[Event "Immortal Zugzwang"] [Site "Copenhagen"] [Date "1923.12.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Samisch, Friedrich"] [Black "Nimzowitsch, Aron "] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E06"] [Annotator "Nimzowitsch, Aron"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2009.12.22"] [EventCountry "DEN"] [SourceTitle "Wikipedia"] [SourceDate "2009.12.22"] [SourceVersionDate "2009.12.22"] [BlackTeam "Nimzowitsch, Aron"] 1. d4 {This game is eulogized as the ultimate zugzwang. It is called The Immortal Zugzwang Game. Notes by Nimzowitsch} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. Ne5 c6 {Safeguards the position} 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Bf4 a6 {Protects the oupost station c4, i.e., by ...a6 and ...b5.} 11. Rc1 b5 12. Qb3 Nc6 {The ghost! With noiseless steps he presses on towards c4.} 13. Nxc6 {Samisch sacrifices two tempi (exchange of the tempo-eating Knight on e5 for the Knight which is almost undeveloped) merely to be rid of the ghost.} Bxc6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Kh2 Nh5 {I could have supplied him with as yet a second ghost by ...Qe7 and ...Knight-d7-b6-c4, but I wished to turn my attention to the King's side.} 16. Bd2 f5 17. Qd1 b4 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Rg1 Bd6 20. e4 fxe4 {This sacrifice, which has a quite surprising affect, is based upon the following sober calculation: two Pawns and the 7th rank and an enemy Queen's wing which cannot be disentangled - all this for only one piece!} 21. Qxh5 Rxf2 22. Qg5 Raf8 23. Kh1 R8f5 24. Qe3 Bd3 25. Rce1 h6 {A brilliant move which announces the Zugzwang. White has not a move left. If, e.g., Kh2 or g4, then R5f3. Black can now make waiting moves with his King, and White must, willy-nilly, eventually throw himself upon the sword.} 0-1