5 best chess games of all time
In the history of chess, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of masterpieces that can be studied to learn the beauty of the game. However, there are some which have defined genius and stood the test of time. From Kasparov's encounter against a computer to Bobby Fisher's historic comeback, here we look at 5 such iconic games of chess.
Man vs Machine: Kasparov and Deep Blue
The undisputed world champion from 1985 to 1993, Kasparov, locked horns with the experimental IBM project, a huge mainframe computer called Deep Blue. The first five games saw man and machine at par, with each winning once and 3 draws. The sixth decisive game saw Kasparov employing the Caro-Kann defense, against which Deep Blue sacrificed a piece and pocketed the match.
64-square Cold War: Fischer vs Spassky
Held in Reykjavik, this was one of the most intense affairs in the history of chess, with strong political overtones resounding the entire affair. Fighting for the world championship, Fischer did not even appear for the first game and lost the second to Spassky. In the sixth game, Fischer used the Queen's Gambit to break Russian dominance, as he won the title.
When two GOATs clashed
Anatoly Karpov was the World Champion for a decade when he faced Gary Kasparov in 1985 to defend his championship. Kasparov snatched victory within 42 moves, where he used his favorite Sicilian Najdorf defense. Notably, it was his trump card throughout his career. The game turned in Kasparov's favor during his 23rd move, when his far-sightedness became too difficult to handle for Karpov.
23 moves to an 'Immortal Game'
Held in 1851 in London, this match took place at the first international chess tournament. Anderssen, a German master faced off against Kieseritzky, one of the top four French masters of that time. Though the game was not spectacular, what made the game special was its finish. Anderssen had given up all his major pieces, but checkmated Kieseritzky using his bishop and two knights.
One of the best attacking games ever
Kasparov makes another comeback in this list with his epic 1999 duel with Veselin Topalov. The entire match saw Kasparov chasing Topalov's king all over the board, with Topalov picking up some key pieces in the process. However, Kasparov went on attacking and Topalov succumbed under its fire. After 44 moves it was Kasparov who walked away with the glory.
