Famous Chess Games

One of the most famous chess games ever played. Anderssen sacrifices both rooks and his queen to deliver a spectacular checkmate in the Evans Gambit.

The original 'Immortal Game'. Anderssen sacrifices both rooks, a bishop, and his queen, then delivers checkmate with just three minor pieces. The most famous attacking game of the Romantic era.

13-year-old Bobby Fischer produces one of the most stunning games ever played, featuring a breathtaking queen sacrifice followed by a devastating series of discovered checks and pins.

Marshall unveils his famous gambit -- prepared for years in secret -- against the legendary Capablanca. But the Cuban genius defends with sublime precision and converts his material advantage into a winning endgame.

The game that effectively decided the 2013 World Championship. Carlsen grinds down Anand in a marathon endgame, demonstrating the relentless technical precision that would define his reign as World Champion.

The game that changed history. In the decisive final game of the 1997 rematch, Deep Blue crushes Kasparov in just 19 moves, marking the first time a computer defeats a reigning world champion in a match.

Considered by many to be the greatest game of the 20th century. Fischer opens with 1.c4 for the first time in his career, then builds an overwhelming positional masterpiece that received a standing ovation from the audience -- including Spassky himself.

One of the most beautiful games of the 1990s. Yusupov sacrifices material relentlessly to launch a devastating kingside attack against Ivanchuk. Even after being down a queen and rook, Black's attack is unstoppable. Yusupov called this his 'Mona Lisa'.

The game that turned the 1985 World Championship. Kasparov's knight on d3 -- the famous 'octopus' -- paralyzed Karpov's entire position. A masterclass in dynamic piece activity and attacking chess by the 22-year-old challenger.

A spectacular display of calculating power by Kasparov. His knight sacrifice 26.Nxh6 rips open Karpov's kingside and unleashes an irresistible attack. This Game 20 victory put Kasparov ahead in the 1990 match, helping him retain the World Championship title.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest games in chess history, featuring a spectacular combination that involves a rook sacrifice and a long king hunt.

Played at the Paris Opera during a performance of The Barber of Seville, Morphy demonstrates the power of rapid development and piece coordination in a brilliantly concise 17-move masterpiece.

One of the most complex and celebrated combinations in chess history. The future 4th World Champion Alekhine weaves an extraordinary tactical web, sacrificing material in a mind-bending sequence that culminates in a series of devastating knight forks and discovered checks.

One of the most celebrated combinations in chess history. Rubinstein sacrifices his queen and both rooks to weave an inescapable mating net. The finishing sequence 22...Rxc3!! 23.gxh4 Rd2 24.Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25.Qg2 Rh3!! is pure art.

A devastating 21-move miniature by the brilliant Leonid Stein. His knight sacrifice 19.Nxg7 tears open the kingside, and the combination of knight on g7 and bishop on f6 creates an inescapable mating net around Portisch's king.

The 'Magician from Riga' at his creative peak. Playing Black, Tal sacrifices a knight on move 21 with no concrete calculation, relying on pure intuition to create chaos. The sacrifice overwhelmed Botvinnik and helped Tal win the World Championship at just 23.