Aron Nimzowitsch vs Arthur Hakansson (1922) "Women's Prison"

Aron Nimzowitsch vs Arthur Hakansson
"Women's Prison" (game of the day Sep-26-05)
Kristianstad 1922 · French Defense: Advance Variation. Nimzowitsch Gambit (C02) · 1-0

[Event "Kristianstad"]
[Site "Kristianstad"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Aron Nimzowitsch"]
[Black "Arthur Hakansson"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "55"]

1. e4 {Notes by Nimzowitsch. From a match; the first game in
which appears my idea of a pawn sacrifice in the opening, not
to obtain an attack, but merely, with gain of a tempo, to
overprotect a strategical point with a view to cramping the
enemy forces.} e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 {My innovation.}
cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bd3 f5 7. Qg3 Nge7 8. O-O Ng6 9. h4 Qc7
10. Re1 {White's plan is now clear. He has given up a pawn,
careless when, if ever, he recovers it provided his pawn at e5
is maintained as an instrument to cramp Black's game. There is
no idea of attack in 9 h4, its object is solely to pave the
way to the removal of some of the pressure on the p at e5. The
pawn sacrifice comes with the category of sacrifice for the
sake of blockade.} Bd7 {...Bc5 was essaential here so as to
leave the f8 square free for the knight to retreat after h5.}
11. a3 O-O-O 12. b4 {White could, of course, have won the
exchange here by 12 h5 Ne7 13 Ng5 Re8 14 Nf7 Rg8 15 Nd6+; but
with his undeveloped queenside and his unprotected p at h5 he
would have had some difficulties to contend with. The text
move is the logical continuation.} a6 {Rather better was
12...Kb8 13 c3! dxc3 14 Nxc3 Nxb4 15 axb4 Qxc3 16 Be3 Qxd3 17
Bxa7+ Kc8 18 Re1c1+ Bc6 19 b5 Qxb5 20 Nd4 with complications,
which, of course, White, had he been so minded, could have
avoided by simply playing 13 Bb2.} 13. h5 Nge7 14. Bd2 h6
15. a4 g5 16. b5 f4 17. Qg4 {The queen is well placed here.}
Nb8 18. c3 Re8 {His only move. It will be noted that the
over-protector, the rook at e1, now has the c-file opened for
him without any trouble to himself. In order to avoid loss of
material Black has to submit to curious regrouping of his
forces.} 19. cxd4 Kd8 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. a5 Qa7 22. b6 Qa8 {The
queen finds herself in a position to which, as a rule, she
would only be consigned in a problem.} 23. Rc7 Nf5 24. Nc3 Be7
25. Nxd5 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 exd5 27. Qxd7+ Nxd7 28. Ne6# 1-0

To move:

Last move:

Given 24 times; par: 39 [what's this?]

Annotations by Aron Nimzowitsch. [48 more games annotated by Nimzowitsch]

explore this opening	find similar games	574 more games of Hakansson
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Jun-03-07		chancho: Very amusing seeing Hakansson's Queen trapped on a8. The Queen sacrifice by Nimzowitsch, followed by the Knight mating is a thing of beauty.

Dec-14-07		keklik: I wonder if 4. Qg4? is a correct move. It reminds me about line of French Winawer after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 (or 6...Oe7 7. Qg4 f6). But does it work with bishop on f8? Any ideas about modern follow-ups?

Dec-21-08		thebribri8: When Nimzowitsch says that his queen is "well placed here", it is actually consigned to two squares. Biased notation, perhaps?

Dec-21-08		sleepyirv: <thebribri8> I dunno, she does take part of the mate and if Black ever moves his d7 bishop, White gets a pawn.

Jan-07-09		WhiteRook48: plus Black's queen is poorly placed, trapped on a8, while the white queen has more scope. A good example of smothered mate.

Jan-07-09		JonathanJ: <thebribri8> she has two squares that cannot be directly attacked. and after the smoke clears out, she has more space...

Jan-24-09		WhiteRook48: wow, a sacrificed queen and a trapped queen!

Aug-01-09		WhiteRook48: <jackmandoo> weird idea for a pun although my ideas are worse

Aug-01-09		solskytz: It probably inspired the spoof "Systemsson" game - just looking at the opponent's name should be enough to understand this

Aug-01-09		Phony Benoni: <solskytz> Possibly, but I think this game had a larger influence: P F Johner vs Nimzowitsch, 1926

Sep-12-09		muwatalli: this is a very great game.

Feb-19-10		siegbert: 23 Nec6 does look better than nf5. I see above that i am not the first to notice the improvement though whites position is such that any normal developing moves should lead to a large plus for him (white).

Jun-02-10		rapidcitychess: Why is 6...f5 played? It seem like Black's knight should go there. Is there a tactic that I am missing? In all games played with the Nimzo-Gambit 6..f5 is played! Why?

Jun-02-10		Marmot PFL: 6...Qc7 looks better. That way black can play f6 as Qh5+ would be met by Qf7. Smyslov vs Lisitsin, 1942

Sep-23-10		sevenseaman: This gotta be the prettiest mate? Any one for a better one?

Sep-23-10		diceman: <sevenseaman: This gotta be the prettiest mate? Any one for a better one?> I don't know if its prettier but I enjoyed playing it. Key pieces: Black: Kg8,Ph7,Pg6,Ne8,Rg7,Rf2 White: Pe6,Nd5,Rb8 1Rxe8+ Rf8 2Nf6+ Kh8 3Rxf8+ Rg8 4Rxg8++ diceman

Oct-18-10		kingscrusher: Hi all Isn't this game related to the made up game by Hans Kmoch - the immortal overprotection game. It has a lot of similarities.

Oct-18-10		kingscrusher: Yes Monoceros: - my thoughts too :) Sorry just read your comment now.

Oct-18-10		TheFocus: This is from a match. There were actually two matches played between these players according to Per Sklodager, who is writing a new biography about Nimzowitsch due out next year. He gave me a previously unknown game against Hakansson from one of these matches. Can't share it with you, wait for the book.

Nov-24-10		sevenseaman: Not only is the title pun inspired by the Black Q's quarantine on a8 its isolation also marks White's total sway over 'C' file which Black K cannot run away from.

Jun-01-11		belgradegambit: This game had a profound influence on me. I am an e4 player who was never comfortable playing against the French. This gambit is one with a plan and clear ideas: hold onto the e5 pawn for dear life and develop the kingside quickly. I have played a number of successful queenside attacks as in this game with my queen stuck on the kingside

Jul-06-11		Garech: I had another look at this given the opening of the day and decided that it's definitely one of my favourite Nimzowitsch games of all time. -Garech

Jul-06-11		FSR: <Garech> Don't forget The Immortal Overprotection Game: Nimzowitsch vs Systemsson, 1927

Jan-15-12		LIFE Master AJ: Its definitely a nice game, and also today's featured opening.

Mar-02-12		Eduardo Bermudez: Checkmated for the King and Stalemate for de Queen !!

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