The story behind the game
Anderssen’s Berlin game against Jean Dufresne is remembered as the Evergreen Game. The spectacular finish grows out of open lines and coordinated pieces, but Black has counterplay too. Study both kings rather than assuming that the side attacking first is automatically safe.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Open files become powerful when rooks and minor pieces cooperate.
- Check your opponent’s threats even while attacking.
- Calculate captures with check before ordinary recaptures.
- Forcing lines need a clear final position, not just an attractive first move.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
An open position rewards pieces that reach useful squares. Anderssen places the knight on e4 with 15.Ne4. The rook on e1 and bishop on a3 already point toward the centre, while Black’s queen and rook offer counterplay. Do not study the coming combination in isolation: improving this knight helps create the attacking geometry, and Black’s threats remain part of the calculation.
A sacrifice can be useful because of the pawn move it provokes. The game continues 17.Nf6+ gxf6 18.exf6. White’s knight disappears, but the pawn structure and open lines change. Black’s rook can also become active on the g-file, so the position demands calculation from both sides. Use the saved lines to compare the strongest defence rather than assuming an attractive sacrifice answers every threat.
When both kings are under pressure, the order of checks matters. Anderssen chooses 20.Rxe7+. Capturing with check restricts Black’s immediate choices and begins the recorded finishing sequence. The g-file counterattack is a reason to calculate carefully, not a reason to skip the opponent’s threats. Follow each legal reply until the final position is clear.
A queen can be used to place the king on the square your bishops need. The historical 21.Qxd7+ draws the king to d7. The sequence Bf5+, Bd7+ and Bxe7# then finishes the game. The bishops cooperate along changing diagonals; the king’s route is not accidental. Before playing the queen move, reconstruct the entire line and check that each escape square is covered.
Result: 1-0. The final position is checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 15: Find a central post
Which move gives White’s knight a more active role? In the game: Ne4. An open position rewards pieces that reach useful squares. Anderssen places the knight on e4 with 15.Ne4. The rook on e1 and bishop on a3 already point toward the centre, while Black’s queen and rook offer counterplay. Do not study the coming combination in isolation: improving this knight helps create the attacking geometry, and Black’s threats remain part of the calculation.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ne4 d2 Nexd2 Nd8 Bb5 Bc6 Rab1 Nd5 Bxc6 Nxc6 Rb2 Qd3 · +1.76 · depth 18
Rad1 Nd8 · +1.19 · depth 18
Re4 O-O Bxd3 f5 exf6 Qxf6 Rh4 h6 Ne4 Qe6 Neg5 Qf6 · +1.28 · depth 17
Move 17: Open a diagonal with check
Can a forcing move change the pawn shield around Black’s king? In the game: Nf6+. A sacrifice can be useful because of the pawn move it provokes. The game continues 17.Nf6+ gxf6 18.exf6. White’s knight disappears, but the pawn structure and open lines change. Black’s rook can also become active on the g-file, so the position demands calculation from both sides. Use the saved lines to compare the strongest defence rather than assuming an attractive sacrifice answers every threat.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ng3 Qh6 Nf5 Nxf5 Bxf5 Rd8 Rad1 Rg8 h4 g5 Qg4 Bc8 · +4.27 · depth 19
Rad1 O-O Ng3 Qh6 Bc1 Qe6 Ng5 Ng6 Nxe6 fxe6 Be3 Rxf2 · +4.02 · depth 19
h3 O-O Ng3 Qh6 Bc1 Qe6 Bxh7+ Kxh7 Ng5+ Kg8 Nxe6 fxe6 · +3.56 · depth 19
Nf6+ gxf6 · +0.60 · depth 21
Move 20: Calculate before reacting
Black’s queen has taken f3. What forcing resource should White examine first? In the game: Rxe7+. When both kings are under pressure, the order of checks matters. Anderssen chooses 20.Rxe7+. Capturing with check restricts Black’s immediate choices and begins the recorded finishing sequence. The g-file counterattack is a reason to calculate carefully, not a reason to skip the opponent’s threats. Follow each legal reply until the final position is clear.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxe7+ Kd8 Rxd7+ Kc8 Rd8+ Kxd8 Bf5+ Qxd1+ Qxd1+ Nd4 Bh3 Re8 · +3.39 · depth 20
Be4 Qxf6 Re2 Rg5 Bxe7 Nxe7 Bxb7 Kf8 Rxd7 Re5 Be4 Re8 · -4.42 · depth 20
Qe4 Qxf2+ Kh1 Ne5 Qxb7 Rxb7 Be4 Ng4 h3 Qxf6 Rf1 Nf2+ · -7.38 · depth 20
Move 21: Clear the king’s route
Find the forcing continuation after the rook capture has been accepted. In the game: Qxd7+. A queen can be used to place the king on the square your bishops need. The historical 21.Qxd7+ draws the king to d7. The sequence Bf5+, Bd7+ and Bxe7# then finishes the game. The bishops cooperate along changing diagonals; the king’s route is not accidental. Before playing the queen move, reconstruct the entire line and check that each escape square is covered.
Engine-supported alternatives
Qxd7+ Kxd7 Bf5+ Ke8 Bd7+ Kf8 Bxe7# · Mate 4 White · depth 245
Be4 Rxg2+ Kh1 Rg5+ Bxf3 Bxf3# · Mate 3 Black · depth 245
Qc6 Rxg2+ Kh1 Rg5+ Qxf3 Bxf3# · Mate 3 Black · depth 245
Every piece has a part to play.
Anderssen’s Berlin game against Jean Dufresne is remembered as the Evergreen Game. The spectacular finish grows out of open lines and coordinated pieces, but Black has counterplay too. Study both kings rather than assuming that the side attacking first is automatically safe.
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 12–245. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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