MY SYSTEM 21st Century Edition Lol [oto Boa Colt eye) Introduction by Intemational Grandmaster Yasser SeirawanA WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER My System by Aron Nimzowitsch, first published in 1925, has its place among the two or three all-time most instructive books in the literature of chess. Indeed, it is difficult to find a strong chessplayer who has not studied this great classic. The current edition, My System - 21st Century Edition, incorporates many positive changes. To accommedate the modern reader, the chess notation has been converted to the algebraic format and the text has been updated to contemporary language. In parts one and two, paragraphs are double spaced to provide for easier reading, while the illustrative games section is peppered with new diagrams and liberal spacing to facilitate the study of variations. Aron Nimzowitsch comments in the preface to his book Chess Praxis (published 1936), "/ would have liked to see each game provided with four or five diagrams to facilitate the study of the variations which often are particularly intricate, but obese volumes are not in favor nowadays (slimming is the watchword).” In this vein | feel certain that he would be most pleased to know that My System - 21st Century Edition contains 419 diagrams! This is nearly double the number found in the original 1930 English language edition from which this book is derived. In short, everything possible has been done to make the use of this book convenient and easy for today’s chessplayer. | wish to thank the staff of the John G. White Collection of the Cleveland Public Library for the photograph from which the cover illustration was created. The goal of making My System as accurate and easy as possible for the contemporary reader has been achieved. The master work of Aron Nimzowitsch, after nearly seventy years of challenging and teaching thousands of the world’s best chess thinkers, is now in a position to continue its noble task throughout the next century. Lou Hays Dallas, Texas December, 1991 Visit Niridha’s Chess Links http:/www.geocities.com/chess_sharewith_us for more Chess Files’ TABLE OF CONTENTS PART 1 - THE ELEMENTS PAGE CHAPTER 1. ON THE CENTER AND DEVELOPMENT 1 CHAPTER 2. ON OPENFILES 13 ! CHAPTER 3. THE SEVENTH AND EIGHTH RANKS 23 t CHAPTER 4. THE PASSED PAWN 31 | CHAPTER 5. ON EXCHANGING 53 CHAPTER 6. ELEMENTS OF ENDGAME STRATEGY 57 CHAPTER 7. THEPIN 69 CHAPTER 8. DISCOVERED CHECK at CHAPTER 9. THE PAWN CHAIN 87 PART 2 - POSITIONAL PLAY CHAPTER 10. POSITIONAL PLAY AND THE CENTER 103 CHAPTER 11. THE DOUBLED PAWN AND RESTRAINT 121 CHAPTER 12. THE ISOLATED d-PAWN ANDITS DESCENDANTS 137 | CHAPTER 13. THE TWO BISHOPS 147 | CHAPTER 14. OVERPROTECTION 153 CHAPTER 15, MANEUVERING AGAINST WEAKNESSES 159 PART 3 - ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES 167-260ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES LIST 1. Nimzowitsch-Alapin, 2. Teichmann-Nimzowitsch, 3. Van Vliet - Znosko-Borovsky, 4. Lee-Nimzowitsch, 3. Dr. v. H2ken-Giese, 5. Dr. Tarrasch-J. Berger, 7, Rabinowitsch-Nimzowitsch, 3. Samisch-Nimzowitsch, 9. Nimzowitsch-Pritzel, }. Nimzowitsch-Dr. Tarrasch, |. Sir George Thomas-Dr. Alekhine, 2. P.S. Leonhardt-Nimzowitsch, 3. Nimzowitsch-von Gottschall, 4. Nimzowitsch-C.Behting, 5. Nimzowitsch-von Freymann, 5. Nimzowitsch-P.S. Lecnhardt, 7. Nimzowitsch-Dr. Fluss, 3. Rubinstein-Nimzowitsch, 3. Louis Paulsen-Dr. Tarrasch, ). Nimzowitsch-Tarrasch, {. Professor Becker-Nimzowitsch, 2. Opocensky-Nimzowitsch, 3. Rubinstein-Duras, +. Maroczy-Suchting, 5. Nimzowitsch-Dr. Michel, 3. Dr. Tarrasch-J. Mieses, 7. Grunfeld-Dr. Tartakower, 3. Kline-Capablanca, }. Rubinstein-Leventish, 3. Bugoljubow-Nimzowitsch, 1. Nimzowitsch-Anton Olson, 2. Blackburne-Nimzowltsch, 3. Nimzowitsch-Rubinstein, 4. Nimzowitsch-Rosselli del Turko 5. Johner-Nimzowitsch, 3. Nimzowitsch-Taubenhaus, 7. Rubinstein-Znosko-Borovsky, 3. Allies-Nimzowitsch, ). Three Swedish Amateurs-Nimzowitsch ). Teichmann-Nimzowitsch, Carlsbad, 1917 Carlsbad, 1911 Ostend, 1907 Ostend, 1907 Riga 1913 Breslau, 1889 Baden-Baden, 1925 Copenhagen, 1923 Copenhagen, 1922 Breslau, 1925 Baden-Bétden, 1925 San Sebastian, 1912 Breslau, 1925 Riga, 1919 Wilna, 1912 San Sebastian, 1911 Correspondence, 1913 Marienbad, 1925 Played in1888 San Sebastian, 1912 Breslau, 1925 Marienbad, 1925 Carlsbad, 1911 Barmen, 1905 Semmering, 1926 Berlin 1916 Semmering, 1926 Now York, 1912 Carlsbad, 1911 London, 1927 Played int924 Petrograd, 1914 Dresden, 1926 Baden Baden, 1925 Dresden, 1926 Petrograd, 1913 Petrograd, 1909 Simultaneous Exhibition, 1926 Consuitation game, 1921 San Sebastian, 1911 PAGE NO. 169 170 172 173 174 176 178 180 181 183 187 189 191 193 195 197 198 200 202 204 206 209 211 213 215. 