Aron Nimzowitsch (also Nimzovich or Niemzowitsch) (November 7, 1886, Riga – March 16, 1935, Denmark) was a chess player of grandmaster strength and a very influential chess writer. He was the foremost figure amongst the hypermoderns. November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... Coordinates: Founded 1201  - Mayor Jānis Birks Area    - City 307. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... The title International Grandmaster is awarded to superb chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. It is a lifetime title, in chess literature usually abbreviated as GM or IGM (this is in contrast to WGM for Woman Grandmaster and IM for International Master). ... The Queens Indian Defence is a hypermodern opening Hypermodernism is a school of chess thought which advocates controlling the centre of the board with distant pieces rather than with pawns, thus inviting the opponent to occupy the centre with pawns which can then become objects of attack. ...

Life

Nimzowitsch came from a wealthy Jewish family and learned chess from his father. He travelled to Germany in 1904 to study Philosophy in Berlin, but set aside his studies, and began a career as a professional chess player that same year. After tumultuous and often unsuccessful years during and after World War I, Nimzowitsch moved to Copenhagen in 1922 (some sources say 1920) and lived there until his death. His best chess mostly dates from that year forward. He is buried in Bispebjerg Cemetery in Copenhagen. Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... Year 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Philosophy (disambiguation). ... Berlin is the capital city and one of the sixteen states of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Robert Nivelle Herbert Henry Asquith Sir Douglas Haig Sir John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Chess career

At the height of his career, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Nimzowitsch was the third best player in the world, immediately behind Alexander Alekhine and Jose Capablanca. His most notable successes were first place finishes at Copenhagen 1923, Dresden 1926, the Carlsbad tournament of 1929 and second place behind Alekhine at San Remo in 1930. Nimzowitsch never developed a knack for match play though; his best match success was a draw with Alekhine (though this match was only two games long and was in 1914, 13 years before Alekhine became world champion). Alexander Alekhine Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (sometimes spelled Aljechin or Alechin) (IPA: ; Russian: ; other members of his family pronounce it , French: Alexandre Alekhine) (October 31 or November 1, 1892 – March 24, 1946) was a Russian-born naturalized French chess grandmaster (officially naturalized in 1927 only three days before the World Champion... José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (November 19, 1888 - March 8, 1942) was a famous Cuban chess player in the early to mid twentieth century. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... the traditional English name for the city and spa Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic Carlsbad, California Carlsbad, New Mexico, with Carlsbad Caverns National Park nearby Carlsbad, Texas ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The name San Remo can refer to several different things: San Remo, Italy – a large town in Italy San Remo, Victoria – a town in Victoria, Australia The San Remo – an apartment building in New York City This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Although Nimzowitsch did not win a single game against Capablanca, he fared better against Alekhine. He even beat Alekhine with the Black pieces at St. Petersburg 1914. One of Nimzowitsch's most famous games is his celebrated Immortal Zugzwang Game against Sämisch at Copenhagen 1923. Another game on this theme is his win over Paul Johner at Dresden 1926. When in form, Nimzowitsch was very dangerous with the Black pieces, scoring many fine wins over top players. Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Zugzwang (German for compulsion to move, IPA: ) is a term used in combinatorial game theory and in other types of games (particularly in chess). ... Friedrich Sämisch (September 20, 1896, Berlin–August 16, 1975, Berlin) was a German chess grandmaster. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dresden (disambiguation). ...

Impact

Nimzowitsch is considered one of the most influential players and writers in chess history. His works influenced numerous other players, including Richard Réti and Tigran Petrosian, and his influence is still felt today. Richard Réti (1889 – 1929) was a Czechoslovakian chess player, although he was born in what was then Hungary. ... Tigran Petrosian. ...

