Game 39. Three Swedish Amateurs—Nimzowitsch. Played in 1921. Illustrates over-protection and also the problem of the isolated QP. The printed variation in the note to move 19 gives ...P-QB3 followed by a pawn capture on c5, which is impossible from c6; the neighboring prose discusses ...P-QKt3. The printed wording is retained.

1. 4.Bb5 P-KB4 is held to be better.
2. 6…Bxb1 With this exchange, which is anything but obvious, Black plans to win the square Q4 for his Kt.
3. 8.cxd5 If P-B5, then P-KKt4. A fight would then take place for possession of the point K4. For example, 8. P-QB5, P-KKt4; 9. Q-K2 (to threaten P-K6 shutting Black in), 9. ... Q-K3; 10. P-KR3, Kt-R3, followed by Kt-B2, or else Kt-QKt1. In either case Black would not stand badly.
4. 12…Nd5 We may with a clear conscience regard White's QP as isolated. His weakness (for the end game!) is evident; further Black has in his Q4 a very strong point. As regards any compensating advantage for what we have called his isolated QP White has the outpost station QB5 which will serve some purpose, on the other hand his K5 is of no use to him, as a station for his Kt, I mean. The game is about equal.
5. 13…Qd7 It is very questionable whether P x P would not have been better for White than the R move. True his opponent would have had the KKt file and a centrally posted B at Q3, but the K file must not be despised, at any rate as a counter weight. The curious over-protection which is built up in moves 13-18 has been discussed in II. iv, 1, p. 213, under Diagram CLXVII.
6. 18…f5 Having consolidated his position, Black passes to the attack, which indeed is not easy to conduct since for one thing objectives are wanting and for another White himself has some attacking chances.
7. 19.Rc1 Without question 19. P-QKt4 should have been played here; with the intention of playing when opportunity offered Kt-B5; B x Kt, KtP x B. The question now arises, is Black's position strong enough to bear weakening? Two moves in particular come under consideration in answer to 19. P-QKt4, namely 19. ... P-QKt3, and 19. ... P-QKt4. If 19. ... P-QKt3, then 20. Kt-B5! can be played, but after 20. ... B x Kt!; 21. KtP x B, P-QB3, Black would stand very well. However, he must emphatically not accept the Kt sacrifice as the following combination proves. (See diagram.) 19. P-QKt4!, P-QB3; 20. Kt-B5!, P x Kt; 21. KtP x P ch, K-R1? (the return sacrifice Kt-Kt3 was essential); 22. P-B6, Q-K1; 23. R-R4 (threatening R x P ch), Kt-Kt3; 24. P-Q5!!, R x P; 25. R x P ch, K x R; 26. Q-R4 ch, K-Kt1; 27. B x Kt, P x B; 28. R x P ch, K-B2; 29. R-Kt7 ch, K-Q1; 30. P-B7 ch!, R x P; 31. R-Kt8 ch, R-B1; 32. R x R ch, and Q x Q ch and wins. A true Morphy Combination. We may quietly note the fact that his over-protected central position is so strong that Black can here without a qualm leave himself unprotected and yet remain master of the situation as he was before, for he is in a position laughingly to evade any enemy combination, be it ever so diabolical. We have still to show what would happen if Black played 19. ... P-QKt4 in reply to 19. P-QKt4. In this case, too, Black would not fare badly; e.g., 20. R-B6, K-Kt2; 21. Kt-B5 ch, B x Kt; 22. R x B, Kt-Kt3; followed by P-QB3, and Black is strong on the White squares.
8. 23.Bd2 23. Q x RP?, P-Kt5 and R-R1.
9. 26…c6 White has at last spent his fury.
10. 29…f3 For White would not be able to hold out after 30. P x P, P x P ch; 31. K-B1, QR-KB1 (stronger than R-Kt8 ch).
11. 31…Rcf8 Note with what surprising ease the Black Rooks are brought into action, a further proof, to my mind, of the enormous vitality of overprotecting pieces.
12. 34.f4 After R x P, R x R ch the King would be exposed.
13. 38…Nxg3 Decisive, though so simple and even insipid. It wins the pawns which are so conveniently exposed in the 4th rank.
14. 44…Qd5+ One of my favourite games.