful combination. Thanks for sharing!

good game