Sämisch vs Nimzowitsch, 1923
Nimzowitsch’s win over Sämisch is the textbook zugzwang. After 25...h6 White can move a piece only by dropping material or allowing mate. Sämisch resigned with a full board.
- White
- Friedrich Sämisch
- Black
- Aron Nimzowitsch
- Event
- Copenhagen
- Year
- 1923
- Result
- 0-1
Critical position
After 25. Rce1. Black to move.
Step through
25. Rce1
Annotated score
1. d4 (best) Nf6 (best)
2. c4 (best) e6 (best)
3. Nf3 (excellent) b6 (good)
4. g3 (best) Bb7 (best)
5. Bg2 (best) Be7 (good)
6. Nc3 (excellent) O-O (excellent)
7. O-O (best) d5 (excellent)
8. Ne5 (best) c6 (good)
9. cxd5 (good) cxd5 (best)
10. Bf4 (best) a6 (good)
11. Rc1 (best) b5 (good)
12. Qb3 (good) Nc6 (excellent)
13. Nxc6 (good) Bxc6 (best)
14. h3 (good) Qd7 (best)
15. Kh2 (good) Nh5 (excellent)
16. Bd2 (excellent) f5 (inaccuracy)
17. Qd1 (inaccuracy) b4 (best)
18. Nb1 (best) Bb5 (good)
19. Rg1 (good) Bd6 (excellent)
20. e4 (inaccuracy) fxe4 (good)
21. Qxh5 (best) Rxf2 (good)
Rxf2: 21...Rxf2 is the exchange offer that plants a rook on the second rank.
22. Qg5 (mistake) Raf8 (good)
23. Kh1 (good) R8f5 (good)
24. Qe3 (good) Bd3 (excellent)
Bd3: 24...R8f5 and the bishop on d3 take the last squares from White’s queen.
25. Rce1 (good) h6 (good)
h6: 25...h6. Almost every white move loses a piece or allows ...R5f3. That is the point of the game.