as an Evan's Gambit, a form of the
Giuoco Piano. White's 19th move,
Rad1!! is one of the most celebrat-
ed in the history of the game. With
his reply, ... Qxf3, Black actually
wins a knight and threatens mate.
You'd think that would be enough!
But Anderssen follows with a rook
and queen sacrifice that forces
checkmate in a shower of brilliant
blows. This classic is known as the
"Evergreen Game."
3. Paul Morphy vs. Duke Karl
& Count Isouard,
Paris, 1858
While in Paris at the opera, the bril-
liant, unofficial world champion
from New Orleans plays an offhand
game against two noblemen. In this
case, we're sure it was over before
the fat lady sang! In a Philidor
Defense, the team of two played a
weak 3. … Bg5 that left Morphy
with superior development (more of
his pieces are deployed) and the
bishop pair (two bishops against a
bishop and knight). These two
important advantages were all
Morphy needed. After Black wastes
even more time with another pawn
move, 9. … b5?, Morphy hits the
duo with a series of brilliant sacri-
fices to mate. Victory of mind over
material is the poetry of chess.
4.Wilhelm Steinitz vs. Kurt von
Bardeleben,
Hastings, 1895
Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official
world champion, begins this game
as a Giuoco Piano. He maneuvers
deftly to keep his opponent from
castling into safety. Then he sacri-
fices his pawn on d5 so that he can
make the square available for his
knight. But the most brilliant move
of the game is 22. Rxe7+. At first
glance, it simply looks like a blun-
der. All of White's pieces are
attacked, and if Black wasn't in
check, he could play … Rxc1+ with
mate next. But if Black can't take
the rook—with either his king or
queen—he loses in all variations.
And by not taking it, he is eventual-
ly mated anyway. If you're interest-
ed in these complex lines, you can
find a complete explanation of this
classic game in many books.
5. Alexander Alekhine vs. O. Tenner,
Cologne, 1911
World Champion Alekhine was a
chess fanatic (he even named his
cat "Chess") and one of the great-
est attacking players of all time.
Here he plays the unusual Bishop's
Opening and seems to be develop-
ing quietly. Black even appears to
be getting a good game just at the
time Alekhine is able to play the
swashbuckling 11. Nxe5, allowing
Black to capture his queen. Black's
king is forced to march to the cen
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