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Play Chess Against Aron Nimzowitsch

Aron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935), the father of hypermodern chess and the author of My System, sits across the board. Set the strength, clock, color and starting position, then press Start game.

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Portrait of Aron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitsch, 1886-1935.
Black · Aron Nimzowitsch10:00
Choose the settings, then press Start game.
White · You10:00
Aron Nimzowitsch
Aron Nimzowitschhistorical player
Preparing the board.

Set the game on the right. Start unlocks the board and starts the side-to-move clock.

Set up your game against Aron Nimzowitsch

Aron Nimzowitsch stays selected. Choose the playing strength, clock, color and starting position.

OpponentAron NimzowitschStrength1500Clock10+5You playWhite
Opponent

Aron Nimzowitsch remains selected while you choose the settings for this game.

Aron Nimzowitsch Aron Nimzowitsch1886-1935
Playing strength
100-point steps
1500
1500Nimzowitsch, 1500 Elo target2600
Time control

The first number is the starting time in minutes. The second is the increment after each completed legal move.

Your color
Starting position optional
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About Aron Nimzowitsch

Aron Nimzowitsch in the author portrait from My System

Aron Nimzowitsch (1886-1935) changed how chess thinks about the center. Where the classical school occupied it with pawns, he showed that pieces, pressure and restraint could do the job, and his book My System taught blockade, prophylaxis and overprotection to every generation since. He was also a fearsome practical player, winner of Dresden 1926 and Carlsbad 1929 ahead of Capablanca. The Nimzo-Indian Defence remains one of the most respected openings in the game.

Wrote My SystemHis 1925 manual remains one of the most influential chess books ever written
Carlsbad 1929 winnerFinished ahead of Capablanca and Spielmann at one of the era's strongest tournaments
The immortal zugzwangHis 1923 win over Saemisch left White helpless with a full board of pieces
Nimzo-Indian DefenceHis 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 is still a main weapon of world champions
  1. 1886
    Born in Riga

    Born on 7 November 1886 in Riga, then part of the Russian Empire, into a wealthy merchant family.

  2. 1904
    International debut

    Played his first international tournament at Coburg 1904, beginning a slow climb through the master ranks.

  3. 1920
    Settles in Copenhagen

    Left war-torn Latvia after the First World War, settled in Denmark and took Danish citizenship in 1922.

  4. 1923
    The immortal zugzwang

    Against Friedrich Saemisch in Copenhagen he produced the immortal zugzwang game, leaving White with no move that did not lose something.

  5. 1925
    My System appears

    Published his great manual of blockade, prophylaxis and overprotection, the book that defined hypermodern strategy.

  6. 1926
    Wins Dresden

    Scored 8.5 from 9 at Dresden, finishing a point and a half ahead of Alekhine.

  7. 1929
    Wins Carlsbad

    Took first at Carlsbad ahead of Capablanca and Spielmann, the peak of his tournament career.

  8. 1930
    Beaten by Alekhine

    Lost a short match to world champion Alekhine. A full world championship shot never came.

  9. 1935
    Death in Copenhagen

    Died of pneumonia on 16 March 1935, aged forty-eight. His openings and ideas outlived him by a century.

Play another chess legend

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World champions

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Challengers and innovators

Mikhail ChigorinMikhail ChigorinSiegbert TarraschSiegbert TarraschGéza MaróczyGéza MaróczyHarry PillsburyHarry PillsburyFrank MarshallFrank MarshallAkiba RubinsteinAkiba RubinsteinRudolf SpielmannRudolf SpielmannAron NimzowitschAron NimzowitschYou are hereSavielly TartakowerSavielly TartakowerRichard RétiRichard RétiSultan KhanSultan KhanSicilian Najdorf — 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6Miguel NajdorfSamuel ReshevskySamuel ReshevskyPaul KeresPaul KeresSvetozar GligorićSvetozar GligorićDavid BronsteinDavid BronsteinEfim GellerEfim GellerViktor KorchnoiViktor KorchnoiLeonid SteinLeonid SteinLev PolugaevskyLev PolugaevskyBent LarsenBent Larsen

Questions about playing Aron Nimzowitsch

Can I play against Aron Nimzowitsch for free?

Yes. You can start a game without a subscription, account or download.

Who was Aron Nimzowitsch?

Aron Nimzowitsch was a celebrated chess master. The portrait and lifetime on this page identify the person represented here.

Can I change Nimzowitsch's playing strength?

Yes. Choose the approximate Lichess scale from 600 to 3000 or FIDE scale from 1500 to 2600, both in 100-point steps.

Is the strength number a historical rating?

No. It is an approximate playing-strength target for this game, not a biographical rating or a rating conversion.

Can I start from a FEN or PGN?

Yes. Standard chess is the default. Open Starting position to paste a FEN or one PGN. A PGN loads its final mainline position.

What do 3+2 and 10+0 mean?

The first number is each side's starting time in minutes. The second is the increment added after each completed legal move.

Can I choose White, Black or a random color?

Yes. Choose the side you control. The starting position decides which color moves first, and Random chooses your side when you start.

Does the board work on a phone?

Yes. Tap a piece and then its destination, or drag the piece. The board and clocks adapt to narrow screens.

Can I undo moves and review the game?

Undo is unavailable during an active legend game. Review becomes available after the game ends.

Can I choose another chess legend?

Yes. Use the chess-legend hub or the links below the board to open another player page.