He wrote three books on chess strategy: Mein System (My System) (1925), Die Praxis meines System (The Practice of My System) (commonly known as Chess Praxis), and Die Blockade (The Blockade). The last of these has just been reissued in a volume containing both the German original and the English translation published by Hardinge Simpole . However, much that is in it is covered again in Mein System. It is said that 99 out of 100 chess masters have read Mein System; consequently, most consider My System to be Nimzowitsch's greatest contribution to chess. It sets out Nimzowitsch's most important ideas, while his second most influential work, Chess Praxis, elaborates upon these ideas, adds a few new ones, and has immense value as a stimulating collection of Nimzowitsch's own games, even when these games are more entertaining than instructive. My System: 21st Century Edition front cover Mein System ( German for My System), originally published in 1925, is a book on chess theory written by Aron Nimzowitsch. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Nimzowitsch's chess theories flew in the face of convention. While there were those like Alekhine, Emanuel Lasker, and even Capablanca who did not live by Siegbert Tarrasch's rigid teachings, the acceptance of Tarrasch's ideas, all simplifications of the more profound work of Wilhelm Steinitz, was nearly universal. That the center had to be controlled by pawns and that development had to happen in support of this control -— the core ideas of Tarrasch's chess philosophy -— were things every beginner thought to be irrefutable laws of nature, like gravity. Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... Alexander Alekhine Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (sometimes spelled Aljechin or Alechin) (IPA: ; Russian: ; other members of his family pronounce it , French: Alexandre Alekhine) (October 31 or November 1, 1892 – March 24, 1946) was a Russian-born naturalized French chess grandmaster (officially naturalized in 1927 only three days before the World Champion... Emanuel Lasker (December 24, 1868 – January 11, 1941) was a German World Chess Champion, mathematician, and philosopher born at Berlinchen in Brandenburg (now Barlinek in Poland). ... José Raúl Capablanca y Graupera (November 19, 1888 - March 8, 1942) was a famous Cuban chess player in the early to mid twentieth century. ... Siegbert Tarrasch Siegbert Tarrasch (March 5, 1862 – February 17, 1934) was one of the strongest chess players of the late 19th century and early 20th century. ... Wilhelm Steinitz Wilhelm (later William) Steinitz (May 17, 1836, Prague–August 12, 1900, New York) was an Austrian-American chess player and the first official world chess champion. ... Initial placement of the pawns. ...

Nimzowitsch shattered these assumptions. He discovered such concepts as overprotection (the least important of his ideas from a modern standpoint though still interesting and sometimes applicable), control of the center by pieces instead of pawns, blockade, prophylaxis -— playing to prevent the opponent's plans —- and the fianchetto (in the case of the fianchetto, one could argue that it was a rediscovery, but Nimzowitsch certainly refined its use). He also formalised strategies using open files, outposts and invasion of the seventh rank, all of which are widely accepted today. Others had utilized such ideas in previous years, but Nimzowitsch was the first to knit them together into a thematic whole. This page explains commonly used terms in chess in alphabetical order. ... Prophylaxis (Greek προφυλακτικος, prophylaktikos, to guard or prevent beforehand) or a prophylactic move stops the opponent from taking action in a certain area for fear of some type of reprisal. ... In chess the fianchetto (Italian little flanking) is a pattern of development wherein a bishop is developed to the second rank of the adjacent knight file, the knight pawn having been moved one or two squares forward. ...

Many chess openings and variations are named after him, the most famous being the Nimzo-Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4) and the less often played Nimzowitsch Defence (1.e4 Nc6). Nimzowitsch biographer Grandmaster Raymond Keene and others have referred to 1.Nf3 followed by 2.b3 as the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack. Keene wrote a book about the opening with that title. All of these openings exemplify Nimzowitsch's ideas about controlling the center with pieces instead of pawns. Nimzowitsch was also vital in the development of two important systems in the French Defense, the Winawer Variation (in some places called the Nimzowitsch Variation; its moves are 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4) and the Advance Variation (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5). He also pioneered two provocative variations of the Sicilian Defense: the Nimzowitsch Variation, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6, inviting 3.e5 Nd5, similar to Alekhine's Defense, and 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d5?!, which is regarded as dubious today. Nimzo-Indian Defence 1. ... The Nimzowitch Defence is a somewhat unusual chess opening, in which Black moves 1. ... Grandmaster and/or Grand Master could mean: In chess, an International Grandmaster. ... Raymond Dennis Keene (born 29 January 1948) is an influential figure in the chess world off the board, bringing many notable chess events to London. ... Larsens Opening, also called the Queens Fianchetto Opening, is a chess opening starting with 1. ... Chess position after 1. ... The French Defence. ... The French Defence. ... The Sicilian defence is a chess opening which begins with: 1. ... The Sicilian defence is a chess opening which begins with: 1. ... Alekhines Defence is a chess opening for Black beginning with the moves 1. ...

