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Nimzowitsch 
 
Aron Nimzowitsch
Number of games in database: 563
Years covered: 1896 to 1934
Overall record: +258 -105 =195 (63.7%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games
      Based on games in the database; may be incomplete.
      5 exhibition games, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Four Knights (35) 
    C49 C47 C48
 Reti System (35) 
    A04 A06
 French Defense (29) 
    C02 C11 C00 C01 C12
 English (17) 
    A18 A16 A15 A13 A12
 English, 1 c4 e5 (13) 
    A28 A20 A27 A21 A25
 Queen's Pawn Game (13) 
    D02 E10 D05 A50 D00
With the Black pieces:
 French Defense (42) 
    C01 C17 C15 C11 C00
 Queen's Pawn Game (40) 
    A46 D02 D05 A45 D04
 Caro-Kann (32) 
    B16 B13 B10 B15 B12
 Nimzo Indian (30) 
    E32 E22 E23 E21 E20
 Uncommon Opening (19) 
    B00 A00
 Queen's Indian (18) 
    E15 E12 E16 E18
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Samisch vs Nimzowitsch, 1923 0-1
   Nimzowitsch vs Hakansson, 1922 1-0
   Nimzowitsch vs Systemsson, 1927 1-0
   A E Post vs Nimzowitsch, 1905 1/2-1/2
   Nimzowitsch vs Rubinstein, 1926 1-0
   P F Johner vs Nimzowitsch, 1926 0-1
   Nimzowitsch vs Alapin, 1914 1-0
   Nimzowitsch vs Salwe, 1911 1-0
   H K Mattison vs Nimzowitsch, 1929 0-1
   N Mannheimer vs Nimzowitsch, 1930 0-1

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Nimzovich: Chess Praxis by setuhanu01
   Hypermodern chess: Aron Nimzovich by Reinfeld by nikolaas
   mi sistema de nimzovich by LESTRADAR
   Best of Nimzowitsch by Olanovich
   Bled 1931 by Benzol
   Bled 1931 international tournament by cuendillar
   New York 1927 by Benzol
   Favorite Games #2 (1917-1942) by wanabe2000
   San Sebastian 1912 by Archives
   Aron Nimzowitsch's Finest Hour! by AgentRgent
   "Aron Nimzowitsch: A Reappraisal" by Keene by chessgames.com
   nimzowitch by zakir

GAMES ANNOTATED BY NIMZOWITSCH: [what is this?]
   Samisch vs Nimzowitsch, 1923
   Nimzowitsch vs Hakansson, 1922
   Nimzowitsch vs Alapin, 1914
   Nimzowitsch vs Salwe, 1911
   Maroczy vs H Suechting, 1905
   >> 49 GAMES ANNOTATED BY NIMZOWITSCH

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ARON NIMZOWITSCH
(born Nov-07-1886, died Mar-16-1935) Latvia (citizen of Denmark)

[what is this?]
Aron Nimzowitsch, born in Riga, Latvia in 1886, came to prominence in the chess world just before the First World War. He won a string of international events in the mid-1920s which led him to challenge Jose Raul Capablanca to a World Championship match in 1925, but negotiations dissolved after monetary backing could not be found.

Nimzowitsch's chess theories flew in the face of convention. He had a lengthy and somewhat bitter conflict with Siegbert Tarrasch over which ideas constituted proper chess play. While Tarrasch refined the classical approach of Wilhelm Steinitz, that the center had to be controlled and occupied by pawns, Nimzowitsch shattered these dogmatic assumptions, and proposed the controlling of the center with pieces from afar. In this way, the opponent is invited to occupy the center with pawns which thus become the targets of attack. This idea became known as the hypermodern school of chess thought.

Nimzowitsch, along with other hypermodern thinkers such as Richard Reti, revolutionized chess, proving to the chess world that controlling the center of the board mattered more than actually occupying it. Nimzowitsch is also a highly-regarded chess writer, most famously for the 1925 classic My System, to this day regarded as one of the most important chess books of all time. Other books include Chess Praxis which further expounds the hypermodern idea, and the seminal work The Blockade explores the strategy implied by his famous maxim, "First restrain, then blockade, finally destroy!"

