Annotated chess game: Failed Hak

ANNOTATED GAME

Failed Hak
Aron Niemzowitsch vs. Arthur Hakansson
Annotated by: last_archimedean

(1564)
Chess opening: French (C02), advance, Nimzovich variation

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Niemzowitsch simply constricts his opponent until the defenses crack. (Annotations by Irving Chernev.)

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5	When playing the French Defense, Black must be very careful not to end up with a permanently cramped position.



4. Qg4	Black cannot play ... Kt - K B 3 to chase the Queen.



4... cxd4 5. Nf3	White delays recapturing the Pawn, choosing to mobilize quickly.



5... Nc6 6. Bd3 f5	Black is hoping to trick White into 7 P x P e.p. Kt x P, freeing Black's King-side.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: White's e-pawn has a name: E. Normous.


7. Qg3 Nge7 8. O-O Ng6 9. h4	White threatens to drive away Black's Knight.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: White strategic policy for the time being, and for the remainder of the game, is to provide all available support to his e-pawn. That pawn is already imposing terrible constraints upon Black's game - the K-side in particular.


9... Qc7 10. Re1 Bd7	Black's plan is to castle Queen-side and try to develop a King-side attack.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: Message to Black: Good luck with that!


11. a3 O-O-O 12. b4	White switches to a Queen-side attack, with Black's King now on that flank.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: The purpose of this advance is to impose further constraints upon Black's game. If it develops into an attack, our pal Aron won't be fussed about that. But already Black has almost no worthwhile moves. Nimzovitch allowed that he could have won the exchange, here: 12.h5 Nge7 13.Ng5 Re8 14.Ne7 Rg8 15.Nd6+ ... But he also admitted that 'with his undeveloped Q-side and his unprotected pawn [at h5] he would have had some difficulties to contend with. The text is the logical continuation.'


12... a6 13. h5 Nge7	Black's mobility, inferior from the start, is disappearing fast.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 07-Apr-25: Skuh-WEEZE! Nimzovitch remarked that instead of 12...a6, 12...Kb8 would have been 'rather better', with this continuation: 12... Kb8 13.c3 dxc3 14.Nxc3 Nxb4 15.axb4 Qxc3 16.Be3 Qxd3 17.Bxa7+ Kc8 18.Rec1+ 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'.


14. Bd2 h6 15. a4 g5	Black is hoping for 16 P x P e.p. R - Kt 1, giving him attacking lines on the K side.



16. b5 f4 17. Qg4 Nb8	To guard the Q R P.



18. c3 Re8 19. cxd4	Fully opening the file and threatening R - Q B 1 pinning the Queen.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: One way or another, that c-file will be forced open. Black's king needs a bolt hole!


19... Kd8 20. Rc1	Contrast the power of this Rook, sweeping the entire file with its deadly fire, with the tangled confusion in Black's camp.



20... Qb6 21. a5 Qa7 22. b6	The White army is slowly but surely strangling the enemy to death.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: Aron Nimzovitch: "The Q finds herself in a position to which as a rule she would only be consigned in a problem." (My System)


22... Qa8 23. Rc7	A spearhead thrust into the enemy's vitals.



23... Nf5	Black has come to life too late.



24. Nc3	White brings up his reserves for the final attack.



24... Be7 25. Nxd5 Nxd4	Black has nothing better.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: 25....exd5 26.Bxf5 and Black has to shed a lot of material to avert a quick checkmate.


26. Nxd4 exd5 27. Qxd7+	This sacrifice is the logical outcome of White's massive advantage in mobility.



27... Nxd7	Forced.



28. Ne6#	Even the mate is the result of Black's lack of mobility. The Black King is hemmed in by his own Rook and Bishop.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2332) on 05-Apr-25: This is a very famous game, played in 1922. It is the last game that features in Nimzovitch's Magnum Opus 'My System'.