What Is The Greatest Human Chess Game Ever Played?

[Sean Evans]

Here Is My Pick

Marshall’s ‘Gold Coins’ Game

Stepan Levitsky - Frank Marshall
Breslau
1912

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bg5 O-O 9. dxc5 Be6 10. Nd4 Bxc5 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Bg4 Qd6 13. Bh3 Rae8 14. Qd2 Bb4 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Rad1 Qc5 17. Qe2 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Rxd5 Nd4 20. Qh5 Ref8 21. Re5 Rh6 22. Qg5 Rxh3 23. Rc5 Qg3 0-1

http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/marshall.html

[Taner Altinsoy]

Ofc it is the game of the century.

1. Because the coordination of pieces are amazing
2. It was played by a 13 year old!

[Event "Rosenwald Memorial"]
[Site "Game of the Century"]
[Date "1956.10.17"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Donald Byrne"]
[Black "Robert James Fischer"]
[ECO "D92"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. Bf4 d5 6. Qb3 dxc4
7. Qxc4 c6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4 11. Bg5 {11. Be2
followed by 12 O-O would have been more prudent. The bishop
move played allows a sudden crescendo of tactical points to be
uncovered by Fischer. -- Wade} Na4 {!} 12. Qa3 {On 12. Nxa4
Nxe4 and White faces considerable difficulties.} Nxc3 {At
first glance, one might think that this move only helps White
create a stronger pawn center; however, Fischer's plan is
quite the opposite. By eliminating the Knight on c3, it
becomes possible to sacrifice the exchange via Nxe4 and smash
White's center, while the King remains trapped in the center.}
13. bxc3 Nxe4 {The natural continuation of Black's plan.}
14. Bxe7 Qb6 15. Bc4 Nxc3 16. Bc5 Rfe8+ 17. Kf1 Be6 {!! If
this is the game of the century, then 17...Be6!! must be the
counter of the century. Fischer offers his queen in exchange
for a fierce attack with his minor pieces. Declining this
offer is not so easy: 18. Bxe6 leads to a 'Philidor Mate'
(smothered mate) with ...Qb5+ 19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Ng3+
21. Kg1 Qf1+ 22. Rxf1 Ne2#. Other ways to decline the queen
also run into trouble: e.g., 18. Qxc3 Qxc5} 18. Bxb6 Bxc4+
19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nxd4+ {This tactical scenario, where a
king is repeatedly revealed to checks, is sometimes called a
"windmill."} 21. Kg1 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nc3+ 23. Kg1 axb6 24. Qb4
Ra4 25. Qxb6 Nxd1 26. h3 Rxa2 27. Kh2 Nxf2 28. Re1 Rxe1
29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Nxe1 Bd5 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Qb8 b5 {Every piece
and pawn of the black camp is defended. The white queen has
nothing to do.} 33. h4 h5 34. Ne5 Kg7 35. Kg1 Bc5+ 36. Kf1
Ng3+ {Now Byrne is hopelessly entangled in Fischer's mating
net.} 37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kd1 Bb3+ 39. Kc1 Ne2+ 40. Kb1 Nc3+
41. Kc1 Rc2# 0-1

[M ANSARI]

The greatest human chess game ever played is totally based on what level chess you are at. The top level games are very difficult to understand and appreciate, so it is probably a different game for each level.

[OliverUwira]

The greatest human chess game ever played is totally based on what level chess you are at. The top level games are very difficult to understand and appreciate, so it is probably a different game for each level.

Right and in addition, it is also a matter of taste. A boa constrictor style crush can also be a very great game, but a lot of people won't appreciate that because of the lack of fireworks.

Take Byrne-Fischer: a lot of fireworks, but, if you look more closely, Byrne played atrociously and most likely underestimated his very young opponent.

Take on the other hand Lasker-Capablanca (St. Peterburg 1914): One misconception on Capablanca's side in the opening, and after that it's one of the finest squeezes ever played (-: No major fireworks, though.

I could list a lot of games that made huge impressions on me, but for this thread I'll just stick to one of those games: A huge sacrificial attack, conducted by one of the most aggressive attackers of his time, meets fierce defense by one the best defenders of his time.

It's also a good game to analyse with modern engines

Dawid Janowski - Emanuel Lasker (Cambridge Springs 1904)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 This had been theoretically acceptable at the time 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. f4 A fighting choice. 7...Nc6 8.e5 Bb4 lead to a quieter game. 7...Ng6 8. e5 c6 9. Bc4 Bc7 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. O-O d5

[D]r1b1k2r/ppb2ppp/2p2qn1/3p4/2BP1P2/2N5/PPP3PP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq d6 0 12

Gentlemen, start your engines...

