What do you think is the greatest chess game ever played?

This.

 All that is is fool's mate, I mean a specific game like the evergreen game.

I suppose the "greatest game" wouldn't be exactly the same as a favorite game... I think Kramnik's game 12 in the Kramnik-Leko match was an amazing game which held the utmost importance for a World Championship title. He was down one and needed a win to retain his title.

Botvinnik-Capablanca 1938 found here: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1031957

This is a simply magical game that has just about everything you could ever want in a game.

But it seems to me the "Greatest Game" should probably include factors such as sporting significance as well as artistic factors.

Hessling vs Vandeloo

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1361270

Wow, that Hessling vs. Van de Loo is pretty impressive.  No fear!

That's insane how Van de Loo came back. One question, why didn't Van de Loo complete the fried liver by attacking the rook? Thanks :):):)

Rotlewi-Rubinstein, Lodz 1907:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1119679 

or maybe Bogoljubow-Alekhine, Hastings 1922:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1012099

The rotlewi-Rubinstein game is definitely one of my favorite combinations. Absolutely beautiful.

I've always gotten quite a kick out of  Fleissig-Schlechter 1895:

 

http://chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1120921

Good crap i've not ever seen that Hessling vs Vandeloo game. That game boggles the mind. I had to look at a lot of those moves for a while to believe they actually played it. Great game.

 

Paul Morphy v.s. Charles lee Carpentier

That Vandeloo vs Hessling is still a mistery.There is no sure it really happened.I ve tried to trace those players but there is no clear evidence they really existed...

my fave is the immortal game, or possibly Fischer /Bryne.

my joint-greatest :

A. R. Byrne-R.Fischer US Chamionships 1964, 0-1

B. Sultan Khan - J.R.Capablanca, Hastings 1930 "the wrath of khan" game, 1-0 

 A. is perhaps too well-known, so i'll post B.

 

Impossible for me to pick just one greatest game, how can anyone? It would be hard enough just to pick the greatest Tal game, or Fischer game, or Capablanca, or.....etc, how on earth to pick just one greatest game ?!

For the record, here is Byrne-Fischer 1964 (US championships 1963 -- game was jan 1964)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In both games it is an interesting exercise to figure out why opponent resigned. (Use a program if you must :).

 

I would go with Kasparov vs Deep Blue

This is the best I have ever seen.

Both of the Byrne brothers contributed [by losing!] in creating [one each!] two brilliancies of the 20th century by Fischer: good that both are now posted here. :)