I recently saw Carlsen-Morozevich, 2012 Blitz championship. It's not the craziest imbalance I've ever seen, but it was certainly one of the most fascinating games I've seen. Here's a link to the youtube video of the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wRdgOllrzM
What do you mean by "craziest imbalance?" Wouldn't the craziest imbalance be like a queen, 2 rooks and a bunch of minor pieces and pawns vs a single pawn?
By imbalance I mean, different material same values. Like... a knight for a bishop or a knight for 3 pawns, or a rook for a knight and 2 pawns. That kind of thing.
I played a winning position about a month ago in Which i gave up the Queen for a Rook, Bishop and pawn. Was a great tactical finish.
Queen for 8 pawns would be interesting... I think the side with the pawns is better funnily enough.
How on Earth would you end up in a queen vs. 8 pawns? I'd love to see that possible...
Perhaps in a Queen Odds game?
Looking at the responses so far, it doesn't seem that anyone clicked on the link I provided in post #2. Well, it's your loss. the investment to see the entire game in real time is less than 10 minutes. But Wow, what a game!
Looking at the responses so far, it doesn't seem that anyone clicked on the link I provided in post #2. Well, it's your loss. the investment to see the entire game in real time is less than 10 minutes. But Wow, what a game!
I looked at it (yes all of it), but I just didn't feel compelled to give my thoughts on it.
I've seen some bizarre ones from top GMs like Shirov (after this post I'll look at your link SmyslovFan) where Shirov has saced a piece or two for only a pawn or two... but his remaining pieces are miraculously better. I'm not talking about during an attack, there's no attack, just pure positional stuff... and 15 moves later they get the material back plus some, or are winning an endgame or something. Those are the kinds of imbalances that blow my mind ;)
I don't know if I'd call that imbalance SmyslovFan as much as I'd call it losing 
I remember a game in which Seirawain sacrificed a Queen against Kasparov for 3 minor pieces and actually proved it was a draw for the Sacrificing side, though this is a standard imbalances question answered by that. The reference to it is in one of the Winning Chess Series of books he published.
Tell me, what is the craziest imbalance you have ever been in or the craziest imbalance you can think of.
My own example would have to be 2 pieces and 3 pawns for a queen.
The craziest I can think of would have to be... A rook, and a queen vs. 4 minor pieces and 2 pawns.