Prophylaxis and mysterious Rook moves
According to the majority of experienced coaches, Aaron Nimzowitsch's "Mein System" ("My system") is still considered the best chess book ever written. Many chess schools have adopted it as a cornerstone in their teaching, and several generations of champions were formed initially through its pages.
But this book isn't perfect either. It contains some errors, completely forgivable, also because Nimzowitsch did not have a computer to check the variations or an openings database.
The following endgame is taken from the above mentioned book, to be found in the chapter that talks about the doubled Pawns and the limitation of mobility.
It must be said that the technical difference between the two contenders was enormous: Nimzowitsch won that Hannover (Germany) tournament of 1926 with 6.5 out of 7 (in front of Rubinstein) while Gottschall finished last with 1.5.
The endgame was played in the second round.
From a didactic point of view, Nimzowitsch's comments are practically perfect, but as the endgame develops, it seems that Black's victory comes in a completely forced way, without White ever being able to resist. Of course, Black has a better Pawn structure, since the Pa4 blocks two opponents in a3 and b2. But if we also evaluate other factors, we see that the material is equal, there are the opposite color’s Bishops and the only open column is controlled by White. All this leads us to the conclusion that with a correct play White could have saved himself without great difficulty.
If we then submit the position to Stockfish we find that the evaluation is -0.54, that is, slightly in Black’s favor.
Nowadays any player, even if only of medium level, would be better able than Gottschall to defend this endgame, and perhaps he would obtain a draw against a stronger opponent. But back then the concepts of prophylaxis and mysterious moves were not yet as well-known as today and it was Nimzowitsch who developed those concepts.
I too, as a young boy, read "Mein System". It has a privileged place in my chess library, and still bears all the underlinings and notes that I made at the time. In four months I jumped 400 Elo points forward. I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve his own play level.
