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Best Games Ever Played
Compiled by Ziryab
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It is difficult to identify the very best game ever played, but the games in this list are my candidates that deserve consideration.

Anderssen vs Dufresne, 1852 
(C52) Evans Gambit, 20 moves, 1-0

Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1922 
(A90) Dutch, 53 moves, 0-1

Botvinnik vs Capablanca, 1938 
(E40) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, 41 moves, 1-0

Of course, "the game of the century" must be considered.
D Byrne vs Fischer, 1956  
(D92) Grunfeld, 5.Bf4, 41 moves, 0-1

When will computers catch up with Nezhmetdinov's inspired play?
Polugaevsky vs R Nezhmetdinov, 1958 
(A53) Old Indian, 33 moves, 0-1

US Champ vs. Soviet Champ
Fischer vs Stein, 1967 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 56 moves, 1-0

Fischer vs Spassky, 1972 
(D59) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower, 41 moves, 1-0

Karpov vs Kasparov, 1985 
(B44) Sicilian, 40 moves, 0-1

The Readers' choice in a Chess Informant Contest
Ivanchuk vs A Yusupov, 1991 
(E67) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 39 moves, 0-1

Kasparov vs Topalov, 1999 
(B07) Pirc, 44 moves, 1-0

My top choice in an Informant Readers' contest
Topalov vs Anand, 2005 
(E15) Queen's Indian, 52 moves, 1-0

Voted the best of Informant 102
Ivanchuk vs Karjakin, 2008 
(B87) Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5, 49 moves, 1-0

Aronian vs Karjakin, 2014 
(E15) Queen's Indian, 61 moves, 1-0

J Bai vs Ding Liren, 2017 
(E21) Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights, 32 moves, 0-1

Nepo's position was more difficult
Carlsen vs Nepomniachtchi, 2021 
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 136 moves, 1-0

15 games

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