Nimzovich - Fleuss 








Aaron Nimzovich (2650) - Fleuss (2250) 
[C12]
Zurich Switzerland,   1906 

[A.J. Goldsby I]

( Fleuss may have been higher rated, but I am not sure. Any information on this player would be greatly appreciated. )  


Chernev writes: 
"Nimzovich's originality must have been disconcerting to his opponents. Here, 
his sacrifice of the Queen looks like the act of a desperate man --- until the 
wily plot unfolds." 

[See the book, {The} "1000 Best Short Games of Chess," by Irving Chernev. 
Game # 615, pages # 311-312.] 

I will simply say this is a very, very pretty game of chess. Black does not play 
perfectly. (But if he had the game would have ended in a draw.) The combination
is shocking and the mating pattern is virtually unique. 

This game would belong in ANYONE's list of the 100 prettiest games 
of 20 moves or less!!

( NOTE:  If the line {sub-variation} is not green, then that line 
  is  NOT  re-playable with the js-board. --- It is there mainly for reference. ) 


1. e4 e62. d4 d5;  The French Defense. 
(Not a favorite among many Masters, but viable none-the-less.)

3. Nc3
Development, and guards the e-pawn.

Nowadays, The Tarrasch Variation (3. Nd2)  is much preferred 
among most modern Masters. The main point being that Black 
is unable to pin. (3...Bb4?;  4. c3.) 

3...Nf6;  The "Classical Variation" of the French Defense.
Black develops, prepares K-side castling and guards the center. 

[ Most Masters today would prefer the Winawer. 
That line runs: 3...Bb4;  4. e5, c5;  5. a3, Bxc3+;  6. bxc3, Ne7; etc.] 

 

4. Bg5, Sharpest and probably best. 
(This pin is probably best.) 

[White could also play: 4. e5, Nfd7;  5. f4, c5;  6. Nf3, Nc6; 
7. Be3, "+/=" with a very small edge for White.] 

 

4...Bb4!?;  Black 'counter-pins.'
(I believe this is referred to as, "The MacCutcheon Variation.") 

[The Classical French runs; 4...Be7;  5. e5, Nfd7;  6. Bxe7, Qxe7;  7. f4, 0-0;
8. Nf3, c5;  9. Qd2, Nc6; 10. dxc5, "+/=" with a small edge for White.]

 

5. exd5!?,  White must do something about his KP. 
(Perhaps this move is not the very best, but its not bad either!) 

Remember, at this time, (1906!); opening theory had NOT been worked out!! 
(In fact, there was no real consensus on the best way to meet many openings!)

<< This early simplification is not really all that effective. Strangely, it was 
      Nimzovich himself who would pioneer the basic concepts of Pawn 
      Chains later in life.  >> 

[ The best line is the book line, and the moves are not easy to find: 
 5.e5!
h6; 6.Bd2! Bxc3; 7.bxc3! Ne4; 8.Qg4!, ("+/=") White has an advantage ... 
 and an initiative. (But the position is complex, and not easy to play.) 

 ... << when White has the center, a space edge, the two Bishops, 
           and a slight initiative. >> 

This is considered best play today. ].  

5...Qxd5
6. Bxf6 Bxc3+!?;  Black gives up this Bishop a little too willingly. 

From here to the end of the game, the flow of the game and the moves in the game 
are very natural and seemingly good by both sides.  
(It is hard to tell if - and where - Black committed his fatal mistake.) 

7. bxc3 gxf6
8. Nf3 Nc6;  
White is just slightly better. 

White has a slight better center a little space and maybe a better 
pawn structure. 

Black is (probably) banking on his half-open g-file to maintain counterplay.

9. Be2 Rg810. 0-0!
Nimzovich shows he is not afraid of his opponent's attack. 

[10. g3, is '!?' or '?!'] 

 

10...Bd7!?;  
Black develops. (Maybe Black could have tried 10...e5!?)

11. c4!,
Nimzovich boots the Queen out of the center.

Although this is the proper strategy, it is also laden with risk.
(The Black Queen comes to the White King-side and threatens the 
enemy King with death and destruction.) 

[ 11. Kh1!? ] 

 

11...Qh512. d5! 0-0-013. Nd4!,  A bold and aggressive move. 
(Its a mistake to capture the Knight ... right now!) 

<< Again, very fine. 

     The main point to this move is that it blocks the d-file.>> 

[ 13.dxc6? ('??') 13...Bxc6; 14.Qc1 Bxf3; 15.Bxf3 Qxf3, ("/+")
Maybe - "-/+"]. 

