The Immortal Game: A Classic Example of the Beauty and Complexity of Chess

On January 11, 2023, the world was rocked by the introduction of a new online chess bot, Mittens. This bot, with its cuddly, big-eyed kitten avatar, quickly became an obsession, crashing the website through its sheer popularity and driving more people to play chess than even the popular Netflix series, The Queen's Gambit.^[0]

One of the most popular games played on the website was a reenactment of the famous chess match known as the “Immortal Game”. The original game was played informally between Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky on June 21, 1851 in London.^[1] It is considered the epitome of the dashing, “romantic” chess of the time, renowned for its daring, creativity, and for the showstopping drama and brilliance of its final moves.^[1]

The game has been featured in many different countries, from the USA, India, Romania, and Poland, to Turkey, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. It has even been featured in Argentina, with a report comment section to encourage discussion.^[2] Viewers have been able to share their thoughts on the game through Facebook, around the web, and by sharing the article.

The game continues to be a popular subject of discussion and study, as it teaches players how to properly handle challenges and adversity. Chess.com continues to offer easy programs for training and instruction, as well as bots meant to play in the styles of chess celebrities.^[3]

Chess is a timeless game and the Immortal Game is a classic example of the beauty and complexity of the game.^[4] It is a reminder of the importance of chess tactics and puzzles in learning the game, and it continues to be an inspiration to players around the world.^[5]

0. “A Cat Conquers Chess – Lessons for the Toy Industry – Global Toy …” globaltoynews.com, 6 Feb. 2023, https://globaltoynews.com/2023/01/20/a-cat-conquers-chess-lessons-for-the-toy-industry/

1. “Solas, Bull, and the King's Gambit (a Little Game of Mind-Chess …” www.thefandomentals.com, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.thefandomentals.com/dragonage-analysis-solas-bull-mind-chess/

2. “Airthings Masters Play-In | Champions Chess Tour 2023 – Chessdom” www.chessdom.com, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.chessdom.com/airthings-masters-play-in-champions-chess-tour-2023/

3. “Chess.com's Mittens is one brutal chess bot.” slate.com, 6 Feb. 2023, https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/chess-dot-com-mittens-bot.html

4. “Opening Master: Chess Database” www.openingmaster.com, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.openingmaster.com/

5. “The game of life – Chess keeps the mind sharp, says Cuban-born …” www.annistonstar.com, 6 Feb. 2023, https://www.annistonstar.com/the_st_clair_times/the-game-of-life—chess-keeps-the-mind-sharp-says-cuban-born-local/article_fea01af8-a4aa-11ed-bd9c-a7b6948598f2.html