Personality

There are numerous entertaining anecdotes regarding Nimzowitch—some more savory than others. For example, he once missed the first prize by losing to Sämisch; immediately upon learning this, Nimzowitsch got up on a table and shouted, “Why must I lose to this idiot?” Nimzowitsch had lengthy and somewhat bitter dogmatic conflicts with Tarrasch over whose ideas constituted 'proper' chess.

Nimzowitsch's vanity and faith in his ideas of overprotection provoked Hans Kmoch to write a parody about him. This consisted of a mock game [1] against the fictional player "Sistemsson", supposedly played and annotated by Nimzowitsch himself. The annotations gleefully exaggerate the idea of overprotection, as well as asserting the true genius of the wondrous idea. Hans Kmoch is an influential chess author. ...

Notable chess games

• Jacques Mieses vs Aron Nimzowitsch, Carlsbad 1907, Vienna Game (C28), 0-1 One of Nimzowitsch's best early games sees Mieses likely believe he was winning until a surprise assault hits.
• Alexander Alekhine vs Aron Nimzowitsch, St. Petersburg 1914, French Defence, Classical Variation (C11), 0-1 A tough endgame battle brings Nimzowitsch a hard-earned victory.
• Rudolf Spielmann vs Aron Nimzowitsch, Stockholm 1920, Nimzowitsch's Defence (B00), 0-1 Nimzowitsch's trademark defence to 1.e4 isn't as well known, but shows it has some bite in its creator's hands.
• Friedrich Saemisch vs Aron Nimzowitsch, Copenhagen 1923, Queen's Indian Defence (E18), 0-1 The "Immortal Zugzwang Game" sees Saemisch get tied up in knots.
• Aron Nimzowitsch vs Ernst Grunfeld, Marienbad 1925, Nimzo-Bird's Opening (A03), 1-0 Another trademark original opening has Nimzowitsch sneak up on fellow hypermodern Grunfeld.
• Paul Johner vs Aron Nimzowitsch, Dresden 1926, NimzoIndian Defence, Rubinstein Variation (E47), 0-1 One of Nimzowitsch's most famous games sees White fall deep into passivity and get squeezed.
• Aron Nimzowitsch vs Akiba Rubinstein, Semmering 1926, Reti Opening (A06), 1-0 Nimzowitsch had trouble with the sound, classical style of Rubinstein, but here he manages to find a way to win.
• Milan Vidmar vs Aron Nimzowitsch, New York 1927, Bogo-Indian Defence (E11), 0-1 A crafty blending of strategy and tactics.
• Richard Reti vs Aron Nimzowitsch, Berlin 1928, NimzoIndian Defence (E38), 0-1 Two of the top hypermoderns cross swords to showcase their latest ideas.
• Efim Bogoljubov vs Aron Nimzowitsch, San Remo 1930, NimzoIndian Defence, Bogoljubov Variation (E23), 0-1 Another encounter of hypermodern heavyweights sees Nimzowitsch with two knights in the endgame, and he handles them perfectly.
• Salomon Flohr vs Aron Nimzowitsch, Bled 1931, NimzoIndian Defence, Classical Variation (E33), 0-1 A member of the new generation of stars gets some first-hand lessons from the Old Master.

Further reading

• Twelve Great Chess Players and Their Best Games by Irving Chernev; Dover; August 1995. ISBN 0-486-28674-6
• Aron Nimzowitsch: Master of Planning by Raymond Keene; G. Bell and Sons. Ltd, 1974.

External links

• Aron Nimzowitsch at ChessGames.com
• Nimzowitch related articles
• Kmoch, Hans (2004). Grandmasters I Have Known: Aaron Nimzovich (PDF). Chesscafe.com.