Wing attack: secure the center first

In short

From White’s point of view, the queenside is on the left and the kingside on the right. If pawns or pieces attack there, it is called a wing attack. The target is often the king or a weakness. Nimzowitsch also calls it a flank attack or a diversion.

Nimzowitsch counts this among his main principles: a wing attack is only correct if your own center is secured. If the center is secure, you may even risk attacks on a wing whose target is still unclear. If it is shaky, the opponent can strike back in the center.

That is why the best answer to a wing attack is often in the center. Nimzowitsch writes, in essence: a strongly centralized game cannot be overturned by a wing attack alone. An open file in the center slows the attacker down in particular. The attacker’s rooks must then protect their own back ranks against an invasion.

Nimzowitsch experienced this himself. At San Sebastián 1912 he sent a knight towards the kingside early against Rubinstein. Rubinstein answered via the d-file, and Nimzowitsch lost the game and first prize.

The two wings are often connected. If you attack a weakness on one wing, you sometimes provoke a second one on the other. In a pawn chain you sometimes shift the attack to the next link, closer to the enemy king. The articles “Maneuvering against a weakness” and “Pawn chain” explain both in more detail.

Summarized by the editors in their own words. This is not a quotation.

Examples from Nimzowitsch

Against Yates in 1923, Nimzowitsch started an attack on the queenside early because he considered his center secure. After a misguided exchange of his own, the center became weaker. Now, he writes, the same attack only looked helpless.

Against von Scheve in 1907, Black attacked early with pawns on the kingside. Nimzowitsch made the d-file in the center active, and the attack failed. In his view, a wing attack has little chance when the center is open.

Against Tartakower in 1927, Nimzowitsch proceeded step by step. First he placed his pieces strongly in the center. Only after that did he build up an attack on the queenside.

To play through

In lesson 25 you answer a wing attack in the center, in a game by Rubinstein. Lesson 42 shows how an attack on one wing creates a new weakness on the other.

Today’s view

Coaches still pass on Nimzowitsch’s rule today. A wing attack is often answered with a counter-thrust in the center. But this is not a law without exceptions. If the kings have castled on opposite sides, what often decides is whose attack is faster.

Where to find it in Nimzowitsch

• My System: I. Teil, 9.6 Die Übertragung des Angriffes original text not yet published

  How to shift the attack in a pawn chain to the next base, closer to the enemy king.

• My System: II. Teil, 1.6 Worin hat das Leitmotiv der wahren Strategie zu bestehen? original text not yet published

  Center against wing: a controlled central file usually makes flank attacks fail, including Nimzowitsch’s own against Rubinstein.

• My System: II. Teil, Partien zum 1. Kapitel original text not yet published

  Games on the fight of a central file and the center against a flank attack, including Rubinstein – Löwenfisch.

• My System: II. Teil, 5. Kapitel - Das Lavieren gegen eine feindliche Schwäche. Der kombinierte Angriff an beiden Flügeln. Besteht zwischen eben angedeuteten zwei Stratagemen eine gewisse Wahlverwandtschaft? original text not yet published

  The combined attack on both wings: play against one weakness provokes new ones on the other wing.

• My System: II. Teil, Partie 35 original text not yet published

  Games for chapter 5; at game 37, Nimzowitsch states his principle that a flank attack needs a secured center of your own.

• Chess Praxis: 6.3 Zentrum und Flügelspiel original text not yet published

  Center and wing play: what a secure center is and when it allows even unusual wing attacks.

In the course

• Answer in the center
• Attack on both wings
• Nimzowitsch – von Scheve, Ostend 1907
• Tartakower – Nimzowitsch, London 1927
• Yates – Nimzowitsch, Carlsbad 1923