217 218 219 221 222 224 225 227 229 231 236 238 24041. Dr. Lasker-Amos Burn, 42. Nimzowitsch-Marshall, 43. Nimzowitsch-Alekhine, 44. Andersson, Enstrom, Oebert-Nimzowitsch 45. Yates-Nimzowitsch, 48. Nimzowitsch-Salwe, 47. Gregery-Nimzowitsch, 48. Spielmann-Nhazowitsch, 49. Nimzowitsch-Spielmann, 50. Nimzowitsch-A. Hakansson, Petrograd, 1 New York, Semmering, 1926 Upsala, 1921 London, 1927 Carlsbad, 1811 Petrograd, 1913 San Sebastian, 1911 San Sobastian, 1912 Kristianstad, 1922 243 245 245INTRODUCTION by Internationa! Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan It is with the greatest of pleasure that | write the introduction to this edition of Aron Nimzowitsch’s classic, My System. The effect of Nimzowitsch's writings and play has had a profound impact on chessplayers since his chess career began in 1904. In his heyday (the years 1925-1931) Nimzowitsch was considered to belong to the company of the world’s strongest players. It is a pity that he never got his chance to battle in a World Championship match. Chess is poorer for it. Besides being a powerful player at the chessboard, Nimzowitsch became even more famous for his writings and his style of writing. He followed in the scientific tradition of the first World Champion, Wilhelm Sizinitz. After several devastating losses, Nimzowitsch looked deeply into the causes of his defeats. Besides a Single bad move that pitched a game, was there something else to be leamed? Yes, the plan was wrong. What was the right plan? How could that plan be found? Why should it work in this circumstance and not another? By taking a detached look at his weak play, Nimzowitsch devised a scientific approach to the analysis of a given position. These ideas were unfolded in My System. He introduced and expounded upon bizarre strategic ideas such 2s “overprotection” and "prophylaxis." He coined such classic phrases as "the passed pawn is a criminal that should be kept under lock and Key,” and “the threat is stronger than its execution.” By mixing scientific jargon, wit, and humor, Nimzowitsch was able to create a challenging work that has tested and treated chessplayers since 1925 and will continue to do so for many generations yet to come. Nimzowitsch's works, My System, Die Blockade, and Chess Praxis, ushered in an era described by Nimzowitsch as the hypermodern Period. Today's chess has thoroughly absorbed its effects. Nimzowitsch's “restraining” defense, the Nimzo-Indian, is still the most popular way of meeting 1.d4. Most openings today featurethe Bishop's fianchetto, a radical development that was introduced by Nimzowitsch and his contemporaries. Various strategies, such as blockading Knights playing on different colored squares, and many others described in the book, have all become part of the arsenal of today’s Grandmasters. Nimzowitsch’s ideas have stood the test of time and have prospered. My own experience with My System is not a unique one. | first read My System during my teenage years - the years of rebellion. Of course | took issue with just about everything he wrote. But in this | had been tricked. Nimzowitsch had induced me to think about his ideas. Right or wrong it didn't matter. The fact that | was either forced to prove or refute these ideas had me thinking in a manner that was unexpected. What was this business of, "restraint, blockade, destroy?" Why try to “undermine” a "base pawn?" Why not just play for mate, | thought? Yes, indeed in those days, chess was as easy as check, check, and mate. But, what to do when the opponent's King is safe? The years take their toll. Annoyed with My System, both because | didn’t understand it and didn’t know how to refute it, | put the book down and didn’t look at it again for several years. The next reread had me bemused. Of course prophylaxis makes sense. Wasn't everybody playing h2-h3, escaping back rank mates when they couldn't find anything better to do? Certainly the conquering of the absolute 7th rank is a marvelous investment of a pawn. Maybe he hadn't been so wrong after all. The digesting process was, however, still difficult. Several defeats later brought me back for the third time, and another quick reread. More happy surprises. Nimzowitsch had understood the advantage of space and how to use this to switch to attacks on a flank. He also understood that although a player has few squares for his pieces, it is acceptable provided that each piece has a good square. This then, is the strength of My System. It is a book that provokes you to think differently about