12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Qe2+ Ne7 15. Re1 Bd8 16. c4 f6

[D]r1bbk2r/pp2n1pp/3q1p2/3N4/2PP1P2/8/PP2Q1PP/R1B1R1K1 w kq - 0 17

Soltis gives a question mark to 16...f6 and claims that the white attack would peter out after 16...Kf8.

17. Bd2 a5 18. Qh5+ g6 19. c5 Qa6 20. Qh6 Be6

[D]r2bk2r/1p2n2p/q3bppQ/p1PN4/3P1P2/8/PP1B2PP/R3R1K1 w kq - 0 21

21. Nxf6+ Kf7 22. Ne4 Nf5 23. Qh3 Be7 24. Bc3 Bd5 25. g4 Nh4 26. Nd6+ Kf8 27. Rxe7 Nf3+ 28. Qxf3 Bxf3

[D]r4k1r/1p2R2p/q2N2p1/p1P5/3P1PP1/2B2b2/PP5P/R5K1 w - - 0 29

Now the following text move loses. Soltis writes that 29. Rae1 is better but most likely Black is still winning, e.g. 29...Bd5 30. g5 (threatening perpetual check) 30...Qc6 31.Rxb7 and now the question is if 31...h6 is working in order to break the white bind and win.

29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. d5 Bxd5 31. Rg7+ Kf8 32. Re1 Qc6 33. b4 Rd8 34. Bd4 Rxd6 35. cxd6 Bh1 0-1

Code: Select all

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1904.04.25"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. f4 Ng6 8.
e5 c6 9. Bc4 Bc7 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. O-O d5 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Qe2+
Ne7 15. Re1 Bd8 16. c4 f6 17. Bd2 a5 18. Qh5+ g6 19. c5 Qa6 20. Qh6 Be6 21.
Nxf6+ Kf7 22. Ne4 Nf5 23. Qh3 Be7 24. Bc3 Bd5 25. g4 Nh4 26. Nd6+ Kf8 27. Rxe7
Nf3+ 28. Qxf3 Bxf3 29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. d5 Bxd5 31. Rg7+ Kf8 32. Re1 Qc6 33. b4 Rd8
34. Bd4 Rxd6 35. cxd6 Bh1 0-1

[OliverUwira]

The greatest human chess game ever played is totally based on what level chess you are at. The top level games are very difficult to understand and appreciate, so it is probably a different game for each level.

Right and in addition, it is also a matter of taste. A boa constrictor style crush can also be a very great game, but a lot of people won't appreciate that because of the lack of fireworks.

Take Byrne-Fischer: a lot of fireworks, but, if you look more closely, Byrne played atrociously and most likely underestimated his very young opponent.

Take on the other hand Lasker-Capablanca (St. Peterburg 1914): One misconception on Capablanca's side in the opening, and after that it's one of the finest squeezes ever played (-: No major fireworks, though.

I could list a lot of games that made huge impressions on me, but for this thread I'll just stick to one of those games: A huge sacrificial attack, conducted by one of the most aggressive attackers of his time, meets fierce defense by one the best defenders of his time.

It's also a good game to analyse with modern engines

Dawid Janowski - Emanuel Lasker (Cambridge Springs 1904)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 This had been theoretically acceptable at the time 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. f4 Ng6 A fighting choice. 7...Nc6 8.e5 Bb4 leads to a quieter game. 8. e5 c6 9. Bc4 Bc7 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. O-O d5

[D]r1b1k2r/ppb2ppp/2p2qn1/3p4/2BP1P2/2N5/PPP3PP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq d6 0 12

Gentlemen, start your engines...

12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Qe2+ Ne7 15. Re1 Bd8 16. c4 f6

[D]r1bbk2r/pp2n1pp/3q1p2/3N4/2PP1P2/8/PP2Q1PP/R1B1R1K1 w kq - 0 17

Soltis gives a question mark to 16...f6 and claims that the white attack would peter out after 16...Kf8.

17. Bd2 a5 18. Qh5+ g6 19. c5 Qa6 20. Qh6 Be6

[D]r2bk2r/1p2n2p/q3bppQ/p1PN4/3P1P2/8/PP1B2PP/R3R1K1 w kq - 0 21

Here 21.Nb6 was claimed to win, but Soltis doesn't agree and awards the text move an exclamation mark.

