In Rudyard Kipling’s Kim, The Great Game, was coined to describe the imperial competition between the British in Russia in Europe and South and East Asia as they competed for regional supremacy.  For close to 100 years, Russia looked to challenge Britain’s claim to India and challenge their global status.  During the novel, Kipling references The Great Game, and how there is this underlying paranoia or obsession to ensure that British stays strategically ahead of the Russians in the region.  The Great Game seems to have consumed many players, both English and indigenous, to help ensure British success in South Asia.  The British felt that India was the most vital of their colonies to preserve due to its lucrative trading potential and the Russians looked to make claims in Afghanistan and Persia to disrupt this.  The Great Game continued well throughout the early 19th century.

Left Image: Another depiction of the Great Game, with Russia encroaching on Persia to the point where Britain (the lion) is unable to move its influence into the Northern region of Asia.

Right Image: During many depictions of The Great Game, Britain was seen as either a Lion or Gentlemen that tends to be bound to Russia (the bear) and unable to break the close distance to each other to gain a strategic advantage.

Source: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/1611