The Blockade

This new edition of The Blockade revives Nimzowitsch's influential chess strategies, offering insights into modern play and the historical context of the 1920s.

In The Blockade, the renowned writer and aspiring World Chess Champion Aron Nimzowitsch presents his innovative approach to chess strategy, encapsulated in the famous war cry, First restrain, then blockade, finally destroy! This pivotal work, often overshadowed by his more famous treatise, My System, has now been revived and published for the first time in a dual-language format, featuring both English and German. Editor Philip Hughes has meticulously researched the chess history of the 1920s, particularly focusing on the years 1923-4, to enrich the reader's understanding of Nimzowitsch's contributions to the game.

Nimzowitsch, often referred to as the Father of Modern Chess and the godfather of Hyper-modernism, provides crucial insights into the strategic elements of chess that remain relevant to players today. The Blockade reflects the military strategies of its time, drawing parallels between chess and the trench warfare that characterized World War I. Through this lens, Nimzowitsch's teachings emphasize the importance of control, restraint, and strategic positioning on the chessboard.

The new edition includes an introduction by Grandmaster Ray Keene, who offers valuable context regarding Nimzowitsch's life and work. With extensive appendices curated by Hughes, readers gain a deeper appreciation of the chess landscape during the 1920s. This book is essential reading for anyone looking to improve their chess skills, as it encapsulates timeless strategies that are as applicable today as they were nearly a century ago.