As a profound opening theoretician, Nimzowitsch has left a legacy of variations, many of which are still popular today. The Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4) is named after him, as are several variations of the French Defense. He also is credited in part for the Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein (B29) Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6), the Nimzovich-Larsen Attack (A01) (1.b3), the Nimzowitsch Defense (1.e4 Nc6), and many others.


 page 1 of 23; games 1-25 of 563  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. Nimzowitsch vs NN 1-018 1896 Riga, LatviaB01 Scandinavian
2. B Blumenfeld vs Nimzowitsch 1-029 1903 BerlinC45 Scotch Game
3. Tarrasch vs Nimzowitsch ½-½71 1904 Nuremberg - Casual gameD07 Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense
4. E Cohn vs Nimzowitsch 0-130 1904 Coburg AC41 Philidor Defense
5. Nimzowitsch vs Hilse 1-065 1904 CoburgC25 Vienna
6. Nimzowitsch vs Duras 1-055 1904 Coburg AB15 Caro-Kann
7. Vidmar vs Nimzowitsch  1-048 1904 Coburg AD02 Queen's Pawn Game
8. Kagbein vs Nimzowitsch 1-042 1904 Coburg AD07 Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense
9. B Gregory vs Nimzowitsch  1-036 1904 Coburg AA30 English, Symmetrical
10. H Wolf vs Nimzowitsch  ½-½30 1905 Vienna Masters TournamentC63 Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense
11. Nimzowitsch vs A Neumann  ½-½50 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERB22 Sicilian, Alapin
12. Spielmann vs Nimzowitsch 1-019 1905 MunichB15 Caro-Kann
13. Nimzowitsch vs Schlechter 0-126 1905 ViennaB22 Sicilian, Alapin
14. A E Post vs Nimzowitsch ½-½98 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERD07 Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defense
15. Nimzowitsch vs Fahrni 0-136 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERB22 Sicilian, Alapin
16. Nimzowitsch vs Albin 1-038 1905 ViennaB02 Alekhine's Defense
17. Nimzowitsch vs L Forgacs 0-133 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERC47 Four Knights
18. Nimzowitsch vs Fleischmann 0-152 1905 Vienna Masters TournamentC45 Scotch Game
19. Swiderski vs Nimzowitsch 1-032 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERD52 Queen's Gambit Declined
20. Spielmann vs Nimzowitsch  1-042 1905 MunichC47 Four Knights
21. Nimzowitsch vs Reggio  ½-½42 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERC47 Four Knights
22. F J Lee vs Nimzowitsch  ½-½61 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERD02 Queen's Pawn Game
23. Spielmann vs Nimzowitsch 1-030 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERC25 Vienna
24. Nimzowitsch vs W Cohn 1-024 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERC42 Petrov Defense
25. H Caro vs Nimzowitsch 1-036 1905 Barmen Masters B, GERA34 English, Symmetrical
 page 1 of 23; games 1-25 of 563  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Nimzowitsch wins | Nimzowitsch loses  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 58 OF 58 ·  Later Kibitzing >
Jan-28-10   candide1500: <The game above Nimzowitsch vs Capablanca, 1911 is one good example that shows why chess is fundamentally tactical. Nimzo was trying to play positionally, and got demolished by tactics.>

I disagree with your assessment of this game. If anything Nimzowitsch¡¦s play makes an anti-positional impression. He doesn't get much out of the opening, makes a series of time wasting moves, ends up with in a seriously cramped position, and then tries to bail out with a dubious piece sac. The funny thing is Capa almost lets him back in, but Nimzo screws the pooch with 23 Qf3.

Don¡¦t forget Capa was a great positional player as well. Many of his ¡§tactical¡¨ victories seem to come when his opponents, despairing at their deteriorating position, lash out prematurely.

Jan-28-10   AnalyzeThis: Any way you look at it, it's pretty bad when you have the white pieces, and the best thing you can say about the game is that maybe you had a chance to equalize on move 23.
Jan-28-10   candide1500: Sure...Nimzo lost. But it wasn't a "positional" player losing to a "tactical" one. Thats the point I was trying to make.
Jan-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <candide1500> Have you begun uploading the Winterthur games to CG? If you are not, then I will.
Jan-28-10   AnalyzeThis: <candide1500: Sure...Nimzo lost. But it wasn't a "positional" player losing to a "tactical" one. Thats the point I was trying to make. >

You're right. It was a positional player losing to a complete player, and one who slapped Nimzo around on a regular basis.

