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Classic game replay

George Alcock MacDonnell vs Adolf Anderssen, 1862

This replay preserves the complete 62-ply score of Anderssen playing Black across 31 numbered moves. The board can be advanced one ply at a time; the notes stick to observable board changes rather than guessing at the players’ intentions.

On this page
  1. Practice positions
  2. Replay with move-by-move board facts
  3. PGN
  4. Sources and checking
  5. Continue with another game
White
George Alcock MacDonnell
Black
Adolf Anderssen
Event
London mt
Year
1862
Result
0-1
Opening
B40 Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal

Opening reference: Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal (B40).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 42 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 13 captures and 5 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 34 legal choices. The source score ends after 31...Rf7+ with the recorded result 0-1. Its termination tag was not retained, so this record does not infer whether the game ended by resignation, time or another cause.

Practice positions

The daily trainer uses a short set of positions from this complete score. Each link goes to the exact half-move rather than only the numbered move.

  1. 8...Nd7 — Create pressure on e58...Nd7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 17...Qb6 — Create pressure on e317...Qb6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 22...Qc7 — Create pressure on e522...Qc7 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 30...exf2+ — Recapture on f230...exf2+ was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.

Replay with move-by-move board facts

The board, fact panel and transcript use the same legal score. “Fixed engine check” means Stockfish 17.1, one thread, a fixed 25,000-node search and 3 candidate lines. It compares moves under one reproducible setting; it does not claim to reconstruct a player’s thoughts.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
George Alcock MacDonnell vs Adolf Anderssen, 1862

Start position

Use Previous and Next on the board, or select a move in the transcript. The board fact and fixed engine check remain visible until you choose another move.

Opening · 1.e4 to 10...Bc5

  1. 1.e4 Claim central space

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e2 to e4; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6.

  2. 1...c5 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c7 to c5; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 Nc3 Nc6 Nf3.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 e6 c3 d5.

  4. 2...e6 Advance the e-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e6; from there it controls d5 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e6 c3 d5 e5.

  5. 3.d4 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from d2 to d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 Be7.

  6. 3...cxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's pawn takes the pawn on d4; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the d-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3.

  7. 4.Nxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's knight recaptures the pawn on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on e6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 d6.

  8. 4...Nf6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from g8 to f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf6 Nc3.

  9. 5.Bd3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to d3; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bd3 d5 exd5 Qxd5.

  10. 5...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from c6 it attacks White's knight on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 Nxc6 dxc6 Be3.

  11. 6.Be3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to e3; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be3 d5 Nc3 Bb4.

  12. 6...d5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 exd5.

  13. 7.Nxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's knight takes the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's queen on d8 and Black's pawn on a7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxc6 bxc6.

  14. 7...bxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the knight on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; from c6 it reinforces the pawn on d5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc6.

  15. 8.e5 Change the pawn structure

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from e4 to e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on f6.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · e5 Nd7.

  16. 8...Nd7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f6 to d7; from d7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd7 f4 Bc5 Bxc5.

  17. 9.f4 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f4; from there it controls e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f4 Bc5 Bxc5 Nxc5.

  18. 9...f5 Advance the f-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from f7 to f5; from there it controls e4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Bc5 ranked higher · f5.

  19. 10.O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: White castles kingside, moving the king to g1 and the rook to f1. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · O-O Bc5.

  20. 10...Bc5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's bishop on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc5 Qe2 Qb6 Bxc5.

Middlegame · 11.Qe2 to 31...Rf7+

  1. 11.Qe2 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to e2; from there it controls d3, e3 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 Qb6 Bxc5 Nxc5.

  2. 11...O-O Kingside castling

    Board fact: Black castles kingside, moving the king to g8 and the rook to f8. The move changes king safety and develops the rook in one turn.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · O-O Qf2.

  3. 12.Rf3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f3; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nd2 ranked higher · Rf3 Qb6 Nd2 Qxb2.

  4. 12...Bxe3+ Capture with check on e3

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the bishop on e3; the move checks White's king; from e3 it attacks White's pawn on f4; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qb6 ranked higher · Bxe3+ Qxe3.

  5. 13.Rxe3 Recapture on e3

    Board fact: White's rook recaptures the bishop on e3; from e3 it reinforces the queen on e2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qxe3 ranked higher · Rxe3 Qb6 Nd2 Nc5.

  6. 13...Nc5 Create pressure on d3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d7 to c5; from c5 it attacks White's bishop on d3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qb6 ranked higher · Nc5 Nd2 Qb6 Nb3.

  7. 14.Nd2 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from b1 to d2; from there it controls e4, c4 and f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd2 Qb6 Rb1 Ne4.

  8. 14...Ne4 Create pressure on d2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from c5 to e4; from e4 it attacks White's knight on d2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne4 Nb3 Qb6 c4.

  9. 15.Rf1 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to f1; from there it controls f3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rf1 Qa5.

  10. 15...a5 Advance the a-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from a7 to a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · a5 Rh3 Qb6+ Kh1.

  11. 16.Rff3 Improve the rook

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to f3; from there it controls e3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a4 ranked higher · Rff3 a4 Qe1 Qb6.

  12. 16...Ra7 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to a7; from a7 it reinforces the pawn on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ra7 h3.

  13. 17.Rh3 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f3 to h3; from h3 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; b3 ranked higher · Rh3 Qb6.

  14. 17...Qb6 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to b6; from b6 it attacks White's rook on e3 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qb6 c4 g6 Bxe4.

  15. 18.Nf1 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: White moves the knight from d2 to f1; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nf1 g5.

  16. 18...g6 Advance the g-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g7 to g6; from there it controls f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; g5 ranked higher · g6 c4 Ba6 b3.

