Game 10. Nimzowitsch—Dr. Tarrasch, Breslau, 1925.

1. 3…d5 Playable; but 3. ....P-K3 seems better (3. ....P-K3; 4. P-Q4, PxP; 5. KtxP, B-QKt5) or even 3. ....Kt-QB3. For example 3. ....Kt-QB3; 4. P-Q4, PxP; 5. KtxP, P-KKt3, and now White could, it is true, try by means of 6. P-K4 slowly to tie up his opponent, but this attempt could be adequately parried by 6. ....B-Kt2; 7. B-K3, Kt-KKt5! (Breyer’s move); 8. QxKt, KtxKt; 9. Q-Q1!, Kt-K3! (suggested by me). The position reached after 9. ....Kt-K3 is fairly rich in resources for Black, e.g., (i) Q-R4, (ii) O-O followed by P-KB4, (iii) P-QKt3 and B-QKt2. The student should examine for himself these lines of play.
2. 5…cxd4 Best for Black would appear to be 5. ....KtxKt; 6. PxKt, PxP; 7. PxP, P-K3.
3. 7.e3 A very cautious move, on which I determined because I recognised the more enterprising continuations 7. P-K4 and 7. KtxKt, PxKt; 8. P-K4, as leading to little. For instance 7. P-K4, KtxKt!; 8. QxKt (after QxQ ch and PxKt he would have had a sick QBP in an open file to tend), 8. ....Kt-QB3; 9. P-QR3, Q-R4!; or 9. B-QKt5, B-Q2; with an equal game. Or, 7. KtxKt, PxKt; 8. P-K4, PxP!; 9. QxQ ch, KxQ; 10. Kt-Kt5, B-QKt5 ch; 11. B-Q2, BxB ch; 12. KxB, K-K2; with an equal game. The student who is interested in problems of development should test the following variation: 7. KtxKt, PxKt; 8. P-K4, Kt-QB3 (instead of PxP! as given by us). After 9. QxP, QxQ; 10. PxQ, Kt-Kt5; there would follow 11. B-QKt5 ch, and Black would have difficulty in finding a good continuation.
4. 13.Bd2 The position here shown is for all its harmless appearance full of poison. White threatens to take possession of the QB file, moreover he has at his disposal a convenient square for his K (K2), whereas Black enjoys this last advantage in only a restricted fashion (See note to move 17.) In such positions the defence must be very carefully played.
5. 13…Bc5 In order to drive the Kt away from the centre; but as the Kt moves to Kt3 in order to promote his QB5 into an outpost station, B-B4 proves to be pleasant for White. Best appears to be 13. ....B-K2, intending B-B3. For example, 13. ....B-K2; 14. P-K4, Kt-Kt3; 15. R-QB1, O-O; 16. K-K2; and now White is full of pride in his developed King, whereas his Black Majesty can in this case give up all thought of development since the BK2 is a crafty minister, who likes to keep the reins of government in his own hands. For instance: 16. K-K2, B-B3!; 17. B-K3, KR-QB1; 18. P-QKt3, BxKt; 19. BxB; and now Kt-Q2, or else 19. ....RxR (instead of Kt-Q2); 20. RxR, R-QB1; 21. RxR ch, KtxR; 22. K-Q3, and though it is true that the White King is now able to make his influence felt, it is questionable whether Black will not overtake his opponent, e.g., 22. ....P-KB3; 23. K-B4, K-B2; 24. K-Kt5, P-QR3 ch! (else the Bishop sacrifice); 25. K-B5, K-K2; followed by K-Q2 with a draw. It follows that 13. ....B-K2 was the right defence.
6. 14…Bb4 Either B-Kt3 or B-K2 would have been decidedly better. B-Kt3 would have safeguarded QB2 against invasion, and this in the defence is an imperative duty. After 14. ....B-Kt3; 15. P-K4, Kt-K2; White’s advantage would have been infinitesimal.
7. 17…Ke7 Black has cleared a square for himself, but at what a cost of valuable time! (B-B4-Kt5).
8. 18…Na6 An unpleasant retreat. If 18. ....Kt-B3; then not 19. Kt-B5 because of the answer Kt-R4 and P-QKt3, but rather a doubling of the Rooks, and Black’s position would not be favourable.
9. 19…Rd7 Black’s position still makes an impression which inspires confidence in it, and this at a moment when it carries the seeds of death in itself. The next two moves of White reduce Black’s Q file to passivity, that is to say take away from it any potential attacking value.
10. 21…f6 Black intends P-K4. Is this a threat? If not, find a sensible waiting move for White.
11. 22.a4 Even a full advance of a pawn can imply a waiting policy. White does not fear P-K4 in the least, for after 22. ....P-K4; 23. PxP, PxP; Black’s KP would be weak. The more energetic 22. P-QKt4 was, however, also to be considered, but would have been less advantageous because of the reply P-QKt4. Now, however, this move (P-QKt4) threatens to confine Black within still narrower limits.
12. 22…e5 In a cramped position the attempt to hit out is explicable on psychological grounds, even if it be not always equally justified if viewed dispassionately. So, too, here. It is true that in any case Black stands badly.
13. 26.R1c2 One of those unpretentious moves which are more disagreeable to a cramped opponent who is threatened on all sides than the worst direct attack. The move is a defending and a waiting move, and moreover involves a threat; though this from the nature of things is but a small one, and is in fact of but secondary importance. The (slight) threat is Kt-Kt5 ch and Kt-K4, and then P-QKt5, driving the Kt back to Kt1.
14. 28.h5 As a result of 26. R-B2 entirely new attacking possibilities have arisen. Black’s PKKt2 is become backward. The manœuvre R-KKt4 would, however, not only help to expose the weakness of the KtP, but, what is more important, put the Black King in an extremely disagreeable situation. All this fell like ripe fruit into White’s lap, simply and solely as the logical (or psychological) result of the waiting move 26. R-QB2. The finest moves are after all waiting moves!
15. 30…Rd6 If 30. ....K-B4? then 31. R(B6)-KKt6 followed by mate. After 30. ....K-Q4; 31. R(B6)-KKt6, P-K5!; there would follow 32. Kt-Q2, KtxP; 33. KtxP, with advantage to White.
16. 31.Rg6+ The possession of the points QB6 and KKt6 insures the complete investment of the enemy King. Observe how the QB file has been used as a jumping off place to get into the KKt file.
17. 31…Ke7 On 31. ....K-Q4 there would have followed a pretty little catastrophe, i.e., 32. R(QB)xR ch, RxR; 33. P-K4 ch!, K-B3; 34. P-Kt5 ch, and the Kt, who had felt so thoroughly safe at R3, to his intense surprise meets his doom!
18. 35…Re6 White wins. To make effective use of a superiority in material is one of the most important things which a student has to learn. He cannot practice himself enough in it. White has now won two pawns. A glance at the position shows (1) that White commands the 7th Row; (2) that White’s KP is isolated and his KKtP backward. The policy, therefore, is, taking full advantage of the 7th Row, to assemble (unite) our isolated or badly placed detachments. To this end the Kt will be brought, with gain of tempo, to KB5.
19. 39.g4 The Kt at KB5 has the effect planned for him, he protects the KP, attacks the KRP and makes K-KB3 possible.
20. 40…Nd3 In order if R-R7 to protect the RP by Kt-K4 ch and Kt-B2.
21. 43.Rh7+ On revient toujours à sa première amour!
22. 43…Kg8 For if K-B1 then 44. KtxP, and White gets a mating attack, or else the advance of his KtP cannot be stopped.
23. 50.Kh5 According to the motto, the line will advance! See I. vi. § 3.