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The “10 Greatest Games of Chess Ever Played,” are:

A. Karpov – G. Kasparov; Chess World Championship Match, Moscow, 1985.
(Game # 16.) This is the game where Garry Kasparov sacrificed a pawn in a Sicilian, and tied his opponent up hand and foot. He then finished off brilliantly to cap an immortal performance, especially at the World Championship level. It is maybe one of the most brilliant WCS games ever played, very certainly in – or near the top ten in anyone’s book.
A favorite of MANY modern-day Grand-Masters! (Score of 15.)

A chess editor (in a northern state) sent out an unofficial survey via e-mail. (And in a flyer inside their magazine.) This game was picked more by his readers than any other game. (By over a 3-to-1 margin.) Over 200 people responded to this survey.

(Strangely, this is only game # 89 in the Soltis book.)

Note: I have been working on annotating this game for over 3 years now … although I will readily admit I have been anything but consistent! The bottom line? While this game is really good – much better than average – I no longer think it is as good as I once did. Not only this, I may have found several new improvements. 08/25/02

M. Botvinnik – J.R. Capablanca; A.V.R.O; 1938.
Another incredibly beautiful game at the highest level – as this tournament was to determine a challenger for Alekhine. (The tournament was won by Fine and Keres.) Botvinnik plays an incredibly brilliant game through-out and caps off his masterpiece by sacrificing two pieces in an incredibly simplified situation. One of my students once remarked that this game, “Just takes my breath away.” Me too! One of the greatest masterpieces ever created over the chess-board.
A favorite of MANY GM’s that I have asked, over the years! (15.)
(It would probably have to be on my ‘Top Ten’ list of the best chess games ever played.)

Note: According to Burgess, Emms, and Nunn; the above two games were the ONLY ones to get a perfect score of 15. (See above.)

(This is only game # 21 in Soltis’s book. This is a very low rating, considering how highly it placed with most other GM’s. Many GM’s have told me they thought this was one of the most beautiful games ever played.)

G. Kasparov – A. Karpov; Chess World Championship Match, Leningrad 1986.
(Game # 16.) This is Garry’s masterpiece, one of my favorites. It is easily one of the most complex and amazing games played at the World Championship level. (Most W.C.S. games are boring, safe, and timid affairs.) Garry sacrifices a whole bundle of pieces. And the notes are full of many more incredible possibilities that are much more stunning than the game! This may be one of the “Ten Prettiest Ruy Lopez” (Opening) games ever played, and that is saying a lot. Karpov does not handle the defense perfectly, but it is still a great game, none-the-less. (14.)

(Strangely enough, I could not find this game in the Soltis book! This is especially curious, as I have seen this game mentioned in many magazines and books. I wonder how Soltis would have ranked this game. Surely, having looked at over 7000 games, this was one of the ones he examined? Why was this game left out? Curious minds want to know!)

R. Reti – A. Alekhine; Baden-Baden, 1925. (Tournament Game.)
This is the famous Alekhine brilliancy where Reti declines a possible repetition, and Alekhine sacrifices an entire box of pieces for mate. What is so unusual about this game is: A.) The unbelievable and intricate way the variations hold together; and B.) The fact that Queens had already been exchanged! I saw this game many, many years ago, but I still remember it well. I particularly remember a very pleasurable afternoon spent with my friend – and very strong Pensacola Chess Player – Phil Snyder, going over this game. I also remember spending nearly an entire day with a young Navy [candidate] pilot. He was so stunned by this game, he demanded to go through it several times. He then asked me in awe, “Is this the most beautiful game of chess ever played?” It certainly is one of the most beautiful queenless attacks ever played!!!
A favorite of MANY well-known chess authors and chess historians! (14.)

(I originally stated, “It would probably have to be on my ‘Top Ten’ list of the best chess games ever played.” But AFTER playing over this game – connected with preparing this list – I decided that it was NOT worthy for inclusion in the top ten best games ever played. White spurns a nearly forced draw, after repeating moves. And White’s 27th move is nearly a blunder. There were just too many other pretty chess games – that did not contain such flaws – for me to include this game.)