Jan-28-10   candide1500: <TheFocus> Affirmative the first two are up and loaded...i will try to get another one up 2nite (sorry I am moving so slowly). There were a couple of minor mistakes in one or two of the games that I was planning to ask you about (I believe it was Grigorieff, Nimzowitsch). <AnalyzeThis>

Thats not so much a point as it is polemic. If you are trying to "convince" people that capa was stronger than nimzo...well my friend you know what they say about flogging dead horses. If I might venture a personal question, why do you never spend your time reminding other great players fans (Anderssen, Gligoric, Korchnoi, Larsen, Shirov, Ivanchuck, Tartakower, ect) that they never quite made it to the top? Did someone once roll up My System and beat you with it when you were young?

Jan-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <candidie1500> If there are any mistakes in what I posted, I will look at my original source and see if I typed them in wrong to my database.

Check out the posts I made about Nimzowitsch on the Keene page regarding a new upcoming book by Per Skjoldager.

I am going to begin uploading the rest of the Nimzowitch tournament and match games that I have.

Jan-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <candide1500> I just checked the Grigorieff game at an on-line database and it is the same, except for my obvious mistake 7...Nf3, which should be 7...Nf6.

Anything else?

Don't hold your breath waiting for anything you upload to appear soon. I am sure CG has quite a backlog. The three Fischer - Gligoric training games from 1992 that I and <parisattack> uploaded in November still have not appeared.

Jan-28-10   candide1500: <TheFocus>

I will be sure to reserve a copy! I hope it contains some otherwise unknown biographical information. There is a quote from Bent Larsen in Ray Keene's book:

"He was a very strange man, but people more or less liked him, also because he had a certain humour. In Denmark there are all these stories about Nimzowitsch and a lot of people tell about his persecution complex- how he was sure that the waiter in the Industrieverein wanted to poison him, and so on."

I remember thinking how unfortunate it would be if none of these stories were ever recorded. We chess players are very much responsible for our own history.

Jan-28-10   candide1500: <TheFocus> hmmm dang I thought that was the one with the middlegame mistakes. I will look at them again before I upload (something I am trying to get done 2nite) any mistakes I will post on this forum.
Jan-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <candide1500> I am sure this will the tribute that Nimzowitsch needed and deserved. Per Skjoldager is quite a scholar and this will, I hope, be a very exciting book.

You could check out Per's website www.nimzowitsch.com. Another good site is Phillip Hughes' Uncrowned Kings page www.phileo.demon.co.uk/.

Jan-28-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <candide1500> Ask any questions. The database I used for Winterthur was Uncrowned Kings. Let me know if you find any mistakes so I can make the changes in my database.
Jan-28-10   candide1500: 42.Qf5 is the move (Grigorieff-Nimzowitsch) that I was curious about...since in the given position it just seems to lose the queen. All the other games have been submitted.
Jan-29-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <candide1500> Thanks for pointing out that error. The move should be 42. Qf4. How did you like those web-sites?
Jan-30-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  muwatalli: Copenhagen, 1924
white- A. Nimzovich Black - A. Olson
1. f4 c5 2. e4 Nc6 3. d3 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 b6 6. nf3 Bb7 7. g4 e6 8. Bg2 Nge7 9. Nb5 d6 10. 0-0 a6 11. Na3 0-0 12. qe2 qd7 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Nc2 Bxb2 15. Rab1 Bc3 16. Nxb4 Bxb4 17. Bc1 f6 18. Bb2 e5 19. g5 Nc6 20. gxf6 Qg4 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Qe3 Qh5 23. Ng5 Bc8 24. f7+ Kg7 25. Qf4 kh6 26. Ne6+ exf4 27. Bg7#

this game doesn't appear to be in the database, under opening explorer for A nimzovich anyway and is taken directly from my system, is there a reason why it isn't included? or did i just not look in the right place?

Jan-30-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <muwatalli> CG does not have every game of Nimzowitsch's available. Please Upload it to CG.
Jan-31-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  muwatalli: <TheFocus> ok, did it, was just making sure i wasn't wasting the sites time before doing it, as i am fairly new to the site, or at least doing much on it.
Feb-03-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: I originally posted this on the Capablanca page, but felt it also had a place here:

Last evening, Mr. Edvard Weiss of Munich, Germany, sent me a copy of the following article first published in 1934 in a Breslau newspaper.

