FOR BEGINNERS

15 MASTER GAMES · ONE CLEAR STUDY PATH

Know how the pieces move, but not which games to study first? Start here. These 15 complete games form a deliberate path from rapid development and attack to strategy, defence, and essential endgames.

Follow the numbered order, replay each game on the board, and keep the study focus in mind. This is a recommended path—not a claim that every later game is objectively harder.

STEP PLAYERS & STUDY FOCUS RESULT MOVES OPENING EVENT
STAGE 1 Development & attack
1 Morphy, Paul vs Duke of Brunswick, Count Study focus: Morphy’s Opera Game: develop with tempo, open lines before attacking, and punish a king left in the centre. 1-0 17 Philidor Defense Opera Hous: Morphy-Duke of Brunswick
2 Anderssen, Adolf vs Kieseritzky, Lionel Adalbert BF Study focus: Initiative, forcing moves, and mating material can matter more than material count. 1-0 23 King's Gambit Accepted: Bishop's Gambit, Bryan Countergambit London 'Immortal game'
3 Anderssen, Adolf vs Dufresne, Jean Study focus: The Evergreen Game: bring every piece into the attack and use line-opening sacrifices to reach the king. 1-0 24 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Dufresne Defense Berlin 'Evergreen'
4 Fischer, Robert James vs Fine, Reuben Study focus: Fischer–Reuben Fine: rapid development and a direct king attack in a clear seventeen-move Evans Gambit miniature. 1-0 17 Italian Game: Evans Gambit, Compromised Defense New York
5 Lasker, Emanuel vs Bauer, Johann Hermann Study focus: Recognize the classic double-bishop sacrifice and calculate the follow-up before giving material. 1-0 38 Bird Opening: Dutch Variation Amsterdam VAS Int-01 Masters
6 Paulsen, Louis vs Morphy, Paul Study focus: Pins, removal of defenders, and piece coordination behind Morphy’s celebrated queen sacrifice. 0-1 28 Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation, Classical Variation USA-01 Congress Grand Tournament
7 Rotlewi, Georg A vs Rubinstein, Akiba Study focus: Rubinstein–Rotlewi: overloaded defenders and perfectly coordinated queen-and-rook sacrifices. 0-1 25 Tarrasch Defense: Symmetrical Variation Lodz1
8 Knorre, Victor vs Chigorin, Mikhail Ivanovich Study focus: A pinned knight can still join a forcing attack: use a pawn storm to open lines, then sacrifice the queen to build a mating net. 0-1 14 - St Petersburg
9 Esserman, Marc vs Simpson, Ronald Study focus: Calculate an exchange sacrifice that removes defenders, exposes the king, and keeps the initiative through forcing moves. 1-0 22 Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense USA tt
10 Esserman, Marc vs Sarkar, Justin Study focus: Turn a Smith–Morra Gambit pawn into rapid development, open lines, and a decisive attack on a king caught in the centre. 1-0 16 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Kan Formation Miami op
STAGE 2 Strategy & defence
11 Rubinstein, Akiba vs Salwe, Georg Study focus: Attack a backward pawn, occupy the square in front of it, and improve every piece before breaking through. 1-0 38 Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation Lodz Dreimeisterturnier 8R
12 Saemisch, Friedrich vs Nimzowitsch, Aron Study focus: Restriction, prophylaxis, and the Immortal Zugzwang: winning by taking useful moves away. 0-1 25 Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line Copenhagen International 6 Masters
STAGE 3 Endgames & synthesis
13 Cohn, Erich vs Rubinstein, Akiba Study focus: Activate the king and convert a tiny structural edge in a classic king-and-pawn ending. 0-1 38 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Gunsberg Defense St Petersburg Chigorin Memorial
14 Capablanca, Jose Raul vs Tartakower, Saviely Study focus: Rook-endgame fundamentals: king activity, purposeful pawn sacrifices, and a supported passed pawn. 1-0 52 Horwitz Defense New York International Masters-01
15 Byrne, Donald vs Fischer, Robert James Study focus: The Game of the Century as a capstone: connect development, king safety, tactical motifs, and long calculation. 0-1 41 English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation New York Rosenwald-03