21. Nxf6+ Kf7 22. Ne4 Nf5 23. Qh3 Be7 24. Bc3 Bd5 25. g4 Nh4 26. Nd6+ Kf8 27. Rxe7 Nf3+ 28. Qxf3 Bxf3

[D]r4k1r/1p2R2p/q2N2p1/p1P5/3P1PP1/2B2b2/PP5P/R5K1 w - - 0 29

Now the following text move loses. Soltis writes that 29. Rae1 is better but most likely Black is still winning, e.g. 29...Bd5 30. g5 (threatening perpetual check) 30...Qc6 31.Rxb7 and now the question is if 31...h6 is working in order to break the white bind and win.

29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. d5 Bxd5 31. Rg7+ Kf8 32. Re1 Qc6 33. b4 Rd8 34. Bd4 Rxd6 35. cxd6 Bh1 0-1

Code: Select all

[Event "Cambridge Springs"]
[Site "Cambridge Springs"]
[Date "1904.??.??"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Janowski, Dawid Markelowicz"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1904.04.25"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Bd6 7. f4 Ng6 8.
e5 c6 9. Bc4 Bc7 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. O-O d5 12. Bxd5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Qe2+
Ne7 15. Re1 Bd8 16. c4 f6 17. Bd2 a5 18. Qh5+ g6 19. c5 Qa6 20. Qh6 Be6 21.
Nxf6+ Kf7 22. Ne4 Nf5 23. Qh3 Be7 24. Bc3 Bd5 25. g4 Nh4 26. Nd6+ Kf8 27. Rxe7
Nf3+ 28. Qxf3 Bxf3 29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. d5 Bxd5 31. Rg7+ Kf8 32. Re1 Qc6 33. b4 Rd8
34. Bd4 Rxd6 35. cxd6 Bh1 0-1

[javimm]

For the fireworks thing, I very much like Kasparov-Topalov 1999 Wijk aan Zee. That rook sacrifice is fantastic to play at that level (24 Rxd4).

Here is the game:

[Event "Hoogovens A Tournament (cat. 18)"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "04"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry (RUS)"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin (BUL)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Opening "Pirc Defence"]
[Variation "Ufimtsev-Pytel"]
[ECO "B07"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 c6
6.f3 b5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Bh6 Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Bb7
10.a3 e5 11.0-0-0 Qe7 12.Kb1 a6 13.Nc1 0-0-0
14.Nb3 exd4! 15.Rxd4 c5 16.Rd1 Nb6! 17.g3 Kb8
18.Na5 Ba8 19.Bh3 d5 20.Qf4+ Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4
22.Nd5 Nbxd5 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Rxd4!! cxd4?!
25.Re7+! Kb6 26.Qxd4+ Kxa5 27.b4+ Ka4 28.Qc3
Qxd5 29.Ra7 Bb7 30.Rxb7 Qc4 31.Qxf6 Kxa3?
32.Qxa6+ Kxb4 33.c3+! Kxc3 34.Qa1+ Kd2
35.Qb2+ Kd1 36.Bf1! Rd2 37.Rd7! Rxd7! 38.Bxc4
bxc4 39.Qxh8 Rd3 40.Qa8 c3 41.Qa4+ Ke1 42.f4 f5
43.Kc1 Rd2 44.Qa7
1-0

[Robert Flesher]

For the fireworks thing, I very much like Kasparov-Topalov 1999 Wijk aan Zee. That rook sacrifice is fantastic to play at that level (24 Rxd4).

Here is the game:

[Event "Hoogovens A Tournament (cat. 18)"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "04"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry (RUS)"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin (BUL)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Opening "Pirc Defence"]
[Variation "Ufimtsev-Pytel"]
[ECO "B07"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 c6
6.f3 b5 7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.Bh6 Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Bb7
10.a3 e5 11.0-0-0 Qe7 12.Kb1 a6 13.Nc1 0-0-0
14.Nb3 exd4! 15.Rxd4 c5 16.Rd1 Nb6! 17.g3 Kb8
18.Na5 Ba8 19.Bh3 d5 20.Qf4+ Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4
22.Nd5 Nbxd5 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Rxd4!! cxd4?!
25.Re7+! Kb6 26.Qxd4+ Kxa5 27.b4+ Ka4 28.Qc3
Qxd5 29.Ra7 Bb7 30.Rxb7 Qc4 31.Qxf6 Kxa3?
32.Qxa6+ Kxb4 33.c3+! Kxc3 34.Qa1+ Kd2
35.Qb2+ Kd1 36.Bf1! Rd2 37.Rd7! Rxd7! 38.Bxc4
bxc4 39.Qxh8 Rd3 40.Qa8 c3 41.Qa4+ Ke1 42.f4 f5
43.Kc1 Rd2 44.Qa7
1-0

I remember watching this game live . Kasparov at his best! Thanks for posting it.

