It is loaded with examples (109 Nimzo games) and explanations for different themes: breakthrough, centralization, discovered checks, files, firm and loose formations, isolated Pawns, etc. It’s all good stuff, but I just do not like Nizovich’s writing style which I find difficult to understand sometimes. I liked the games, but not the writing style.
The following game that appeared under the heading Centralization in a good example. He devotes on a little over two columns to the subject, but there are 23 games given as examples.
Here is an example that was given by one reviewer:
“The mechanics of centralization can be seen in the way that, after the necessary restraint of a possibly mobile opposing pawn center, we draw the noose tighter and tighter around the central squares...But if we manage to make this long-range action effective and establish some of our pieces in the center, then we should be really pleased with the success of our policy of centralization.”
In his brief discussion of the subject, Nimzovich pointed out that centralization of one’s pieces leads to excellent results most of the time because control of the center squares is a strategic necessity. Even so, sometimes even experienced players do not adhere to the correct strategy as will be seen in the following game.
Nimzovich’s opponent, Carl Ahues (1883-1968, 85 years old), was born in Bremen, a city in northwestern Germany. He was awarded the IM title in 1950 at the age of 66. He was on the German Olympiad team in 1930, 1931 and 1936. His son Herbert (1922-2015) was a Grandmaster of Chess Composition.
This game shows how neglect of the center can lead to quick punishment. When Ahues neglected this elementary principle, Nimzovich was able to launch a quick and decisive attack on his King.
Even so, Nimzovich pointed out that having one’s pieces centralized is not necessarily free from all danger. For example, the opponent might dissolve the center by exchanges or he might be able to launch a dangerous counterattack on the wing. In this game Ahues neglected the center and managed to get a lost game by move 9!
[Event "Berlin"]
[Site ""]
[Date "1928.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Aron Nimzovich"]
[Black "Carl Ahues"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 17"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1928.??.??"]
{A16: English Opening} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 {
White is faced with a confusing array of P captures. Which is best?! Stockfish
does not think it matters much as all lead to equality.} 6. bxc3 gxf6 {
Nimzovich was skeptical of this saying that blavk gets a "proud" P-center, but
he thought "it is doubtful whether there is a good reason to be proud of this
Pawn center at all." Statistics indicate that he was correct because black
gets more draws and fewer losses after 6...exf6 because the P mask helps
defend his K.} 7. Nf3 (7. d4 e5 {Another try is 7...Bf5} 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. Be2 Rg8
10. Rb1 Qc7 11. Nh4 Be6 {Wgite is better. Vitiugov,N (2709)-Bromberger,S (2530)
Germany 2011}) 7... c5 {Nimzovich though 7...eб was positionally more correct,
but it was worth considering the more challenging 7...e5} 8. d4 Nc6 9. Be2 f5 {
This is a serious positional mistake because surrenders contril over the dark
squares on the K-side...watch what happens. Either 9...Bg7 or 9...e5 were
correct.} 10. d5 {Forcing the N away from guarding e5.} Na5 11. Ne5 {This
decides matters. (Nimzovich)} Bd7 {[%mdl 8192] This, however, is where black
actually loses the game. 11...Bg7 would have at least given him a fighting
chance.} (11... Bg7 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. f4 h5 14. Qc2 b6 15. Bd3 e6 {White is
clearly better, but black can, at least, play on with some faint hope.}) 12.
Bh5 {This would not have been possible had black played 11...Bg7 because the N
would be hanging.} Bg7 13. Nxf7 Qb6 14. Nxh8+ Kf8 15. Nf7 {Now Nimzovich
returns his extra material, but obtains a very powerful N on e6. As Nimzovich
observed, sometines hanging onto extra naterial is not the best option..} Be8
16. Ng5 (16. Qd3 Bxf7 17. Bxf7 Kxf7 18. Qxf5+ Qf6 19. Qxf6+ Bxf6 {is an
equally good, if not better, route to victory for white.}) 16... Bxc3+ 17. Kf1
Bxa1 18. Ne6+ Kg8 19. Bxe8 Rxe8 20. Qh5 Ra8 {It matters not where the R goes.}
21. Qxf5 Qb4 22. g3 Qxc4+ {Material is now completely equal, but it doesn't
matter; white has a completely won position.} 23. Kg2 Qe2 24. Bd2 {[%mdl 512]
Clever, but 24.Re1 was even stronger.} Nc4 (24... Qxd2 25. Ng5 {There is no
way to meet the threat of Qxh7}) 25. Re1 Qxd2 26. Ng5 {[%mdl 512]} Nd6 {
It's mate in 9} 27. Qxh7+ Kf8 28. Qxe7+ {He mates a move sooner with 28.Ne6+}
Kg8 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh6+ {Again, Ne6+ is a move quicker.} Kg8 31. Qg6+ Bg7 32.
Qh7+ Kf8 33. Ne6+ Ke8 34. Nxg7+ Kd8 35. Ne6+ Ke8 36. Re5 {Black resigned.} (36.
Re5 Qb2 37. Nc7+ Kd8 38. Qe7+ Kc8 39. Nxa8 Qb6 40. Nxb6+ axb6 41. Qxd6 b5 42.
Re8#) 1-0
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