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Anand's Immortal

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Chess game played by Viswanathan Anand
Game animation

Anand's Immortal is a chess game played by Levon Aronian as White against Viswanathan Anand as Black in Round 4 of the 2013 Tata Steel Chess Tournament.

The game is considered one of Anand's greatest masterpieces; Chess.com staff ranked it as the third best chess game of all time, behind Kasparov's Immortal and the Opera Game.

The game

This section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

White: Aronian   Black: Anand   Opening: Semi-Slav Defense: Meran Variation (ECO D47)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. a3 Rc8
The game opens up in a very theoretical and well-known fashion. Only until move 12 do the players start innovating with novel ideas.
abcdefgh
8c8 black rookd8 black queenf8 black rookg8 black kinga7 black pawnb7 black bishopd7 black knightf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawnc6 black pawnd6 black bishope6 black pawnf6 black knightb5 black pawng5 white knightd4 white pawna3 white pawnc3 white knightd3 white bishope3 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white queenf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookc1 white bishopf1 white rookg1 white king8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 12. Ng5
12. Ng5?!
Aronian tempts Anand to play 12...Bxh2+, winning a pawn, where white might enjoy greater piece activity.
12...c5!
Anand responds with a pawn sacrifice (h7) of his own, which Aronian accepts.
13. Nxh7 Ng4

This calls to mind the similar 20...Ng4 from the game Rotlewi versus Rubinstein.

14. f4?
White should have played 14. h3!, which gives an unclear position after 14...Bh2+ 15. Kh1 Qh4.
14...cxd4 15. exd4 Bc5!
The first of a series of sacrifices to come. If white accepts the sacrifice, Black will capture back on c5, followed by a quick invasion with Qd4+ and Nf2.
abcdefgh
8c8 black rookd8 black queenf8 black rookg8 black kinga7 black pawnb7 black bishopd7 black knightf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 white knighte6 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black bishopd4 white pawnf4 white pawng4 black knighta3 white pawnc3 white knightb2 white pawnc2 white queene2 white bishopg2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookc1 white bishopf1 white rookg1 white king8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 16. Be2
16. Be2 Nde5!!
Black is still trying to clear the way for Qxd4+ and Nf2 and doesn't mind giving up a knight to do so.
17. Bxg4 Bxd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxg4 19. Nxf8
If white plays 19. Ng5, black would continue similar to the game with f5, followed by either Rf6-h6 or Qh4.
19...f5!
Black cuts off white's chances of defense against the black queen.
20. Ng6 Qf6 21. h3 Qxg6 22. Qe2
White cannot take the knight on g4 as there would be Qh6#.
abcdefgh
8c8 black rookg8 black kinga7 black pawnb7 black bishopg7 black pawne6 black pawnb5 black pawnf5 black pawnh5 black queenf4 white pawng4 black knighta3 white pawnc3 white knightd3 white queene3 black bishoph3 white pawnb2 white pawng2 white pawna1 white rookc1 white bishopf1 white rookh1 white king8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
The final position
22...Qh5 23. Qd3 Be3! 0-1
Interfering white's defense against Qxh3+ (the g-pawn is pinned). Aronian sees no way out and finally resigns.

References

  1. "Tata Steel 2013 Round 4". 15 January 2013.
  2. "The Best Chess Games Of All Time". 18 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Two of the World's Best in a Game for the Ages". The New York Times. January 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Anand's Immortal Chess Game - Aronian Vs. Anand, 2013". Chess.com. November 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  5. "Tata Steel 2013 Round 4 - A Superb Win By Vishy Anand!". Chess.com. January 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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