Immortal Zugzwang game
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The game Friedrich Saemisch – Aron Nimzowitsch, Copenhagen 1923, is sometimes called the "Immortal Zugzwang game" because the final position is widely accepted as being a rare instance of zugzwang occurring in the middlegame.
[edit] Game
(with notes by Nimzowitsch)
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 b6
4. g3 Bb7
5. Bg2 Be7
6. Nc3 O-O
7. O-O d5
8. Ne5 c6
Safeguards the position
9. cxd5 cxd5
10. Bf4 a6
Protects the oupost station c4, i.e., by ...a6 and ...b5.
11. Rc1 b5
12. Qb3 Nc6
The ghost! With noiseless steps he presses on towards c4.
13. Nxc6
Samisch sacrifices two tempi (exchange of the tempo-eating Knight on e5 for the Knight which is almost undeveloped) merely to be rid of the ghost.
13... Bxc6
14. h3 Qd7
15. Kh2 Nh5
I could have supplied him with as yet a second ghost by ...Qe7 and ...Knight-d7-b6-c4, but I wished to turn my attention to the King's side.
16. Bd2 f5!
17. Qd1 b4!
18. Nb1 Bb5
19. Rg1 Bd6
20. e4 fxe4!
This sacrifice, which has a quite surprising affect, is based upon the following sober calculation: two Pawns and the seventh rank and an enemy Queen's wing which cannot be disentangled - all this for only one piece!
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21. Qxh5 Rxf2
22. Qg5 Raf8
23. Kh1 R8f5
24. Qe3 Bd3
25. Rce1 h6!!
A brilliant move which announces the Zugzwang. White has not a move left. If, e.g., Kh2 or g4, then R5f3. Black can now make waiting moves with his King, and White must, willy-nilly, eventually throw himself upon the sword.
0-1
[edit] Full PGN (Portable Game Notation) for the game
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1923.??.??"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Friedrich Samisch"]
[Black "Aron Nimzowitsch"]
[ECO "E18"]
1. d4 {Notes by Nimzowitsch} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. Ne5 c6 {Safeguards the position} 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Bf4 a6 {Protects the oupost station c4, i.e., by ...a6 and ...b5.} 11. Rc1 b5 12. Qb3 Nc6 {The ghost! With noiseless steps he presses on towards c4.} 13. Nxc6 {Samisch sacrifices two tempi (exchange of the tempo-eating Knight on e5 for the Knight which is almost undeveloped) merely to be rid of the ghost.} Bxc6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Kh2 Nh5 {I could have supplied him with as yet a second ghost by ...Qe7 and ...Knight-d7-b6-c4, but I wished to turn my attention to the King's side.} 16. Bd2 f5 {!} 17. Qd1 b4 {!} 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Rg1 Bd6 20. e4 fxe4 {! This sacrifice, which has a quite surprising affect, is based upon the following sober calculation: two Pawns and the 7th rank and an enemy Queen's wing which cannot be disentangled - all this for only one piece!} 21. Qxh5 Rxf2 22. Qg5 Raf8 23. Kh1 R8f5 24. Qe3 Bd3 25. Rce1 h6 {!! A brilliant move which announces the Zugzwang. White has not a move left. If, e.g., Kh2 or g4, then R5f3. Black can now make waiting moves with his King, and White must, willy-nilly, eventually throw himself upon the sword.} 0-1
