Rotlewi versus Rubinstein is a game of chess played between Gersz Rotlewi and Akiba Rubinstein in Łódź, Poland on December 26, 1907. [1] It features a brilliant queen and rook sacrifice by Rubinstein to force mate. [2] [3]
The game was dubbed Rubinstein's Immortal Game by Hans Kmoch. [4] Garry Kasparov described the game as "Rubinstein's truly 'immortal' game" and "his most famous creation". [5] [6]
White: Gersz Rotlewi Black: Akiba Rubinstein
Opening:
Tarrasch Defense, Symmetrical Variation (
ECO D32)
Łódź, Poland, December 1907
[Notes are based on The Big Book of Chess by Eric Schiller, and other referenced works.]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. a3 a6 8. b4 Bd6 9. Bb2 0-0 10. Qd2 ?
10... Qe7 !
11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Rd8 14. Qe2 Bb7 15. 0-0 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5
17. f4 Bc7 18. e4 Rac8 19. e5 Bb6+ 20. Kh1 Ng4
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
21. Be4 Qh4 22. g3 (see diagram) Rxc3 !!
23. gxh4
23... Rd2!! (diagram)
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
24. Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25. Qg2 Rh3! 0–1
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
Bibliography
Rotlewi versus Rubinstein is a game of chess played between Gersz Rotlewi and Akiba Rubinstein in Łódź, Poland on December 26, 1907. [1] It features a brilliant queen and rook sacrifice by Rubinstein to force mate. [2] [3]
The game was dubbed Rubinstein's Immortal Game by Hans Kmoch. [4] Garry Kasparov described the game as "Rubinstein's truly 'immortal' game" and "his most famous creation". [5] [6]
White: Gersz Rotlewi Black: Akiba Rubinstein
Opening:
Tarrasch Defense, Symmetrical Variation (
ECO D32)
Łódź, Poland, December 1907
[Notes are based on The Big Book of Chess by Eric Schiller, and other referenced works.]
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. a3 a6 8. b4 Bd6 9. Bb2 0-0 10. Qd2 ?
10... Qe7 !
11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b5 13. Bd3 Rd8 14. Qe2 Bb7 15. 0-0 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5
17. f4 Bc7 18. e4 Rac8 19. e5 Bb6+ 20. Kh1 Ng4
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
21. Be4 Qh4 22. g3 (see diagram) Rxc3 !!
23. gxh4
23... Rd2!! (diagram)
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
24. Qxd2 Bxe4+ 25. Qg2 Rh3! 0–1
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
8 | 8 | ||||||||
7 | 7 | ||||||||
6 | 6 | ||||||||
5 | 5 | ||||||||
4 | 4 | ||||||||
3 | 3 | ||||||||
2 | 2 | ||||||||
1 | 1 | ||||||||
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
Bibliography