Viewer

B00 Uncommon King's Pawn

Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian. Advance Variation

Rudolf Spielmann vs Aron Nimzowitsch, 1920

0-1, 28 moves

[Event "Stockholm"]
[Site "Stockholm"]
[Date "1920.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Rudolf Spielmann"]
[Black "Aron Nimzowitsch"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "56"]
1. e4 {Notes by Nimzowitsch} Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 {Simpler than 3...f6.} 4. Ne2 {More natural would be 4 Nf3.} e6 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h5 7. Be2 Be7 {Thus White's manouver is justified. But black could have played better, namely : 7...Nb4 8 Na3 c5 9 c3 Nc6 and White's efforts against Black's h-pawn appear to be excessive in view of the serious situation in the center.} 8. Bxh5 Bxh5 9. Nxh5 g6 10. Nf4 Rxh4 11. Rxh4 Bxh4 12. Qd3 {Preventing 12...Bg5 as then 13 Nxe6 would win.} Nge7 13. g3 Nf5 14. gxh4 Nfxd4 {There is now a double threat, namely 14...Nb4 15 Qxb4 Nxc2+ and 14...Nxe5 15 Qxd4 Nf3+ a neat two-fold turn.} 15. Na3 Qxh4 {Simpler would be 15...Nxe5 16 Qh3 Ndf3+ 17 Kf1 Qxh4 with a promising endgame, but black wished to avoid the exchange of queens.} 16. Qh3 {In order to force the exchange.} Qg5 {With the idea of Qh8+ Kd7 18 Qxa8 Qg1+ 19 Kd2 Qxf2+ 20 Kc3 Nb3!! (after the game was over, they found the dual 20...Nf3). Nevertheless 16...Qxh3 was necessary.} 17. Be3 {For now 17 Nd3 could have been played to White's advantage, e.g. : 17...Qg1+ 18 Kd2 Nxe5 19 Nxe5 Qxf2+ which would be insufficient (as would also be the other possible continuation 17 Nd3 Qg1+ 18 Kd2 Kd7 19 Nc5+ (not 19 c3 because of ...Rh8 20 Qxh8 Qg5+ with perpetual check) 19...Ke7 20 Qh4+ Ke8 (or 20...g5 21 Qg3) 21 Qh8+ Ke7 22 Qf6+ and 23 c3.} Qg1+ 18. Qf1 Nf3+ 19. Ke2 Nfd4+ 20. Kd2 Nf3+ 21. Ke2 Ncd4+ 22. Kd3 {Fatal. For better or for worse, White should have embarked upon 22 Bxd4 Nxd4+ 23 Kd3 Qg5 although his position then would scarcely have been enviable.} Qg5 23. Qh3 Qxe5 24. Rf1 O-O-O 25. b3 b5 26. Nxb5 Qe4+ 27. Kc3 Qxc2+ 28. Kb4 c5+ 0-1

Game links and puns: www.chessgames.com