The Chess Improvement Lab

Welcome to The Chess Improvement Lab, your place to deepen your understanding of chess through detailed game analysis and strategic insights. Today, we’re diving into one of the most famous chess games in history — Anderssen vs. Kieseritzky, 1851, known as The Immortal Game. This game is a masterpiece of attacking play and teaches many valuable lessons about tactics, sacrifices, and piece coordination.

Move-by-Move Analysis
1. e4 e5
The classic King’s Pawn opening controlling the center.

2. Nf3 Nc6
White attacks the e5 pawn; Black defends it.

3. Bc4 Bc5
The Italian Game begins: bishops aimed at the center and the vulnerable f7/f2 squares.

4. b4!? Bxb4
White offers a pawn to deflect Black’s bishop and gain space on the queenside.

5. c3 Ba5
Preparing to build a strong center with d4.

6. d4 exd4
White challenges the center directly.

7. O-O d3
White castles early; Black advances a pawn deep into White’s position.

8. Qb3 Qf6
White attacks the weak f7 square, a sensitive point in Black’s position.

9. e5 Qg6
White gains space by attacking the Black queen.

10. Re1 Nge7
White brings the rook to the center; Black develops the knight to support defense.

11. Ba3 b5
White develops aggressively; Black counters on the queenside.

12. Qxb5 Rb8
White captures a pawn; Black attacks the queen.

13. Qa4 Bb6
Black develops the bishop, supporting key squares.

14. Nbd2 Bb7
White develops the knight to support central control.

15. Ne4 Qf5
White attacks the Black queen; Black responds defensively.

16. Bxd3 Qh5
White captures a pawn; Black’s queen moves actively.

17. Nf6+ gxf6
A brilliant knight sacrifice by White opening lines around Black’s king.

18. exf6 Rg8
White recaptures and puts pressure on Black’s king position.

19. Rad1 Qxf3
White centralizes the rook; Black captures a pawn.

20. Rxe7+ Nxe7
White sacrifices a rook to tear open Black’s defenses.

21. Qxd7+ Kxd7
White’s queen captures with check, forcing Black’s king into the center.

22. Bf5+ Ke8
White attacks with the bishop, pushing Black’s king back.

23. Bd7+ Kf8
White continues the attack.

24. Bxe7#
Checkmate! White’s coordinated attack finishes the game.

What You Can Learn From This Game

• The power of rapid development and controlling the center.
• How tactical sacrifices open attacking lines.
• The importance of piece coordination in a mating attack.
• How to capitalize on weak squares around the opponent’s king.

thank you for reading 

by: Moroccan Chess Blogger