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Classic game replay

Johannes Hermann Zukertort vs Adolf Anderssen, 1868

This replay preserves the complete 70-ply score of Anderssen playing Black across 35 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
Johannes Hermann Zukertort
Black
Adolf Anderssen
Event
Berlin m
Year
1868
Result
0-1
Opening
C67 Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Zukertort Variation

Opening reference: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense, Zukertort Variation (C67).

In this game, 20 half-moves are labelled opening, 50 middlegame and 0 endgame. The score contains 18 captures and 4 checks or mates; before a recorded move, the position offered a median of 37 legal choices. The source score ends after 35...Qe5 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. 7...bxc6 — Recapture on c67...bxc6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  2. 11...Bxf6 — Recapture on f611...Bxf6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  3. 17...Nf4 — Create pressure on g217...Nf4 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  4. 22...Qg6 — Create pressure on g222...Qg6 was a leading choice in the fixed engine check.
  5. 31...Rxe1+ — Recapture on e131...Rxe1+ 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.

♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
Johannes Hermann Zukertort vs Adolf Anderssen, 1868

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...f5

  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...e5 Claim central space

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from e7 to e5; from there it controls d4 and f4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · e5 Nf3 Nc6 d4.

  3. 2.Nf3 Develop the knight

    Board fact: White develops the knight from g1 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's pawn on e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf3 Nc6 d4 exd4.

  4. 2...Nc6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from b8 to c6; from there it controls d4 and e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4.

  5. 3.Bb5 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from f1 to b5; from b5 it attacks Black's knight on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bb5 a6.

  6. 3...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 O-O Nxe4 Re1.

  7. 4.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: Ranked first · O-O Nxe4.

  8. 4...Nxe4 Exchange on e4

    Board fact: Black's knight takes the pawn on e4; from e4 it attacks White's pawn on d2 and White's pawn on f2; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nxe4 Re1 Nd6 Bf1.

  9. 5.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 e5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d4 Nd6.

  10. 5...Be7 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from f8 to e7; from there it controls c5, d6 and f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Be7 d5 Nd6 Ba4.

  11. 6.Qe2 Create pressure on e4

    Board fact: White moves the queen from d1 to e2; from e2 it attacks Black's knight on e4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2.

  12. 6...Nd6 Create pressure on b5

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e4 to d6; from d6 it attacks White's bishop on b5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nd6 Bxc6 bxc6 dxe5.

  13. 7.Bxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the knight on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's pawn on b7 and Black's pawn on d7; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxc6 bxc6 dxe5 Nb7.

  14. 7...bxc6 Recapture on c6

    Board fact: Black's pawn recaptures the bishop on c6; the move changes the central pawn contact; Black accepts doubled pawns on the c-file; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · bxc6 dxe5.

  15. 8.dxe5 Exchange on e5

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on e5; the move changes the central pawn contact; from e5 it attacks Black's knight on d6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · dxe5 Nb7 Nc3 O-O.

  16. 8...Nb7 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d6 to b7; from there it controls c5 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nb7 Nc3 O-O Nd4.

  17. 9.c4 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c2 to c4; from there it controls d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c4 O-O.

  18. 9...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: Ranked first · O-O Re1.

  19. 10.Be3 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: White develops the bishop from c1 to e3; from e3 it attacks Black's pawn on a7.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Re1 ranked higher · Be3 f6 Re1 fxe5.

  20. 10...f5 Advance the f-pawn

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

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f5 Qd2 Qe8 Nc3.

Middlegame · 11.exf6 to 35...Qe5

  1. 11.exf6 Exchange on f6

    Board fact: White's pawn takes the pawn on f6; the move changes the central pawn contact; White accepts doubled pawns on the f-file; from f6 it attacks Black's bishop on e7 and Black's pawn on g7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · exf6 Bxf6 Re1 d6.

  2. 11...Bxf6 Recapture on f6

    Board fact: Black's bishop recaptures the pawn on f6; from f6 it attacks White's pawn on b2; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxf6 Nc3 d6 Qd2.

  3. 12.c5 Advance the c-pawn

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from c4 to c5; from there it controls d6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · c5 d5.

  4. 12...d5 Advance a passed pawn

    Board fact: Black moves the pawn from d7 to d5; the pawn is now passed; from there it controls e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · d5 Qc2 Qe7 Re1.

  5. 13.Nd4 Create pressure on c6

    Board fact: White moves the knight from f3 to d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on c6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qc2 ranked higher · Nd4 Nxc5 Qc2 Qd6.

