Germany VS France

  One of the earliest classical games was played in 1851 in London,when the German master Adolf Anderssen outwitted the French master Lionel Kieseitzky in an elegant style.This extraordinary game, involving the sacrifice of 2 Rooks, 1 Bishop and a the Queen, charmed the entire chess world so much that it is known as the 'Immortal Game'.

          Anderssen              Kieseritzky

1.       e4                         e5

2.       f4                         exf4

3.       Bc4                       Qh4+

4.       Kf1                        b5

5.       Bxb5                     Nf6?!

At this moment this developing move is not good as it blocks the black Queen's retreat path.

6.       Nf3                       Qh6

7.       d3                         Nh5?!

Kieseritzky goes for the threat of .....Ng3, taking advantage of the pinned h2-pawn. But this threat maybe easily parried, after which the Knight on h5 would have a poor placing. So black unnecessarily neglects his development.

8.        Nh4                       Qg5

9.        Nf5                        c6

10.      Rg1!

Anderssen adopts an unusual plan aiming to trap the black Queen. Sacrificing a piece for an attack was common then.

10.      ....                        cxb5

11.      g4!                         Nf6     

12.      h4                          Qg6

13.      h5                          Qg5

14.      Qf3

This threatens 15.Bxf4, winnig the Queen. Black is forced to retreat the Knight for making wayfor the Queen, resulting in the loss of tempo.

14        .....                        Ng8

15.      Bxf4                        Qf6

16.      Nc3                         Bc5

You can see that only three of black's pieces are not on their original squares, whereas most of white's pieces are developed.

17.     Nd5!                        Qxb2    

18.     Bd6!!           

With all of his minor pieces getting within the firing range of the enemy king, white starts the attack sacrificing both his Rooks.

18.      ......                       Qxa1+

Here black could not play

18....Bxd6 as white would then checkmate him in another 4 moves.

19.      Ke2                          Bxg1

20.      e5!!

An excellent move, with which white cuts off the a1-h8 diagonal of the black Queen so that the g-7 Pawn becomes helpless. Now white is threatening.          

21. Nxg7 + Kd8 22. Bc7#

20.      .....                          Na6

21.      Nxg7+                        Kd8

22.      Qf6+!!

The final blow! Anderssen sacrifices his Queen to deflect Kieseritzky's g8-Knight from the defense on e7 square.

22.                                       Nxf6

23.      Be7#