Studying chess can be grueling for beginners, especially at first. Opening principles, endgames, mid-game tactics, pawn placement, and positional play are just some of the concepts that beginners need to get to grips with in a game that has many possible moves so high that it has never been accurately calculated.
One of the most enjoyable ways to learn chess is by looking at famous games from the past. Not only do the following games teach newcomers vital lessons and principles, but they also show how awe-inspiring the game can be when played by some of history's best players.
5 Donald Byrne Vs. Bobby Fischer (1956)
Where else to start than the game that is commonly referred to as the "game of the century."
In 1956, future world champion Bobby Fischer made his presence known at the age of just 13. On move 17, Fischer played the incredibly bold move Be6, which sacrificed his queen in exchange for a devastating attack. Fischer was able to maintain the attack with near-perfect play for the rest of the game, which wouldn't end until move 41 with a picturesque checkmate delivered by the rook, knight, and supporting bishop.
Donald Byrne vs. Bobby Fischer (1956) is a great game for beginners to learn and admire for Fischer's bold and accurate play at a young age, as well as it being a shining example of the importance of positional play. Many beginners solely try to win opponent pieces without much consideration to anything else happening in the game, which is a bad habit that the "game of the century" should warn against, as even an International Master can be up a queen and still get dominated on the board.
4 Paul Morphy Vs. Duke Of Brunswick And Count Isouard (1858)
During Paul Morphy's short but memorable chess career, he struggled to find opponents who could give him a competitive challenge, which often led to him giving opponents pawn, knight, or even rook odds. In 1858, Paul Morphy faced the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard, who played as a duo against Morphy. The game took place at a Paris opera house and is commonly referred to as the "opera game."
The game is a wonderful example of the importance of early development. Paul Morphy develops his pieces quickly and efficiently and even opts to continue his development in favor of winning a pawn on move 8. Morphy's rapid development soon pays off, as the American delivered a devastating bishop and rook checkmate on move 17 after a fantastic attack that involved a queen sacrifice - a common theme in famous games.
There are many myths and rumors surrounding the game, with one of the most prominent being that Morphy was only partially paying attention to the game, as his focus was more on the opera.
3 Adolf Anderssen Vs. Jean Dufresne (1852)
Yet another famous game with a nickname is Adolf Anderssen vs. Jean Dufresne (1852), which is commonly referred to as the "evergreen game." The name was coined by Wilhelm Steinitz, who wrote about the game in his book The Field, saying "an evergreen in the laurel crown of the departed chess hero."
Like the opera game, a key theme of the evergreen game is how fast and efficient Adolf Anderssen is with developing his pieces and castling, something that Jean Dufresne fails to do and ultimately costs him the match. Anderssen won the game with a beautiful mating pattern that was set up with the silent but deadly move Rad1 on move 19. The attack is perfectly executed by Anderssen with, believe it or not, yet another queen sacrifice on this list, along with a knight and rook sacrifice that allows the German to deliver the checkmate with the rare combination of two bishops and a pawn.
The evergreen game exemplifies to beginners the importance of castling the king as soon as possible.
2 Garry Kasparov Vs. Anatoly Karpov - World Chess Championship Game 16 (1985)
Kasparov vs. Karpov is one of the most famous rivalries in chess history, as the pair had a plethora of incredible games that could have made this list. For many, the most memorable game between the two Russian Grandmasters came in 1985 during the World Chess Championship.
Karpov and Kasparov's game 16 matchup saw Anatoly Karpov sacrifice a pawn in the opening, which was part of a plan to establish some fantastic knight positions. This included the devastating knight on d3, which allowed Karpov to control both the c and e files. The e file's rook would be the game's deciding factor, as Karpov trapped Kasparov's king in the corner, forcing him to resign.
1 Adolf Anderssen Vs. Lionel Kieseritzky (1851)
This 1851 matchup is the second game on this list to feature Adolf Anderssen, which is a testament to how influential the German was to chess as a leading figure in the so-called "romantic era" of the game. The 1851 matchup is also another match on this list with a nickname, as it is commonly referred to as the "immortal game."
The immortal game is popular with beginners for how attacking it is, as Adolf Anderssen gives Kieseritzky no time to breathe as he persistently bombards him with attack after attack. Anderssen's play does break a few key principles, most notably with his self-inflicted need to move his king on just the fourth move, but in terms of teaching players the importance of always trying to be on offense, there are few better examples than the "immortal" one.