Friedrich Saemisch vs Aron Nimzowitsch - It BSG 1928.02.18

Tags:

Friedrich Saemisch vs Aron Nimzowitsch
It BSG Berlin GER round 12 1928.02.18
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack 0-1

[Event "It BSG"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "1928.02.18"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "12"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Friedrich Saemisch"]
[Black "Aron Nimzowitsch"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "176"]

1. e4 { Notes by Raymond Keene. } e6 {Before concluding this
discussion of Nimzowitsch's handling of the French Defence
from the Black side we must mention his original treatment of
the Orthodox variation -- which has points in common with his
own defence and his interpretation of the Winawer.} 2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Ng8 {!? This unusual move, or
rather the strategic conception underlying Nimzowitsch's
interpretation of this move, contains in itself the
quintessential Nimzowitschian paradox: provocation and
prevention, under one roof, as it were. White will naturally
wish to administer sharp punishment for the 'insult' involved
in returning the knight to its initial square,
e.g. Levy-Heidenfeld, Dublin 1968: 5...Ng8 6 Be3 b6 7
g4?!. But such violence may later react to White's
disadvantage, especially if he continues in like vein. As to
prophylaxis: with White's pawn chain established on dark
squares and with White in possession of a 'territorial plus'
on the kingside Black must over-protect the kingside light
squares (f5/g4/g6) to forestall a kingside pawn avalanche by
White along the lines of (eventually) f2-f4/g2-g4 and
f4-f5. Bizarre though it may appear 5...Ng8 achieves far more
in the direction of the said over-protection (since the knight
can redeploy via e7 or h6 to f5) than does 5...Nfd7. The
disadvantage, of course, is the 'anti-development' of a piece,
but so long as Black avoids a premature ...c7-c5 the position
will remain closed and virtually impervious to breakthrough;
and, after all, is d7 such a marvellous square for the Black
king's knight? } 6. Be3 b6 7. Qg4 {?! In a detailed discussion
of the whole 5...Ng8 variation (Chessman Quarterly, 1970) the
Irish International John Moles recommended 7 h4! giving as a
reasonable continuation: 7...h5 8 Be2 g6 9 Nf3 Ba6 10 Qd2 Bxe2
11 Nxe2 Nc6 followed by ...Qd7 and ...O-O-O. Perhaps White is
slightly better, although Black's set-up is extremely tough. }
7...g6 8. h4 h5 9. Qg3 {?! 9 Qh3!?} 9...Ba6 10. Nf3 Bxf1
11. Kxf1 Qd7 12. a3 Nc6 13. Rd1 Na5 14. Ng5 Nh6 15. Bc1 O-O-O
16. Qd3 Kb8 17. Rh3 Rdf8 18. Kg1 Nf5 19. Ne2 Qd8 20. g3 c5
21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Kg2 Qb6 {Black's plan is to attack White's
e-pawn until f2-f4 becomes necessary and then to eliminate
White's advanced knight (...Bxg5) at a moment when White
cannot recapture with his bishop. (Nimzowitsch) } 23. f4 {?!
Playing it at once saves Black a lot of trouble. } 23...Bxg5
24. hxg5 Rc8 25. Rh2 Rhd8 26. Kh3 d4 27. Qf3 Rd5 28. b3 c4
29. b4 Nc6 30. c3 d3 31. Ng1 d2 {!! Introducing a deep and
beautiful combination, one of the most impressive I have ever
seen. } 32. Rhxd2 {After 32 Bxd2 Rcd8 the pin is
overpowering. 32 Rdxd2 is also unplayable since the knight
hangs. } 32...Rxd2 33. Bxd2 Rd8 {Threatening ...Rd3xg3. }
34. Qe2 {On 34 Bc1 Nimzowitsch planned 34...Rxd1 35 Qxd1 Qf2
36 Ne2 Kc8! 37 Qa4 Qf3-+. If 37 a4 Nce7 followed by ...Nd5 and
...Ne3 and White is paralysed. A wonderful variation. }
34...Rd3 35. Nf3 Qd8 36. Rf1 Qd5 37. Rf2 h4 {! The climax of
the combination. White loses his queen. Observe the remarkable
paralysis that has seized White's pieces after the inspired
pawn sacrifice on move 32. } 38. gxh4 Ncd4 39. cxd4 Nxd4
40. Qxd3 cxd3 41. Nxd4 Qxd4 42. Kg3 Qe4 {?? With 42...Qa1!
Nimzowitsch could have crowned his outstanding
combination. White cannot prevent the loss of the a-pawn and a
black victory is assured. After the text Saemisch succeeds in
protecting his a-pawn and, unbelievably, Black's advantage is
insufficient to win. After further serious errors by White
Nimzowitsch did eventually win from this drawn position on
move 88.} 43.Rh2 Kb7 44.a4 Kc6 45.a5 Kd5 46.h5 gxh5 47.Rxh5
Qe2 48.Rh2 Qd1 49.Rf2 Ke4 50.Kh2 Kf5 51.Rg2 Qf1 52.Kg3 Ke4
53.Rf2 Qh1 54.Rg2 Kd4 55.Rh2 Qd1 56.Rg2 Kc4 57.Rf2 Qh1 58.Rh2
Qe4 59.Rf2 Kb3 60.Rh2 Kc2 61.Rf2 Kd1 62.Rh2 Qc6 63.Kg4 Qc2
64.Kg3 Qxd2 65.Rxd2+ Kxd2 66.f5 Ke3 67.g6 fxg6 68.f6 d2 69.f7
d1=Q 70.f8=Q Qg1+ 71.Kh3 Ke4 72.b5 Qh1+ 73.Kg3 Qe1+ 74.Kg4
Qxa5 75.Qd6 Qb6 76.Kg5 Qxb5 77.Kf6 Qf1+ 78.Kg7 Qf5 79.Qc6+
Kxe5 80.Qc5+ Ke4 81.Qxa7 e5 82.Qg1 Kd5 83.Qd1+ Kc5 84.Qc1+ Kb5
85.Qb2+ Kc6 86.Qc3+ Kd7 87.Qd2+ Ke8 88.Qd5 Qd7+ 0-1

Download PGN

Updated: 19 January, 2022
Created: 19 January, 2022