A thing of rare beauty, and a joy to behold!
Twenty years ago when we learned chess from books and other players, this game was part of every players education and vocabulary.
With computers as efficient learning tools, I think sometimes that chess education has gained the metaphorical "digital photo" of databases and engines at the expense of works of art such as this.
If even one new player who has never seen this game before does so here, and appreciates it, this will have been a productive post. Thanks!
Paul
Could someone please explain some of these moves?
3.Bc4? That just invites the Queen check.
4...b5? Why? Develop a piece you re-re. (If you don't know what re-re is don't ask)
11.Rg1? Saccing the Bishop? Is the game over already? I'd like to play black after white sacs the Bishop, I bet I can win this game after that.
19...Bxg1? Take with the Queen so you have the ability to check the King and force the exchange of Queens leaving white down 2 pieces. If 20.BxB...QxB and your Queen is back in the game.
20...Na6?
Those were the ones I saw with a quick analyses. Can someone explain them?
5 edits. 😞
Originally posted by gorookyourselfYour post seems very judgmental, but I am going to assume that I am reading too much into it.
Could someone please explain some of these moves?
3.Bc4? That just invites the Queen check.
4...b5? Why? Develop a piece you re-re. (If you don't know what re-re is don't ask)
11.Rg1? Saccing the Bishop? Is the game over already? I'd like to play black after white sacs the Bishop, I bet I can win this game after that.
19...Bxg1? Take with the Qu ...[text shortened]... 6?
Those were the ones I saw with a quick analyses. Can someone explain them?
5 edits. 😞
3. Bc4 is still a main line of the King's Gambit, and the queen check is still a debatable approach. If you think this is bold, check out the Cunningham Defense and especially the Muzio Gambit in the KG, where white sacs his f3 knight- by leaving it on f3!
4. ... b5 has won 58% of the time with a 2711 performance rating in my database. It wouldn't be my choice, but someone is doing well with it. (the usual database caveats apply, of course).
At move 11, the bishop sac leaves a dynamically equal position, but white has lots of practical play. Black's queen is awkwardly placed, and white gets lots of time and positional trumps while he pushes it around.
They were playing OTB as well, so that should be considered. I'm not sure I would do it CC, but in OTB such play is hard to meet sometimes.
And at move 19. remember that Anderssen was not too shabby as a player, and neither was Kiezeritzky. Taking with the queen gives white a mate in two. Now that you know to look for it, I'm sure you'll find it quickly- sort of a neat puzzle.
For what it's worth, my first instinct would be to capture with the queen as well- I just hope I wouldn't have blundered with it in a real game!
As for 20. ... Na6, playing ...Ba6 would have been relatively best, but black is still lost anyway, so it's really a matter of picking your poison.
This game was a historical original, and it has been analyzed to exhaustion with numerous improvements or alternatives for each player. The beauty is in the conception of the ideas, and the bravery of each player to offer and accept the other player's challenges.
It's very much a "Do you see what I see?" "Oh yeah? Well show me!" kind of game between two strong players.
Hope this helps!
Paul
Originally posted by gorookyourselfMy stuff is superficial, and I'm sure there are great annotated versions on the internet.
I missed the mate in 2.
Thanks for explaining those moves for me. 😉
I did find one here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_Game
I don't know who did the notes to the game on the site, but they confirm your instincts about 4. ... b5, which is probably another good example of how database statistics lie!
The annotations aren't too deep, but they have some history in the notes, so it's a great way to get an illuminated version of the game.
You did Ok Paul.
But try standing in front of demo board with a load of quizzing youngters
and show that game. Far too many what if's and it's clatty.
Now Morphy at the Opera......
Showing that (and other flowing gems) and you feel like a magician
with all the answers.
The Morhy game is the Rolls Royce of chess.
I like this game.Played over it a few days ago.My favorite of the week (so far).
And no 'clatty' 😉
I like Blackburne's notes on move 31
31.Rc7
A Rook established on the seventh rank is often as good as a passed Pawn.
31.... a4
"Unconscious of their doom, the little victims play." At this stage the adjournment occurred, and White was called on to make his sealed move. Before play was resumed, Lipschutz was asked how his game stood. "He has a little bit of an attack," he answered, "But my two passed Pawns must win," a view that was endorsed by Steinitz. On opening the envelope, and finding my move g6, he still thought himself safe; but the next move, Rxg7+ came upon him like a thunderbolt, and caused the greatest excitement among the spectators, of whom Steinitz was one. He bent his head over the board, and would scarcely believe that a mating position had been created.
Never knew the black death played 1.d4
toet.
Originally posted by gorookyourselfI'm not sure, but I think in the actual game, Anderssen had black and moved first (Staunton had not yet had his meeting in London to standardize this stuff).
Why does that wiki link say 18...Bxg1? and the original post of the game has 18...Qxa1+?
What was actually played?
I believe that modern presentations of the game flips things to show Anderssen as white with the first move in order to "translate" it for modern audiences.
If I have garbled this, someone please set me straight!
Originally posted by greenpawn34Oh believe me, I am not a member of Morphy's Maniacs because I get free drinks!
You did Ok Paul.
But try standing in front of demo board with a load of quizzing youngters
and show that game. Far too many what if's and it's clatty.
Now Morphy at the Opera......
Showing that (and other flowing gems) and you feel like a magician
with all the answers.
The Morhy game is the Rolls Royce of chess.
But I'm not philosophically opposed to the concept...😀