  6. 13...Qe8 Create pressure on e3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d8 to e8; from e8 it attacks White's bishop on e3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nxc5 ranked higher · Qe8 Qc2.

  7. 14.Qc2 Create pressure on h7

    Board fact: White moves the queen from e2 to c2; from c2 it attacks Black's pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc2 Bd7 Nd2 Qh5.

  8. 14...Nd8 Reroute the knight

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from b7 to d8; from there it controls c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be7 ranked higher · Nd8 Nd2.

  9. 15.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.

  10. 15...Bxd4 Exchange on d4

    Board fact: Black's bishop takes the knight on d4; from d4 it attacks White's bishop on e3 and White's pawn on b2; black is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; a5 ranked higher · Bxd4 Bxd4.

  11. 16.Bxd4 Recapture on d4

    Board fact: White's bishop recaptures the bishop on d4; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on g7; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bxd4 Bf5.

  12. 16...Ne6 Develop the knight

    Board fact: Black develops the knight from d8 to e6; from e6 it attacks White's bishop on d4 and White's pawn on c5.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ne6 Be5 Qg6 Qxg6.

  13. 17.Qc3 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c2 to c3; from there it controls d4, c4 and c5.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Be5 ranked higher · Qc3 Nxd4 Qxd4 Qg6.

  14. 17...Nf4 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from e6 to f4; from f4 it attacks White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf4 Rfe1.

  15. 18.Kh1 Reposition the king

    Board fact: White moves the king from g1 to h1; from h1 it reinforces the pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rfe1 ranked higher · Kh1 Ba6 Rfe1 Qg6.

  16. 18...Ba6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to a6; from a6 it attacks White's rook on f1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ba6 Rfe1 Qg6 Qg3.

  17. 19.Rfe1 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from f1 to e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's queen on e8.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rfe1 Qg6 Qg3 Qxg3.

  18. 19...Qd7 Reposition the queen

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from e8 to d7; from there it controls d5, c6 and d6.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qf7 ranked higher · Qd7 Nb3 h5 h3.

  19. 20.Nf1 Reroute the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nb3 ranked higher · Nf1.

  20. 20...Nd3 Create pressure on e1

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from f4 to d3; from d3 it attacks White's rook on e1 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Nd3 Re2 Nf4 Re5.

  21. 21.Re2 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: White moves the rook from e1 to e2; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from there it controls e4, e5 and e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Re2 Nf4.

  22. 21...Qg4 Create pressure on e2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from d7 to g4; from g4 it attacks White's rook on e2 and White's bishop on d4.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Nf4 ranked higher · Qg4 Ng3.

  23. 22.f3 Create pressure on g4

    Board fact: White moves the pawn from f2 to f3; from f3 it attacks Black's queen on g4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · f3 Qg6 Re7 Rf7.

  24. 22...Qg6 Create pressure on g2

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from g4 to g6; from g6 it attacks White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg6 Re7 Rf7 Rxf7.

  25. 23.Ng3 Develop the knight

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

    Fixed engine check: Near the leading choice · Ng3 h5 Re7 Rf7.

  26. 23...Rae8 Rook on the open e-file

    Board fact: Black moves the rook from a8 to e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it attacks White's rook on e2.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Rf7 ranked higher · Rae8 Rxe8.

  27. 24.Rxe8 Exchange on e8

    Board fact: White's rook takes the rook on e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it attacks Black's rook on f8; white is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe8 Rxe8.

  28. 24...Rxe8 Recapture on e8

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the rook on e8; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e8 it reinforces the king on g8; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe8 Qa5.

  29. 25.Qa5 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c3 to a5; from a5 it attacks Black's bishop on a6 and Black's pawn on c7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qa5.

  30. 25...Bc8 Reposition the bishop

    Board fact: Black moves the bishop from a6 to c8; from there it controls e6 and f5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Bc8 Qxc7 Ne1 Bc3.

  31. 26.Qxc7 Exchange on c7

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on c7; from c7 it attacks Black's bishop on c8 and Black's pawn on a7; white is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc7 Ne1 Rd1 Nc2.

  32. 26...Ne1 Create pressure on f3

    Board fact: Black moves the knight from d3 to e1; from e1 it attacks White's pawn on f3 and White's pawn on g2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Ne1 Rd1 h5 Bc3.

  33. 27.Rc1 Create pressure on e1

    Board fact: White moves the rook from a1 to c1; from c1 it attacks Black's knight on e1.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Rd1 ranked higher · Rc1.

