The importance of pawn structure cannot be overestimated when planning chess strategy. Although Philidor (18th century) understood the importance of pawns in chess, in the 19th century the health and safety of one’s pawns was often thrown to the wind in the interests of tactical advantages. However, as chess thinking became more sophisticated and was explained by chess philosophers such as Steinitz, Tarrasch and Nimzowitsch, the crucial nature of the pawn constellation became apparent. In modern grandmaster chess, even the slightest weakness in the pawn armature can be fatal.
This week’s game shows Nimzowitsch, the author of the chess strategic bible, My System, inflicting wound after wound on the white pawn structure against a two-times world championship challenger who seems to have believed, wrongly, that piece activity would always trump the handicap of shattered pawns. The notes are based on those by Steve Giddins in his new Everyman book Nimzowitsch: Move by Move, which takes Nimzo scholarship to a new level.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in