 

13...Qh314. g3 Rg6;  A seemingly winning attacking move. 

Chernev writes: 
"Intending 13...Rh6. It looks bad for the home team." 

<< Things look very glum for White.
      Black threatens ...Rh3 with a mate. (Back in the 80's and the early 90's, 
      most computer programs considered this position WON FOR BLACK!) 

      How is White to defend? >> 

15. dxc6!!  (Maybe - '!!!')   An incredibly brilliant and inspired move. 
(I think Chernev only gives this move one exclam.) 

[ If 15.Nf3,  then 15...Ne5!; ("-/+") ].  

15...Bxc6
;  Now Black is hitting g2 also. (With a mate threat!) 

 Chernev writes: 
 "The threats multiply." 

 (Yes, the threats multiply, but for WHOM??) 

16. Nxc6!(Maybe - '!!')
Maybe another double - exclam move? 

[ Not 16. Bf3?, Rh6!;  "-/+" ] 

16...Rxd1;  This is forced. 

[ 16...Rh6??;  17. Qxd8#. ] 

 

(If White had taken with the wrong Rook on his next move, 
 the game would be over ... for White!!) 
17. Rfxd1!  The right Rook. 

 << White threatens Rd1 mate, and if Black plays 17...Rg8; (??) White plays 
       18. Ne7+, when White will have TWO Rooks, and 2 minor pieces for 
       the lone Black Queen ... an overwhelming material advantage. >> 

[ Not 17. Rad1? and it is not clear that White has anything. 
 (This move would have messed everything up!). ] 

 

***

 << Normally, in these types of positions, A Rook and a Bishop are far from 
      being adequate compensation for the missing Queen. 

      But Nimzo has planned ahead. >> 

***

17...bxc6; ('!?')  Was there any defense? 

I guess Black feels he must take.  If he does not, White will have a Rook 
and TWO minor pieces for the Queen.

Of course not 17...Rh6??; 18. Rd8 mate.

 18. c5!,  Opening a key line. 

Chernev writes: 
"Opening the way for a Bishop check and mate by the Rook." 

 << Opening the b-file and threatening a mate in 2 moves. >> 

[ 18.Rab1? Rh6; ("-/+") (Or 18. Bf1?, Qf5; "/+") ]. 

 

18...Rg8;  This is forced.  

(Black had to guard his first row to prevent being mated.) 

[18...Rh6?!; 19.Ba6+ Kb8; 20.Rd8#.]. 

 

19. Rab1!,   Black Resigns!   1-0

Chernev writes: 
"The Bishop mate is inescapable." 

A very beautiful game and an interesting mating pattern. 

A game that deserves  at least strong consideration  for the list of: 
 "The Ten Prettiest Short Games of Chess Ever Played."  

(Chernev only gave exclamation points to White's 15th, 16th, 18th, and 19th moves.) 

I personally feel White's 15th move deserves (at least) a double exclam. 

A Swiss Master watching this game was reported to have said, 
"If that wins  ...  I'll eat my boot!" 
(One wonders how they tasted.) 

(Had his opponent been a world-class Master, this game might {probably would} 
have made it into the list of, "The Ten Best Short Games of Chess, {of All-Time}.)

***

 << A beautiful position. Black is strangely helpless to prevent Ba6 mate. 

       (He can play "give-away" with with his Queen and Rook, but in the end 
        ... he will still be mated.

       It is hard to understand where Black went wrong! His play throughout was 
       very good and very logical. (Maybe this is one of those games where a 
       good plan is simply beaten by a better one?) >> 

*** 

 [ How many players would have won with the simple continuation: 
  19.Ba6+!?
Kb8; 20.Rab1+ Ka8; 21.Bb7+ Kb8; 22.Bxc6+ Kc8
  23.Bd7+
Kd8; 24.Bxe6+ Ke7; 25.Bxh3 ("+/-"), with a win for White? ]

1 - 0

(I first annotated this game for the "Alabama Chess Antics" probably back during the eighties.
Although the game was not published then, it was published in several high school news-letters ...
in both Birmingham and Montgomery. Now I can share this pretty little game with the whole world!)


This game is the full length version of the game as it exists in my database.
 (I have not shortened it for publication.) 
 If you would like a copy of that game to study, please contact me. 


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  Copyright A.J. Goldsby I. © A.J. Goldsby,  1994 - 2005.

    Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2006.  All rights reserved.