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Hermanis Mattison vs Aron Nimzowitsch
"Black Be Nimzo, Black Win Quick" (game of the day Jun-04-2009)
Karlsbad (1929), Karlsbad CZE, rd 12, Aug-14
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation (E21)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)5...b6 was played in Bogoljubov vs Nimzowitsch, 1929 (0-1)6.g3 was played in Lasker vs W Henneberger, 1934 (1-0)6...b6 was played in G Margvelashvili vs M Bitelmajer, 2005 (0-1)better is 7.e4 e5 8.Bd3 O-O 9.h3 Nc6 10.Rb1 b6 11.O-O Ba6 12.Qe2 ⩲ +0.56 (21 ply)= +0.01 (21 ply)better is 8.e4 e5 9.d5 O-O 10.Nd2 Bd7 11.Rb1 b6 12.Be2 Bg4 13.Nf3 = +0.44 (22 ply)= -0.22 (22 ply)better is 11.Rfe1 Be4 12.Qb2 Nc6 13.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 e5 15.d5 Na5 = -0.09 (24 ply) ⩱ -0.78 (22 ply) after 11...Nc6 12.Nf3 Rad8 13.e4 Na5 14.Nd2 Ba6 15.Rfd1 Nxc4 better is 12.Nxg2 Nc6 13.Rad1 Na5 14.Ne3 Nd7 15.f3 Rad8 16.Qd3 ⩱ -0.58 (28 ply) ⩱ -1.20 (22 ply)better is 13.Nf3 Qa6 14.Bb2 Qxc4 15.Qd3 Qxd3 16.exd3 Nc6 17.c4 ⩱ -1.00 (23 ply) ∓ -1.54 (24 ply) 17...a6 18.bxa6 Rxa6 19.Ng2 Nd5 20.Rd3 Rfa8 21.e4 Nf6 ∓ -2.02 (26 ply) ⩱ -1.15 (27 ply) 20.Ng2 Nd5 21.Rd3 f5 22.a3 Rfa8 23.Nf4 Nxf4 24.gxf4 Rb8 ⩱ -1.09 (26 ply) ∓ -1.98 (24 ply)better is 21.Rd3 Rfa8 22.a3 Nd5 23.Ng2 Nxa3 24.Ne3 Nxe3 25.Bxe3 f6 ∓ -1.83 (26 ply) ∓ -2.40 (29 ply) after 21...Ne4 22.Rd3 Ne5 23.Re3 Nf6 24.f4 Nc4 25.Rd3 Rfa8 23.a3 Nxa3 24.Ne3 Nxe3 25.Bxe3 f6 26.Rd2 Nc4 27.Rxa6 ∓ -1.94 (26 ply)-+ -4.43 (29 ply); 24.exd5 Nxd3 25.a3 exd5 26.Ne3 d4 27.cxd4 cxd4 28.Nf5 -+ -4.18 (28 ply)0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Given 73 times; par: 41 [what's this?]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jun-04-09  ROO.BOOKAROO: Outsider simply doesn't know how to make himself clear. Of course nobody can understand what he is ranting about, because he doesn't explain what the fuss is about, and what he is objecting to. In Russian, the middle name is a reference to the father's name. Hence here "Karlovich" would be a reference to the name of Matisons's father, which must have been "Karlov". But Matisons was not Russian, but from Latvia. However, Latvia was part of the Russian Empire for centuries until it gained its independence in 1918 (when Matisons was 24), to be reoccupied by Stalin's Russia in 1940, becoming a Soviet republic until 1991, when it finally regained its independence. Matisons died in 1932, and lived only his last 14 years as a citizen of independent Latvia. So his name must have been russified extensively since his childhood, which explains the "Karlovich" middle name. But now that Latvia is again independent, people like Outsider would like to wipe off all marks of russification of Latvian names, and vehemently insist on getting rid of that "Karlovich" middle name, so as to give Matisons a clean "Latvian" name. SInce Outsider si more likely a "pure Latvia" fanatic, this explains his apparently incoherent outburst, insisting on rewriting history,and trying to terrorize our friendly site with his screaming demands. Which behavior is completely inappropriate for our gentlemanly discussion of chess moves in our beloved Chess Games site. Outsider does indubitably remain an outsider to our polite and witty ways of discussion. Best is to laugh at this comical interlude, invite him to vent his rage to the icy Baltic winds, and continue with our fascinating analysis of brilliant moves and catastrophic errors.
Jun-04-09  SirChrislov: It is not very often that you see a game end with two beautifully centralized knights with the center units behind them. usually, the central units advance and the knights defend/support from behind.

as R. Keene said, The final scene creates an impression of both power and pictorial beauty.