Me and World Champion Jose R. Capablanca
After being eliminated in the preliminaries of the St. Petersburg Tournament of 1914, I was preparing to return to my home when that Cuban genius Jose R. Capablanca came to my rooms and asked me if I would consent to stay and train with him between rounds. I could see that he was gunning for Herr Lasker, and seeing the gleam in his eyes, I decided to stay and help Senor Capablanca better his chances in the Finals. I played rapid transit chess many nights after the day’s rounds and often times the other players, Senor Capablanca among them, also partook of this diversion, all excepting Herr Lasker, who retired to his rooms after each round. I and Senor Capablanca stood head and shoulders above the rest of the players, although, admittedly, Senor Capablanca beat all and sundry, my poor self included, just as he had at San Sebastian in 1911, when he was introduced to the European masters. After Senor Capablanca had been making short work of all the competitors, the general consensus was that maybe Senor would offer us time odds as he had at San Sebastian. Maybe you would give us the same odds that you gave us there, we argued. “What? 5-1 odds?” “Yes.” we said, “Make it interesting.”
“No,” he said. “I am not so sure that I can still play like that. How about, instead of 50 seconds a move, you only take 30 seconds to my 10 seconds? Of course, I will give Alexander Alekhine odds of 50 seconds to 10 seconds as he is not very good at rapid chess.” “Fair enough,” we said. But, again, he toyed with us and took many players money with him. Gentleman that he was, though, he returned many players money so that could afford train fare home. He freely took the stakes, and just as easily returned it, or bought champagne for all present. At rapid transit, Senor Capablanca was virtually unbeatable. To see him play rapid transit was a joy to behold with him gently picking up the pieces and carefully putting them on the correct squares. He seemed to move without thinking, so fluid were his moves. He toyed with his opponents as if he was a cat toying with a mouse! The great Russian genius, Herr A. Alekhine, even had tears in his eyes when he once said to me after repeatedly losing to Senor Capablanca, “He is a chess god. Don’t you understand, Herr Nimzowitsch? A god! I shall never rise to his level. Never!” I, on more than one occasion, admonished him, “Senor, you must stop these late nights. Be like Lasker. He plays, he goes to his apartment, he relaxes. He will win this tournament!” But, Senor Capablanca refused to listen. “Herr Nimzowitsch,” he would say, “I am leading that Old Man. I will win!” But, alas, my fears began to come true. After the brilliant crush against Herr Lasker, he would lose to Herr Tarrasch, my ever eternal enemy, in the following round, and his lead slipped away. Then the unthinkable happened. Lasker won St. Petersburg, as I had warned him about. It is no small thing to say that Senor Capablanca’s ego was hurt, and I and Herr Akiba Rubinstein, that brilliant master, decided to intercede, especially after we heard Senor Capablanca exclaim that he would never play chess again. “Senor, Herr Rubinstein and I have been examining your play, and we believe that you should play a small practice match against him.” “But I cannot play under tournament conditions now,” he exclaimed. “I just cannot.” “Then,” said I, “maybe we could arrange to play the games in private at a rate of ninety minutes per side per game. Would you agree to that,” I asked. “Yes, but at what stakes?” “You must present Herr Rubinstein with part of your prize money. He would also stay and help you overcome some of the weaknesses in your endgame. We believe that your game is very strong. Solid openings, imaginative middlegame play, bordering on the brilliant, even profound. But…” “But what?” he asked. “Your endgame lacks finesse.” I told him as gently as I could. And it was then that Senor Capablanca showed his true maturity when he said, “I appreciate your help. I will listen to your wise counsel. After all, I am determined to take Herr Lasker’s title.”

Feb-03-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: Part 2:

