The Immortal Game
Adolf Anderssen sacrificed almost every major piece and still delivered checkmate in one of the most celebrated games ever played.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Adolf Anderssen vs Lionel Kieseritzky (1851)
Event: London casual game | Result: 1-0
Professor Archer says: I have shown the Immortal Game to hundreds of students over the years, and every single time, the room goes silent around move 18. Anderssen did not just win this game — he composed a work of art on 64 squares. This is where chess stops being a sport and becomes poetry.
The Setting
The year was 1851, and London was hosting the first international chess tournament in history. Adolf Anderssen, a German mathematics professor, had traveled to compete and would go on to win the entire event. But it was a casual game played on the sidelines that would secure his place in chess history forever.
His opponent was Lionel Kieseritzky, a strong Latvian-born player living in Paris. The two sat down for an informal game at the Simpson's-in-the-Strand coffee house, and what followed was 23 moves of staggering brilliance. Anderssen chose the King's Gambit, one of the most aggressive openings in chess, and proceeded to sacrifice piece after piece in pursuit of the enemy king.
The King's Gambit Begins
Anderssen opened with 1. e4 e5 2. f4, the King's Gambit. This opening offers a pawn to rip open lines toward the black king. Kieseritzky accepted with 2...exf4, and after 3. Bc4 Qh4+ 4. Kf1, Anderssen voluntarily gave up the right to castle. In the Romantic era of chess, king safety was considered secondary to attacking initiative.
The early middlegame saw Anderssen developing with purpose while Kieseritzky tried to exploit the exposed white king. But Anderssen had deeper plans — every piece he developed pointed toward the black king's eventual doom.
After 8. Nh4 — White is down material but building a ferocious attack.
The Sacrifices Begin
What makes this game immortal is the sheer volume of material Anderssen was willing to part with. Over the course of the game, he sacrificed a bishop, both rooks, and ultimately his queen. In modern terms, that is roughly 25 points of material given away.
But each sacrifice served a precise purpose. The rook sacrifices opened lines. The bishop sacrifice deflected a defender. And the queen sacrifice cleared the path for the final mating combination. Anderssen was not playing recklessly — he was calculating deeper than his opponent, seeing a forced checkmate where Kieseritzky saw only free pieces to collect.
The final position is breathtaking: White delivers checkmate with just a bishop and two minor pieces while Black sits on a mountain of captured material that does nothing to save the king.
Why This Game Matters
The Immortal Game represents the pinnacle of Romantic-era chess, where beauty and daring were prized above all else. It established the idea that a chess game could be a creative masterpiece, not just a competitive contest.
Modern engines have found that some of Anderssen's moves were not objectively the strongest. With perfect play, Kieseritzky might have defended successfully. But this misses the point entirely. Anderssen played for the most beautiful continuation, and in doing so, he created something that has inspired players for over 170 years.
Every chess player should study this game at least once. It teaches you to think in terms of piece activity rather than material count, and it reminds you that chess, at its very best, is a form of creative expression.
The Final Combination
In the final phase, Anderssen played Nxg7+ followed by a series of forcing moves that left the black king completely exposed. Despite being down massive material, White's remaining pieces swarmed the king with perfect coordination. The checkmate was delivered by the bishop, supported by knights that controlled every escape square.
Study how every white piece in the final position has a role. Nothing is idle, nothing is wasted. That is the hallmark of a great combination — total harmony among the attacking pieces.
A critical moment where White's pieces coordinate for the final assault.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Immortal Game considered a masterpiece?
The Immortal Game is considered a masterpiece because Anderssen sacrificed both rooks, a bishop, and his queen yet still delivered checkmate. It represents the pinnacle of Romantic-era chess, where beauty and daring were prized above all else.
What opening was played in Anderssen vs Kieseritzky?
Anderssen opened with the King's Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. f4), one of the most aggressive openings in chess. Kieseritzky accepted the gambit pawn, and the game quickly became a wild tactical battle.
Who won the Immortal Game?
Adolf Anderssen won the Immortal Game against Lionel Kieseritzky in 1851. Despite sacrificing massive material, Anderssen delivered checkmate with just a bishop and two minor pieces.
What key tactic or theme decided the Immortal Game?
The game was decided by a series of brilliant sacrifices that prioritized piece activity over material count. Each sacrifice served a precise purpose, opening lines and deflecting defenders to set up a forced checkmate.
Professor Archer says: If you take one lesson from this game, let it be this: material is a resource, not a scoreboard. Anderssen understood that active, coordinated pieces are worth more than idle material sitting on the sidelines. That principle is just as true today as it was in 1851.
Quick Quiz
In the Immortal Game, which pieces did Anderssen sacrifice during the attack?
- Only his queen - Anderssen sacrificed far more than just his queen. The sacrifices included both rooks, a bishop, and the queen.
- Both rooks, a bishop, and the queen (Correct) - Correct. Anderssen gave up an extraordinary amount of material — both rooks, a bishop, and his queen — yet still delivered checkmate with his remaining minor pieces.
- A single rook and a knight - The sacrifices were far grander than that. Anderssen parted with both rooks, a bishop, and the queen to force checkmate.
- No pieces — he won by pure positional play - The Immortal Game is famous precisely because of its lavish sacrifices. It is the opposite of quiet positional play.