Chessville - Annotated Games - Nimzowitsch v Schlechter - with Annotations by Prof Nagesh Havanur

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Nimzowitsch - Schlechter [A20]
Hamburg 1910

Annotated by Prof. Nagesh Havanur

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1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Be7

This passive move leads to a cramped position .3...d5 challenging the White centre is better.

4.Nc3 0-0 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 d6 7.b3 Re8 8.Bb2 Bd7 9.d4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Bf8 11.e3 Bg4

This amounts to a loss of tempo. Correct is 11...Nxd4 12.exd4 (12.Qxd4 c6) 12...c6.

12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Ne2 Ng4 15.Nd4 c5!

An excellent idea. Schlecter sacrifices the exchange to free the position and gain attacking possibilities.

16.Bxa8 Qxa8 17.Nf5

The natural 17.Ne2 leads to disaster. 17 … Rxe3! Now:
     A) 18.fxe3 Nxe3 wins the queen or mates at g2
     B) 18.h3 Qf3
          B1) 19.hxg4 Bc6 Mate follows.
          B2) 19.Nd4 cxd4 20.fxe3 ( or 20.hxg4 Bc6) 20...Qxg3+ 21.Qg2 (21.Kh1 Bc6+ 22.e4 Bxe4+ 23.Qxe4 Qh2#) 21...Qxe3+ 22.Rf2 ( 22.Kh1Bc6 23.Qxc6 Qxh3+ 24.Kg1 Qh2#)Nxf2 23.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 24.Kxf2 c5 with excellent chances.
          B3) 19.Nf4 19...Bc6 20.Nd5 Re2 21.Qc3 Ne3 wins.

17...Ne5 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Nh4 Bh3 20.Rfe1 Re4

20...g5? fails to 21.f4.

21.f3 Re8 22.Qf2 Bd7 23.Re2

White would do better to play his knight to d5 via g2 and f4.

23...g6 24.Rf1 Bg7 25.Qe1 a5 26.Ng2

26.a4 fails to 26 ....Rb8 and ..Qb7

26...a4 27.b4 cxb4 28.Qxb4 Rb8 29.Qa3 Qa6 30.Rc2 Be6 31.Qd3

Better is 31.c5 or 31.Rfc1

31...d5 32.Nf4 dxc4 33.Qe2 a3

34.Rd1

34.Nxe6 is necessary although after 34.. Qxe6 Black has superior prospects:
A) 35.Qxc4 Qxe3+ 36.Kg2 (36.Kh1 Bd4 37.Qxc7 Rb2) 36...Be5 37.Re2 (37.f4 Bd4 38.Qxc7 Qe4+ 39.Kh3 Rb5) 37...Rb2;
B) 35.Rxc4 35...Rb2 36.Rc2 Bd4

34...h5 35.Rdd2 Rb2 36.Kg2 Qc6 37.Rxb2 axb2 38.Rxb2 Bxb2 39.Qxb2 c3 40.Qc2 Bc4 41.Kf2

41.Qxc3 Bf1+

41...Ba6 42.e4 Qb6+ 43.Kg2 Qb2 0-1

(The brief notes to this game are based on the annotations from the excellent book Carl Schlecter! The Austrian Chess Wizard By Warren Goldman, Caissa Editions USA)

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