  17. 19.g4 Create pressure on f5

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from g2 to g4; from g4 it attacks Black's pawn on f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c4 ranked higher · g4 Qxb2 Rh6 Rg7.

  18. 19...Rg7 Improve the rook

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a7 to g7; from g7 it reinforces the pawn on g6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rg7 gxf5 exf5 Rf3.

  19. 20.Kg2 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 c5 g5 c4.

  20. 20...c5 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c6 to c5; from there it controls d4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · c5 g5 d4 Ref3.

  21. 21.Bxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on e4; from e4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5 and Black's pawn on f5; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; g5 ranked higher · Bxe4 fxe4 Rb3 Qc7.

  22. 21...fxe4 Recapture on e4

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on e4; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the e-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxe4 Rb3 Qc7 g5.

  23. 22.Rb3 Create pressure on b6

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e3 to b3; from b3 it attacks Black's queen on b6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rb3 Qc7 g5 c4.

  24. 22...Qc7 Create pressure on e5

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b6 to c7; from c7 it attacks White's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc7 g5 Rxf4 Ne3.

  25. 23.Kg3 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g2 to g3; from there it controls f3 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; g5 ranked higher · Kg3 Rgf7 Qd2 g5.

  26. 23...c4 Create pressure on b3

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from c5 to c4; from c4 it attacks White's rook on b3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rgf7 ranked higher · c4 Rb5 g5 fxg5.

  27. 24.Ra3 Create pressure on a5

    Board fact: White moves the rook from b3 to a3; from a3 it attacks Black's pawn on a5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ra3 Rgf7 Qd2 g5.

  28. 24...g5 Create pressure on f4

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from g6 to g5; from g5 it attacks White's pawn on f4.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · g5 fxg5 Qxe5+ Kg2.

  29. 25.fxg5 Exchange on g5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on g5; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the g-file; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · fxg5 Qxe5+ Kg2 d4.

  30. 25...Qxe5+ Capture with check on e5

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on e5; the move checks White's king; from e5 it attacks White's pawn on b2 and White's pawn on g5; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxe5+ Kg2 d4 Rh5.

  31. 26.Kg2 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g3 to g2; from there it controls f3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg2 d4 Ng3 e3.

  32. 26...d4 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d5 to d4; from there it controls c3 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 Qxc4 e3 Kg1.

  33. 27.Rh5 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the rook from h3 to h5; from h5 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; c3 ranked higher · Rh5 Qf4 Ng3 d3.

  34. 27...e3 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e4 to e3; the pawn is now passed.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qf4 ranked higher · e3 Kh3 Rxg5 Rxg5+.

  35. 28.Ng3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from f1 to g3; from there it controls e4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxe3 ranked higher · Ng3 Rf2+ Qxf2 Bb7+.

  36. 28...Qd5+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e5 to d5; the move checks White's king; from d5 it attacks White's pawn on g5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Qd5+ Kh3 Rf2 Qxf2.

  37. 29.Kg1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the king from g2 to g1; from g1 it reinforces the pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg1 Rf2 Qxf2 exf2+.

  38. 29...Rf2 Rook on the open f-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from f8 to f2; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from f2 it attacks White's queen on e2 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rf2 Qxf2 exf2+ Kf1.

  39. 30.Qxf2 Exchange on f2

    Board fact: White's queen takes the rook on f2; from f2 it attacks Black's pawn on e3; white is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxf2 exf2+ Kxf2 Rf7+.

  40. 30...exf2+ Recapture on f2

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the queen on f2; the move checks White's king; the pawn is now passed; the move changes the central pawn contact; black is ahead by 4 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · exf2+ Kxf2 Rf7+ Ke1.

  41. 31.Kxf2 Recapture on f2

    Board fact: White's king recaptures the pawn on f2; from f2 it reinforces the knight on g3; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kxf2 Rf7+ Nf5 exf5.

  42. 31...Rf7+ A forcing check

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from g7 to f7; the move checks White's king; the rook now occupies the open f-file; from there it controls f3, f4 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Rf7+ Nf5 exf5 g6.

PGN

[Event "London mt"] [Site "?"] [Date "1862.??.??"] [White "MacDonnell, George Alcock"] [Black "Anderssen, Adolf"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Be3 d5 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 Nd7 9. f4 f5 10. O-O Bc5 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Rf3 Bxe3+ 13. Rxe3 Nc5 14. Nd2 Ne4 15. Rf1 a5 16. Rff3 Ra7 17. Rh3 Qb6 18. Nf1 g6 19. g4 Rg7 20. Kg2 c5 21. Bxe4 fxe4 22. Rb3 Qc7 23. Kg3 c4 24. Ra3 g5 25. fxg5 Qxe5+ 26. Kg2 d4 27. Rh5 e3 28. Ng3 Qd5+ 29. Kg1 Rf2 30. Qxf2 exf2+ 31. Kxf2 Rf7+ 0-1

Sources and checking

Score source: Chess Database, version 1 by Ana Schaigorodsky (2016), licensed under CC BY 4.0. LibreChess selected the exact score identified by sha256:c609c7c47989c0b7862cee5cd9f2357bf4414d89fc15469917ab1d12cd9e139e and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="MacDonnell, George Alcock"; Black="Anderssen, Adolf"; Event="BCA-05.Kongress"; Date="1862.??.??"; Result="0-1".
Reviewed display mapping: event BCA-05.Kongress → London mt. LibreChess parsed the main line with chess.js and stores normalised SAN. Source comments, side variations and termination detail were not retained.

LibreChess checks every SAN move with chess.js and compares the result and move sequence with a stored reference. The engine comparison was calculated offline from the fixed settings above; it is not a source for historical claims. No termination is inferred where the imported score does not preserve one.

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