chess. It challenges you to consider a different approach and urges you to prove or refute Nimzowitsch’s ideas. It is also a book that you can read and reread, each timecoming away with different |essons and insights, leading to a deeper understanding of the game. The biggest problem with my original copy of My System was that it was written in descriptive notation at a time when algebraic was taking over as the world’s chess language. It was also written in a manner and style nat was decidedly too "European" and "Scientific" for my young mind. The next generation of chessplayers may be spared my experience with the current volume, My System - 21st Century Edition. The entire layout is in algebraic notation, making it much easier to use. The book has gone through a tremendous amount of editing to create an easier read with more of an “Americar English" flavoring. |’m certain you'll ‘savor this great classic every bit more. Yasser Seirawan, International Grandmaster Seattle, Washington November, 1991PART ONE THE ELEMENTS ‘ CHAPTER 1 ON THE CENTER AND DEVELOPMENT Contains a short introduction and what the less advanced stuo-t must know about the center and development. | In my opinion the following are to be considered the elements =f cness strategy: (1) The center. | (2) Play in open files. i (3) Play in the 7th and 8th ranks. | (4) The passed pawn. ' | (5) The pin. i (6) Discovered check. (7) Exchanging. (8) The pawn chain. Each one of these elements will be as thoroughly expiaines 2s ccssible in what | follows. We begin with the center, which we propose to treat = frst with the less experienced player in mind. In the second part cf the book. wrica is devoted to j Positional play, we will attempt to investigate the center from re coint of view of =| “higher learning." As you know, the center was precisely the port round which in the years 1911-13 what amounted to a revolution in chess toor-tiace. | mean that the articles which | wrote, (Entspricht Dr. Tarrasch's “Moce~ Schachpartie” wirklich moderner Auffassung?) ran directly counter to the tracincnal conception and sounded the call to a revolt which was in fact to give dirt te neo-romantic School. The two-fokd treatment of the center, which we propose ‘0 undertake on instructional grounds, would therefore seem to be justified. First a few definitions: On the center and developine:. $f4 The Frontier Line ¥2 The Midpoint /The small square isthe center The line shown on Diagram 1 we call the frontier "line," and is of course to be taken in its mathematical, notin its chess sense. The square marked on Diagram 2 is the midpoint of the board, again naturally in its mathematical sense. The midpoint is ‘easy to find, as itis the point of intersection of the long diagonals. * 1. By development we mean the strategic advance of the troops to the frontier line. The process is similar to the advance on the outbreak of a war. Both armies seek to reach the frontier as quickly as possible in order to penetrate into enemy territory. Development is a collective conception. To have,developed one, two, or three pieces does not mean that we are developed. The situation demands that all pieces be developed. The period of development should be inspired by a democratic spirit. How undemocratic for instance, it would be to let one of your officers go for a long waiking tour, while the others kicked their heels together at home and bored themselves horribly. No, let each officer make one move only, and. . . dig himself in. + 2. A pawn move must not in itself be regarded as a developing move, but merely as an aid to development. a ES RR ns An important rule for the beginner is the following: if it were possible to develop the pieces without the aid of pawn moves, the pawnless advance would be the correct one, for, as suggested, the pawn is not a fighting unit in the sense that his crossing of the frontier is to be feared by the enemy, since obviously the attacking force of the pawns is smail compared with that of the pieces. The pawnless advance, however, is in reality impossible of execution, since the enemy pawn center, thanks to its inherent aggressiveness, would drive back the pieces we had developed. For this reason we should, in order to safeguard the development of our pieces, first 2 My System - 21st Century Edition ibuild up a pawn center. By center we mean the four squares which enclose the midpoint - the squares e4, e5, d4, d5 (Diagram 2). The wrecking of a pawnless advance is illustrated by the following: 1.Nf3 Nc6 2.e3 (since the pawn has not been moved to the center, we may stil regard the advance as pawnless in our sense). 