(This is game # 20 in the Soltis books. Originally I had said this game was left out, but I was mistaken.)

M. Botvinnik – L. Portisch; Monte Carlo, 1968. (Tournament Game.)
Another one of Mikhail Botvinnik’s greatest games. It starts off as an English, and then turns into a Reversed Sicilian Dragon. The grand old man of chess, (as he was then being called); then [seemingly] tries to sacrifice his entire army of pieces. A brilliant game. A virtuoso performance that was certainly dreamt up at the board. This game should easily go into any critic’s top 25 games of chess, even if you are NOT a fan of Botvinnik! A true piece of chess artistry. (Score of 14.)
(Certainly on ANYBODY’s list of, “The 100 Most Beautiful Games of Chess Ever Played.” !! I don’t care who you are, or what your criterion is!)

(Strangely, this is game # 75 in the Soltis book. Apparently Andy did not think as highly of this game as did Nunn and Emms. And I have seen other writers, such as Krabbe and Gaige, {and others!} who rate this game very highly.)

Robert J. Fischer - Boris Spassky; FIDE Chess World Championship Match, Reykjavik, Iceland; 1972. (Game # 6.)
An epic game by anyone’s standards. Firstly, there was this match. East (Russia) vs. West (U.S.A.) at the height of the “Cold War.” (This match is the chessic equivalent of Ice Hockey’s, “Miracle On Ice.”) This was the only time in chess history that a chess match was THE leading story on all three networks every evening. (When there was only NBC, CBS, and ABC. An era before cable and CNN, which any youngsters out there may not even remember.) The coverage of the match also dominated the written media.

Then there was this game. For the first time in his life in an important game, Bobby played something other than 1. P-K4. (1. e4.) The game starts off as an English, then transposes to a Queen’s Gambit Declined, another first for Bobby with the White pieces. And you should also be reminded that Boris was playing his favorite “T.M.B.” System, a line he had NEVER lost with in an important game! (Despite the fact that he had played it in numerous Soviet Championships, Candidates Matches, numerous International Tournaments, and even other World Championship Matches!!)

And this was a game to confound the critics and other GM’s. I have heard this many times from sources who are 100% reliable, (Many were actually in Iceland during the Match. Others, such as Shelby Lyman and others were watching the game as it was being played, and even commenting on them for the press.); that the Soviet GM’s failed again and again to correctly appraise this position while this game was actually being played!!!
(One very strong Russian GM labeled Fischer’s 19. NxB/e6!, to be a blunder, giving up a good Knight for a bad Bishop, and giving Black a solid wall of pawns in the center.)

Fischer played perfect chess in this game, outflanking Spassky and suddenly and unexpectedly putting great pressure on Black’s King. Fischer then proceeds to play with great patience and artistry, tying up poor Spassky hand and foot. He then virtually places him in Zugzwang, an unheard of thing at this level. He then finishes off with an elegant exchange sacrifice, cracking open Spassky’s King and forces resignation.

I do not care who you are, this has to be one of the single greatest games of chess ever played. It certainly has to be one of the Ten Prettiest played at the World Championship level! And considering all the beautiful games played over the years, that is saying a lot! (The authors only give this game a score of 14, but it certainly deserves much higher praise. I give it a perfect ten!!!) (It would probably have to be a very strong candidate for my ‘Top Ten’ list of the best chess games ever played. {A.J.G.})

(Strangely, I don’t believe this game is even in Soltis’s “Top 100.” I don’t understand this.)

W. Steinitz – C. von Bardeleben; Hastings, 1895. (Tournament game.)
This is an ultra-brilliant game, and perhaps the “Immortal Giuoco Piano Game.” Here the old lion, Steinitz, proves he still has teeth; although he was well-past his prime when this game was played. Bardeleben does very little wrong, yet he is destroyed. In some sacrificial attacks, you must give your imagination free reign. And Steinitz completely unfetters his imagination here. Here Steinitz plays like Tal. I can give no higher compliment.
( In fact, in response to chess historian Issak Linder’s 3rd question: “What game – not one of your own – made the greatest impression on you? Which game had the greatest impact on you?” The late, great Tal picked this one game!! )
One of Steinitz’s most beautiful and imaginative games. (13.)
(It would probably have to be a very strong candidate for my ‘Top Ten’ list of the best chess games ever played. {A.J.G.})

(Strangely, I don’t believe this game is even in Soltis’s “Top 100.”)

