Aron Nimzowitsch

Lore & Background

Born in Riga, then part of the Russian Empire, Nimzowitsch came from a wealthy Jewish family. He learned chess from his father, a timber merchant. In 1904, he traveled to Berlin to study philosophy but soon set aside his studies to become a professional chess player. He won his first international tournament at Munich 1906.

He tied for first with Alexander Alekhine at Saint Petersburg 1913/14. During the 1917 Russian Revolution, he feigned madness to avoid being drafted, then escaped to Berlin, giving his first name as Arnold possibly to avoid anti-Semitic persecution. He moved to Copenhagen in 1922, won the Nordic Championship twice (1924 and 1934), obtained Danish citizenship, and lived there until his death in 1935.

Reader's Guide

Nimzowitsch's most notable successes include first-place finishes at Copenhagen 1923, Marienbad 1925, Dresden 1926, Hanover 1926, and Carlsbad 1929, and second place behind Alekhine at San Remo 1930. He never beat Capablanca (+0−5=6) but fared better against Alekhine (+3−9=9).

His famous games include the immortal zugzwang game against Sämisch at Copenhagen 1923 and a win over Paul Johner at Dresden 1926. He wrote three books: Mein System (1925), Die Praxis meines Systems (1929, commonly known as Chess Praxis), and Die Blockade (1925). Chess Praxis was purchased by a pre-teen Tigran Petrosian and greatly influenced him.

Did You Know?

• Nimzowitsch once stood on a table and shouted 'I must lose to this idiot!' after losing to Sämisch.
• He complained about an opponent's unlit cigar, saying 'the threat is stronger than the execution.'
• Many openings are named after him, including the Nimzo-Indian Defence and the Nimzowitsch Defence.