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's bishop on e4 is defended by both his queen and knight, but his queen must also defend h2 against ...Qxh2#. Black sacrifices to remove the knight, causing White's queen to be overloaded defending both e4 and h2. Chernev wrote "It's only the beginning. You ain't seen nothin' yet. Kmoch gives this move three exclamation marks. We can hardly do less."[8]
23. gxh4
White has little choice but to accept the sacrifice of Black's queen, since 23.Bxc3 and most other moves lose to 23...Bxe4+ 24.Qxe4 Qxh2#, and 23.Bxb7 loses to 23...Rxg3.[3]
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
Position after 23...Rd2!!
Black deflects White's queen from defending the bishop on e4 by sacrificing a rook in addition to the queen. White has to take the rook because White's queen is pinned against the h2-square, for example:
24.Qe1 Rxh2#
24.Qxg4 Bxe4+ 25.Rf3 Rxf3 (threatening 26...Rf1#)
26.Qxf3 Bxf3#
26.Qg2 Rf1+! 27.Rxf1 Bxg2#
24.Rfe1 or 24.Rae1 lose to 24...Bxe4+ 25.Qxe4 Rxh2#
Black ignores the fact he can take White's queen and instead forces mate soon by ...Rxh2#, despite being down in material by a queen and rook for two minor pieces.[9][10] White resigns.