The Match with Rubinstein
The match between these two tyros was a grand affair. Back and forth the struggles went. The two were evenly matched through six games, with one win each and four draws between them. But the next three games, Herr Rubinstein’s much greater experience began to show itself. He won the next two games and allowed a draw in the ninth game. The match now stood at 5.5–3.5. Three games remained. After a couple of days rest and relaxation, Capablanca came back and lessened the gap with a win and and a draw. 6–5 now in Rubinstein’s favor. Who would falter first? Perhaps a quick and honorable draw? The twelfth and last game began with Senor Capablanca sacrificing a Knight on the seventeenth move, that Herr Rubinstein accepted. He had sufficient compensation and was ahead on the clock. It looked as if the match would be drawn, but at the critical moment, Senor Capablanca made a rare and deadly mistake, winning back his Knight but overlooking the loss of the Exchange. He wilted away but Rubinstein looked at him with sympathy in his eyes, and… offered a draw! Capablanca accepted graciously. 6.5–5.5 for Herr Rubinstein! Hurrah for Herr Rubinstein!! More important than the match was the many hours Herr Rubinstein and Senor Capablanca spent studying the endgame positions that had arisen in the match and in the just concluded tournament, especially those endgames of World Champion Lasker. Sitting in on those sessions, I must say that my endgame skills also improved under the watchful eye of Herr Rubinstein, the great Rook endgame specialist. We examined dozens of different endgames from various tournaments. Walking around the city, Senor Capablanca said that he was duly impressed with Herr Rubinstein’s strength, and that as much as he would like to challenge Herr Lasker, he hoped that Herr Rubinstein would get another chance to contest a match with him first. (The first attempt had fallen through due to financial difficulties). “I believe that Herr Rubinstein could beat him,” he exclaimed. But, alas, again, the Great War soon intervened and when it was over, Herr Rubinstein was but a shell of his former self. Never again would he be the pre-War threat he had been, although he remained a strong master. But his flame had burned out.

<Here, Mr. Weiss said that there were two games in the article. A loss by Rubinstein and a loss by Capablanca. Both games were analyzed by both players, but he refused to share them with me, citing his desire to publish them at a later date in a magazine.>

Feb-03-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: Part 3:

The Great War and My First Steps Back into Chess
When I was preparing to return to my home, the Senor asked me if we could continue training together. “I am returning to America and Cuba. Why don’t you come along?” I decided that I would come later in the New Year and we parted as friends, eager to train together again. As I said, the Great War intervened and I, like many of my countrymen, was called up for military service. While fighting against the dreadful enemy, I was wounded and spent a couple of years in a convalescent home. Eventually, I returned to my family’s country home and began the long process of healing. I was in a wheelchair for over a year, but eventually, with exercise and fresh air, I began to learn to walk again, and was never even afflicted with a limp. I was not able to go to America or Cuba. Oh, no, travel by sea was much too dangerous and I was much too ill. I did begin to play chess again at home with family and visitors and slowly began to change my way of playing chess, inventing a whole new system of playing, which, later, through my books and articles, many players began to copy. All phases of my game improved and I kept up my correspondence with both Senor Capablanca and occasionally Herr Rubinstein, but very infrequently with him. Herr Rubinstein’s letters would begin with some very accurate analyses of positions and games that he wanted to share, but eventually began to adopt a rambling, non-sensicle tone. At the time, I never imagined that I would not be able to compete again in a chess tournament until 1920, almost six years after St. Petersburg! I did not receive an invitation to the great 1919 London Victory tournament, although I was there to cover it for the newspapers. I did manage to talk to Senor Capablanca, who brilliantly won the tournament, I must say, about my new system and helped him with a couple of adjournments. But, only a couple. He did not really need anyone's help at this time. He won his games with ease and showed that he had grown in strength during the war years that he had spent in America, seemingly untouched by the Great War. The year 1920 saw my return to chess at Gothenburg where I did horribly, losing to Herren Rubinstein, Bogoljubow, Kostic, Mieses, and even Moeller. Moeller, for pity’s sake! I hastily, and with poor judgment, accepted the invitation to play Herr Bogoljubow in a short match immediately following this tournament. Overconfident after winning the first game, I then lost the remaining three to him. And, then, as if I had to accept that he was my better, I finished in second place in Stockholm to Herr Bogoljubow. The two of us had the satisfaction of decimating the field, with Herr Olson finishing four points behind me. But, I lost one and drew the second game with Herr Bogoljubow. Although I had finished well, I was extremely depressed and decided to give up chess altogether. But, then, a telegram arrived from Senor Capablanca. And with its arrival, my life changed. COME TO AMERICA STOP I WISH TO TRAIN AND HEAR ABOUT YOUR NEW SYSTEM STOP FORGET EUROPE STOP I AM ABOUT TO PLAY A MATCH WITH LASKER IF NEGOTIATIONS DO NOT FALL THROUGH STOP I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE STOP COME RIGHT AWAY STOP YOURS SINCERELY JOSE RAUOL CAPABLANCA, FUTURE WORLD CHAMPION STOP