G. Rotlevi – A. Rubinstein; Lodz, 1907/08. (Tournament Game.)
A true classic of great beauty. An incredible piece of chess artistry. Notice that this game appears on many “Top Ten” lists, including Chernev’s!!!
( Scroll down the page to see what I wrote about this game in the Soltis list. ) Another classic.
A favorite of MANY Masters! (When I have asked the question, “What do you think is the most beautiful game of chess ever played?) (Score = 13.) Notice that MANY chess writers and historians have picked this game as one of the all-time best.
(It would definitely have to be on my ‘Top Ten’ list of the best chess games ever played. {A.J.G.})

The experts all seem to be in a consensus about this game. It is game # 10 in the Soltis book. Everyone seems to agree that this is one of the most beautiful games ever played.
R. Reti – E. Bogoljubow; New York, 1924. (Tournament game.)
The first truly ultra-brilliant game by a hyper-modern. Certainly this must have been a wake-up call to die-hard classical players everywhere.

Reti starts off with his beloved invention, 1. Nf3. Bogo counters with a QGD set-up that just doesn’t quite make it, especially considering Reti’s super-accurate play. The game proceeds to a series of tactical shots, where many masters who were watching did not know what the outcome would be. It even looked as if the great Bogo had found an adequate defense, but eventually Reti crashes through with a combination that justly won him the First Brilliancy Prize. A gorgeous game and one every chess lover should see.

The end of this game has been featured in countless magazines and books.
A real classic. A favorite of MANY well-known chess authors and chess historians! (Score = 13.)

(I do not believe Soltis even thought this game worthy of inclusion in his list. In fact, it is his fourth {4th} “Most Over-Rated Game.” See pg. # 20 of his book.)

July, 2002. I just spent almost the whole day studying this game. This is a truly great game of chess. Artistry of the 64 squares!!

Donald Byrne – Robert J. Fischer; Rosenwald Tournament, 1956.
“The Game of the Century.” (Tournament Game, equal to the U.S. Championship.)
This had to have been, “The chess shot heard ’round the world.” (!!) This was young Bobby’s ‘business card’ to the chess world as a whole. It served notice that this young man, barely 13 at the time this game was played, was a true genius and was going to be a serious contender for the very highest honors in the game.

The game started off as 1. Nf3 and then transposed to a Gruenfeld Defence. Fischer’s 11…Na5!!! was a move of unparalleled imagination and brilliance. (At first glance, the move looks like an incredible blunder!!) The true beauty and depth of his conception was not realized until he unleashed his move, 17…Be6!! (Sacrificing his Queen.) The game does not clearly become won for Black until many moves later. Eventually Bobby has a Rook and two minor pieces + a few pawns for the Queen – that he invested into this attack. Byrne does not resign, so Bobby tracks down the White King and mates him. Another often over-looked fact about this game is that Donald Byrne was easily one of the 5 – 10 or so strongest players in the U.S.A. at the time this game was played.

I personally believe this to be one of the most complicated games ever played in an actual game of chess, over-the-board. (Not postal or the product of adjournment analysis.) Inspiration and intuition must have surely played a part in this conception, as not even an IBM Super-Computer [Deep Blue?] could have calculated this combination from start to finish.

Kmoch called this game, “The Game of the Century.” Kirby called it, “A Game for the Ages.” Fine called Fischer’s 11th move, “Perhaps the most beautiful, brilliant and imaginative move ever played in a game of chess.” Chernev called it, “Remarkable.” He considered it one of the two greatest games ever played by a prodigy, the other being Capablanca-Corzo. (Match Game; Havana, 1900.) Reinfeld, (In his book, “Great Games by Chess Prodigies.”); said the game left him speechless. I could go on and on, but I trust by now that you get the point.

Courtesy of: http://www.ajschess.com