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Aron Nimzowitsch vs Ernst Gruenfeld
Marienbad (1925), Marianske Lazne CSR, rd 7, May-28
Bird Opening: Anti-Bird Variation (A02)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Sep-19-16
Premium Chessgames Member
  fredthebear: This game is a nice example of Nimzowitsch's versatility moving from a tactical middlegame to a won endgame. White plays a Greek gift 17.Bh7+ and sets up a few checkmate patterns after 26.Rh6. In this game, Black refuses to exchange the h-file rooks, and rightfully so.

Here's what would have happened if 26...RxRh6 27.gxRh6+. If the Black king declines the h-pawn and moves away it becomes a Lolli's mate (pawn support mate) by the White queen 28.Qg7#. If the Black king accepts 27...Kxh6 28.Rh1+ would be a Lawn Mower mating pattern on the corridor, so the Black queen is forced to interpose 28...Qh5. White continues 29.RxQh5+ KxRh5 30.Qg7 with a winning fork on the seventh rank.

In the game, Black maneuvers to swap off the queens promptly after 26.Rh6 to take the pressure off his king. An endgame has arisen after the last rooks are exchanged on the 32nd move. It's a completely different scenario after a half-a-dozen moves.

No matter. White's endgame play with knight versus bishop is superb. The long-range bishop often has an edge in the endings over the short-stepping knight. The knight can dominate pawns on one side of the board, as turns out to be the case here on the queenside. White's knight seems to have all the answers this time.

Jun-07-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: Extremely speculative piece sacrifice in this game from Nimzowitsch. 27...Qf3+?? blunders away the extra piece, leaving White with the probably won endgame, and I wonder if Black had better defenses on either the 26th or 27th moves.
Dec-11-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  kingscrusher: Credit for the imaginative Bishop sacrifice to Nimzovich. I sense maybe sometimes he likes just to play very interesting games.

24...g6 is a cold shower move for White's piece sacrifice - keep things closed in general.

34: Aron Nimzowitsch - Ernst Gruenfeld 1-0 7.0, Marienbad Marianske Lazne CSR 1925


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Analysis by Stockfish 16 - 2 cores only:

1. -+ (-2.16): 25.b4 Qa3 26.Rhb1 Rf5 27.Rb3 Qa4 28.Nc3 Qa6 29.b5 cxb5 30.Rxb5 Rxb5 31.Nxb5 Rh7 32.a4 Rf7 33.a5 Bb4 Black is clearly better

(Gavriel, 11.12.2023)

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