Feb-03-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: Part 4:

We Assault the World Championship
At last, I thought, he is ready to become Champion. And he will need my help. I must do this for my friend. So I packed a couple of trunks with my clothes and my writings and made the voyage to America. When I stepped off the gangway from the ship that had carried me to Senor Capablanca’s side, he was there waiting. Tall. Handsome. Like royalty. Did I mention that he was a diplomat in the service of Cuba? How proud Cuba must have been of their Capablanca, the great chess genius. No longer did he look like a timid child. Here was a man ready to become the Champion. “How do I play against Lasker,” he later asked. “Do I adopt some of your style?” “No. My style is too weak for you. Your natural talents must and will prevail. Just beat Herr Lasker at his own game. Fight hard, and destroy him in the endgame. My tactics are not for you. The match’s start date is too close for you to change styles at this late time. Hit him where he lives, as the pugilists would say!” We worked off and on for many months and I shared his joy when the match was finally arranged, even after Herr Lasker “retired” the chess crown. The long awaited match would take place, but I was unable to go with him to Cuba and had to report on it from afar. But, when Senor Capablanca had won the Supreme Title, I felt very proud of the new Chess King, and humbly say that if it had not been for my assistance in the months prior to the match, I do not believe Senor Capablanca would have had the courage to face down the mighty Lasker! In later years, I was unable to get financial backing for a match with Senor Capablanca, and even turned down his invitation to play for no stakes, just Honor. No, I reasoned, the chess world will not accept that. So, my chance passed me by. But in the years that followed, I began to see the changes that occurred in Senor Capablanca’s style. Senor Capablanca was always stronger than me. I am honest enough to admit it, so you must also admit it. I dare say, that he was actually stronger than everyone else, too. His results showed that. But, chess was too easy for him. What others saw after many moments of study, he saw at a mere glance. Chess, in a word, bored my Cuban friend, and he hardly had to make an effort to win. If he had not been the Champion, he might have retired from chess. He certainly did not enjoy the chess life. But, like all Hispanic peoples, he had great pride; in himself, in his accomplishments, in all his endeavors. But, when he accepted the invitation to play Herr A. Alekhine for the World Championship shortly before the New York 1927 tournament, he did not seek my help or training. After all, I was to be one of his opponents in this same tournament. And, after the tournament was over, his great and futile pride prevented him from seeking me out to train with. Me, who would have made such a difference in this defense of his grand title! Subsequently, he lost his title, and his world and the chess world was shaken like an earthquake. Now he had to admit that he was no longer the man he once was. Why did he lose? Over-confidence, mostly. He honestly did not believe he could lose. But lose he did and he would never be given a chance to win back “his” title, as Alekhine made it difficult for Senor Capablanca to get a rematch. After the match, we met and I asked him if he wanted to train again with me. With a break in his voice, he reluctantly, and humbly, said yes. So, again we trained together and I helped him to prepare for an active tournament year in 1928. He easily adopted some more of my system and it showed, especially in his games at Carlsbad 1929, one of my finest victories, and a great victory for My System, as other players had also adopted some of my teachings. Please see my book about the Carlsbad Tournament. My legacy will live on, not just through the other players, but in the games of Senor Capablanca!

I am ill again, and the doctors say I may not have but a few months to live, so in tribute to My System, I have put pen to paper to tell how I helped my student, Senor Capablanca to become World Champion. His achievement is my achievement! His honor is my honor! Although he never again held the title, I am proud of his accomplishments. And so are his many legions of fans. For them, the World Champion is always – CAPABLANCA!!

Feb-03-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: <The Focus> I thought Nimzo and Capa despised each other since San Sebastian 1911.

<His student>!? Nimzo never succeeded in beating Capa once otb!

Something doesn't feel right about that article.

Can you provide some links for us to look at please?

That kind of monumental story would not have been hidden for such a long time, and surely historians like Winter would have found it.

Feb-04-10   FHBradley: <TheFocus:> Inspired, perhaps, by what Nimzowitsch had to say about Capablanca in his book on the Carlsbad tournament in 1929?
Feb-04-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheFocus: <FHBradley> Actually, it was inspired by the argument between <KingG> and <visayanbrainddoctor> on the Capablanca page.
Feb-05-10   FHBradley: <TheFocus:> OK, but provides delightful 'back up' for Nimzo's views on Capablanca.
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