2...25 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4? d5. Now the faultiness of White’s development may be seen; the Black pawns have 2 cemcbilizing effect. 5.Bb3 (bad at the outset, 2 piece moved twice), 5...d4 and is unegmtortably placed, at any rate from the point of view of the player with iitt= “cnting experience. Another example is the following: White without QR, A. Niv=owitsch - Amateur (White's a-pawn is ata3). 1.64 e5 2.Nf3 Ne 3.Bc4 Bes 4.c3 NIG 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bbé6. Black has now lost the center, and in addition, by neglecting to play 4...d6, he allows White's center too much mobility. His development may Therefore rightly be described as pawnless, or, more strictly, one which has become pawnless. 7.45 Ne7 8.e5 Ne4 9.d6 cxd6 10.exd6 Nxf2 11.Qb3 and Black wno is completely wedged in by the pawn on d6 succumbs to the enemy assaut in a few moves, in spite of the win of a Rook. 11...Nxh1 12.Bxf7+ Kf8 12.895 anc 3tack resigned. It follows from the rule given (* 2, previous page), that p2wn moves are only admissible in the development stage when they either help to occupy the center, or stand in logical connection with its occupation; a pawn move wrich protects its own or attacks the enemy's center, for example. In the open game afer 1.04 e5, either 3 of d4 - now or later - is always a correct move, ifthen only the pawn moves designated above are allowable. t ‘allows that moves of the flank pawns must be regarded as loss of time - with ths cualification, that in close games the rule applies to only a limited extent, since comact with the enemy isnot complete, and development proceeds at a slower tempo. To ‘sum up: In the open game speed of development is the .e enemy's center. Therefore, as Lasker truly observed: in the opening one or wz ogwn moves, not More. © 3. To be ahead in development is the ideal to be aimed at. If were running a race with someone, it would be, to say Tr ‘east, inopportune were | to throw away valuable time by say, rubbing dirt off of ~y nose, although | Must not be considered as blaming that operation in itself. If, however, | can induce On the center and development 3 Symy opponent to waste time by a similar action, | would then get an advantage in development over him. The repeated moving back and forth of the same piece would be described as an action of this kind. Accordingly we force our opponent to lose time if we make a developing move which at the same time attavks 2 piece which he has already moved. This very typical situation arises after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 (Diagram 3). ¢ 4, Exchange with resulting gain of tempo. The moves just given show in the most compact form a maneuver which we may call a compound one. For why (see Diagram 4) do we take the d-pawn? (2.exd5). The answer is to entice the piece which recaptures it on to a square exposed to attack, This was the first part of the maneuver. The second (3.Nc3) consisted in the utilization of the Queen’s position which is in a certain sense compromised. The compound maneuver which we have just outlined is one of the greatest value to the student, and we proceed to give a few more examples. 1.d4.d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5! and now two variations follow. If 3...Qxd5, then 4.Nc3, and if 3...Nxd5 4.64, so that in either case White with his 4th move will have made a developing move of full value, which Black will be forced to answer by wandering about. But perhaps the beginner may say in his heart: Why should Black recapture? Many a skillful businessman displays in chess an altogether unnatural 2exgSt forcing the Black Queen delicacy of feeling and does not recapture. But the ina master unfortunately knows that he is under compulsion, there’s no remedy for it, he must recapture, otherwise the material balance in the center would be disturbed. It follows from the fact that this is compulsory that the capture retards, for the moment at any rate, the enemy's development, except in the case when the recapture can be made with what is at the same time a developing move. Afurther example: 1.¢4 e5 2.4 Nf6 3.fxe5! Nxe4. Forced, otherwise Black would be a pawn down with no equivalent for it. 4.Nf3 (to prevent ...Qh4), 4...Ne6 5.d3 (the logical complement of the exchange 3.fxe5), 5...Ne5 6.d4 Ne4 7.05, and after 7...Nb8 White will have the opportunity of gaining more tempi by 8.Bd3 or 8.Nbd2. The latter contingency must be carefully weighed. The exchange of the time devouring Ne4 for the new-born Nd2 means loss of tempo for Black, since with the 4 7 My System - Zist Century Edition — nce tne mpcen