  34. 27...Ba6 Develop the bishop

    Board fact: Black develops the bishop from c8 to a6; from there it controls c4 and d3.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Qf7 ranked higher · Ba6 Qxa7 Bb5 a4.

  35. 28.Bxg7 Exchange on g7

    Board fact: White's bishop takes the pawn on g7; from g7 it reinforces the pawn on b2; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Recorded move; Qa5 ranked higher · Bxg7 Qxg7.

  36. 28...Qxg7 Recapture on g7

    Board fact: Black's queen recaptures the bishop on g7; from g7 it attacks White's queen on c7 and White's knight on g3; black is ahead by 1 conventional material point after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxg7 Qxc6.

  37. 29.Qxc6 Exchange on c6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the pawn on c6; from c6 it attacks Black's rook on e8 and Black's bishop on a6; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxc6 Qe5 Ne4 dxe4.

  38. 29...Qe5 Create pressure on g3

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from g7 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's knight on g3 and White's pawn on b2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5 Ne4.

  39. 30.Qxa6 Exchange on a6

    Board fact: White's queen takes the bishop on a6; from a6 it attacks Black's pawn on a7; white is ahead by 3 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Playable; Ne4 ranked higher · Qxa6 Qxb2.

  40. 30...Qxb2 Exchange on b2

    Board fact: Black's queen takes the pawn on b2; from b2 it attacks White's rook on c1 and White's pawn on a2; white is ahead by 2 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qxb2 Rxe1 Rxe1+ Nf1.

  41. 31.Rxe1 Exchange on e1

    Board fact: White's rook takes the knight on e1; the rook now occupies the open e-file; from e1 it attacks Black's rook on e8; white is ahead by 5 conventional material points after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe1 Rxe1+.

  42. 31...Rxe1+ Recapture on e1

    Board fact: Black's rook recaptures the rook on e1; the move checks White's king; the rook now occupies the open e-file; material is level after the capture.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Rxe1+ Nf1.

  43. 32.Nf1 Answering the check

    Board fact: White answers the check by moving the knight from g3 to f1; from there it controls e3.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Nf1.

  44. 32...Qe2 Create pressure on a6

    Board fact: Black moves the queen from b2 to e2; from e2 it attacks White's queen on a6 and White's knight on f1.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe2 Qc8+ Qe8 Qg4+.

  45. 33.Qc8+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from a6 to c8; the move checks Black's king; from there it controls c5, c6 and e6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qc8+.

  46. 33...Kg7 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g8 to g7; from there it controls f6.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kg7 Qg4+ Kh8 Qd4+.

  47. 34.Qg4+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from c8 to g4; the move checks Black's king; from there it controls d4, e4 and c4.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qg4+ Kh8 Qd4+ Qe5.

  48. 34...Kh8 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the king from g7 to h8; from h8 it reinforces the pawn on h7.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Kh8 Qd4+ Qe5 Qd3.

  49. 35.Qd4+ A forcing check

    Board fact: White moves the queen from g4 to d4; the move checks Black's king; from d4 it attacks Black's pawn on d5.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qd4+ Qe5 Qd3 Kg7.

  50. 35...Qe5 Answering the check

    Board fact: Black answers the check by moving the queen from e2 to e5; from e5 it attacks White's queen on d4 and White's pawn on h2.

    Fixed engine check: Ranked first · Qe5 Qd3 d4 h4.

PGN

[Event "Berlin m"] [Site "?"] [Date "1868.??.??"] [White "Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"] [Black "Anderssen, Adolf"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 6. Qe2 Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7 9. c4 O-O 10. Be3 f5 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. c5 d5 13. Nd4 Qe8 14. Qc2 Nd8 15. Nd2 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Ne6 17. Qc3 Nf4 18. Kh1 Ba6 19. Rfe1 Qd7 20. Nf1 Nd3 21. Re2 Qg4 22. f3 Qg6 23. Ng3 Rae8 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Qa5 Bc8 26. Qxc7 Ne1 27. Rc1 Ba6 28. Bxg7 Qxg7 29. Qxc6 Qe5 30. Qxa6 Qxb2 31. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32. Nf1 Qe2 33. Qc8+ Kg7 34. Qg4+ Kh8 35. Qd4+ Qe5 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 sha256:412efe248c2d44ed1dae5634bdb096e23ec267b4a306e2442a5e57ea260e5e7d and pins it in the selection manifest.
Exact Figshare tags:
White="Zukertort, Johannes Hermann"; Black="Anderssen, Adolf"; Event="Berlin m"; Date="1868.??.??"; Result="0-1". 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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