I don't care much for the pun as much as I do the games, though I did submit a few of my own. this one reminds me of what Bogoljubow once said, "When I'm white, I win because I'm white, when I'm black, I win because I'm Bogoljubow."

Jun-04-09  SirChrislov: <The Alchemist>, <ROO.BOOKAROO> I've never heard words like russified" and "russification" I like the way they sound. My name was "Mexicanized" when I was baptized.
Jun-04-09  Calli: <Congrats to severus6. I like it...>

I agree, but didn't see a need to change "be" to "win":

"Black Be Nimzo, Black Be Quick" works for me.

Jun-05-09  Nietzowitsch: Nevertheless Anastazia Karlovich is a real hottie.
Jul-16-10
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: My old website (on "Geo-Cities") has been closed.

The new web page for this game is:
http://www.ajschess.com/lifemastera...

Sep-23-14  ljfyffe: <dasboot > ln American Pie, it' especially an allusion to Jumpin' Jack Flash, Mike Jagger.
Sep-23-14  ljfyffe: The song is about Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, etc. Madonna really screwed it up, leaving out so much.
Sep-24-14  ljfyffe: That,of course, should be Mick.
Sep-24-14  ljfyffe: Great pun --- it's a gas! gas! gas!
Mar-06-15  thegoodanarchist: <technical draw: Jack be nimble , jack be quick, jack jumped o'er the candlestick.>

Actually, it's "Jack be nimble , jack be quick, jack flash sat on a candlestick."

Dec-12-17  schnarre: ...After 24. Re1 then ...Nf3+, 25. Kh1 Nxc3 White is essentially finished!
Jun-11-18  tjbozat: I assume that you mean 24. Rd1.
Aug-23-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

His name isn't "Mattisons" at any rate.

In Latvia his name is "Matisons."

Aug-23-18  whiteshark: "<Notes>" by Raymond Keene

You better would have checked game #123 of the tournament book for Nimzo's notes, Ray.

May-03-19  N.O.F. NAJDORF: Mattison's father's name must have been Karl, not Karlov.
Jan-12-21  alshatranji: Honestly, I don't see what's so great about the pun. This is not a very quick game. Wouldn't it be better used for a miniature (a shorter one anyway)? Great game though.
Dec-02-21  octoberowl: I find it so erudite and elegant that Mattison resigned here. What a powerful and realized game.
Feb-11-22  Cibator: Re the name controversy: if it was OK for Muhammad Ali to reject his "slave name" - as indeed it was - then the player of White in this game and his compatriots have every right to do the same, instead of having the practices of some alien culture imposed on them.
Feb-11-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: Any 'controversy' is risible: as <Cibator> notes, those who subjugated the Baltic states forced their will upon those countries in more than one way.
Jan-03-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: 12. Kg2? allows Nimzowitch to play 12...Qb7+ & 13...Qa6, which begins the pressure on Mattison's Q-side.
Aug-28-23  Saniyat24: ooh la la...what a fantastic game...the rook cannot move and the two knights in the middle are absolutely beautiful...!
Oct-12-23  rmdalodado: This is the 8th game of Nimzowitsch selected by Chernev in his book The Golden Dozen. Of this game he gave the following intro:

"Nimzowitsch' strategy to gain control of the white squares is impressive. Raymond Keene says 'Black's blockading knights, firmly established on white squares, create an impression of power and of pictorial beauty.'"

Dec-05-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  kingscrusher: One of my absolute favourite Nimzo games
Jul-17-24  tbontb: As noted above, 12.Kxg2 is the losing move whereas Nxg2 and later Ne3 maintains approximate equality. Though perhaps mainly famous for this loss, Mattison also won some good games:

<H Mattison vs Alekhine, 1931>

<H Mattison vs Rubinstein, 1931>

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