[Don]

I remember seeing a Fischer game where BF sacrificed a queen and it was impressive, because it was not some tactical shot but appeared to be completely based on positional judgement and looked like a blunder. Only after several moves did it become apparent that he knew exactly what he was doing. I wish I could remember where to find that game, I'm curious to know how Komodo would have played it.

Here Is My Pick

Marshall’s ‘Gold Coins’ Game

Stepan Levitsky - Frank Marshall
Breslau
1912

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bg5 O-O 9. dxc5 Be6 10. Nd4 Bxc5 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Bg4 Qd6 13. Bh3 Rae8 14. Qd2 Bb4 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Rad1 Qc5 17. Qe2 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Rxd5 Nd4 20. Qh5 Ref8 21. Re5 Rh6 22. Qg5 Rxh3 23. Rc5 Qg3 0-1

http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/marshall.html

[zullil]

I remember seeing a Fischer game where BF sacrificed a queen and it was impressive, because it was not some tactical shot but appeared to be completely based on positional judgement and looked like a blunder. Only after several moves did it become apparent that he knew exactly what he was doing. I wish I could remember where to find that game, I'm curious to know how Komodo would have played it.

This?

[D]r3r1k1/pp3pbp/1qp3p1/2B5/2BP2b1/Q1n2N2/P4PPP/3R1K1R b - - 3 17


[Event "Rosenwald Memorial"]
[Site "Game of the Century"]
[Date "1956.10.17"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Donald Byrne"]
[Black "Robert James Fischer"]
[ECO "D92"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. Bf4 d5 6. Qb3 dxc4
7. Qxc4 c6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4 11. Bg5 {11. Be2
followed by 12 O-O would have been more prudent. The bishop
move played allows a sudden crescendo of tactical points to be
uncovered by Fischer. -- Wade} Na4 {!} 12. Qa3 {On 12. Nxa4
Nxe4 and White faces considerable difficulties.} Nxc3 {At
first glance, one might think that this move only helps White
create a stronger pawn center; however, Fischer's plan is
quite the opposite. By eliminating the Knight on c3, it
becomes possible to sacrifice the exchange via Nxe4 and smash
White's center, while the King remains trapped in the center.}
13. bxc3 Nxe4 {The natural continuation of Black's plan.}
14. Bxe7 Qb6 15. Bc4 Nxc3 16. Bc5 Rfe8+ 17. Kf1 Be6 {!! If
this is the game of the century, then 17...Be6!! must be the
counter of the century. Fischer offers his queen in exchange
for a fierce attack with his minor pieces. Declining this
offer is not so easy: 18. Bxe6 leads to a 'Philidor Mate'
(smothered mate) with ...Qb5+ 19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Ng3+
21. Kg1 Qf1+ 22. Rxf1 Ne2#. Other ways to decline the queen
also run into trouble: e.g., 18. Qxc3 Qxc5} 18. Bxb6 Bxc4+
19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nxd4+ {This tactical scenario, where a
king is repeatedly revealed to checks, is sometimes called a
"windmill."} 21. Kg1 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nc3+ 23. Kg1 axb6 24. Qb4
Ra4 25. Qxb6 Nxd1 26. h3 Rxa2 27. Kh2 Nxf2 28. Re1 Rxe1
29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Nxe1 Bd5 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Qb8 b5 {Every piece
and pawn of the black camp is defended. The white queen has
nothing to do.} 33. h4 h5 34. Ne5 Kg7 35. Kg1 Bc5+ 36. Kf1
Ng3+ {Now Byrne is hopelessly entangled in Fischer's mating
net.} 37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kd1 Bb3+ 39. Kc1 Ne2+ 40. Kb1 Nc3+
41. Kc1 Rc2# 0-1

[Taner Altinsoy]

I remember seeing a Fischer game where BF sacrificed a queen and it was impressive, because it was not some tactical shot but appeared to be completely based on positional judgement and looked like a blunder. Only after several moves did it become apparent that he knew exactly what he was doing. I wish I could remember where to find that game, I'm curious to know how Komodo would have played it.

Honestly many of Fischer's games are like watching a beatiful dance for me and I can pick more than a few of his games as best ever.
I must have gone through most if not all of his games. Can you remember when, where or against whom it was played or any other info?