Centre: the four squares in the middle

In short

Look at the middle of the board. There four squares make up a small square: d4, e4, d5 and e5. Nimzowitsch calls this smallest square around the midpoint the centre. A piece there reaches both sides of the board quickly.

Pawns in the middle are a strong weapon. When they advance, they drive away enemy pieces and disturb their development. That is why Nimzowitsch advises holding your own centre if you can do so without other disadvantages.

Even a closed middle is not calm. Nimzowitsch compares the centre to a restless region where a fight can break out at any time. Often a knight jump to a central square is enough, and the position opens up. He calls this jump an invasion of the centre.

From a long example game Nimzowitsch draws four lessons. Watch the centre, and control its important squares with several pieces. Do not move your pieces to a wing too early; he calls this a swing. If the pawns have disappeared from the middle, then at least occupy their squares with pieces.

For Nimzowitsch what counts is your effect on the centre, not the number of your pawns there. Pieces on central squares and lines aimed at the middle can also replace the pawns. How this works when you give up a centre pawn is explained in the article on the surrender of the centre.

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

Centre against wing

Nimzowitsch gives two guiding ideas for strategy: protect the centre with several pieces and centralise your pieces. According to him, whoever is strong in the centre has the better prospects. This is especially true when the opponent attacks on the kingside and you control an open file in the middle.

Nimzowitsch learnt this the hard way. At San Sebastian 1912 he attacked Rubinstein on the kingside and lost. The game cost him first prize. He called it the worst defeat of his career.

To play through

In Lesson 8 you get to know the four central squares. Lesson 39 shows a knight jumping into the centre. In Lesson 25 you answer a wing attack in the middle.

In Nimzowitsch – Ahues, pay attention to who controls the middle. In Nimzowitsch – Romi the white pawns advance in the middle. The queen in the centre helps them do it.

Today’s view

The fight for the middle is still regarded as a basic principle of the opening. You fight with pawns, but often also from a distance with knights and bishops. A knight on a central square that no enemy pawn can control any more is still regarded as a big advantage.

Where to find it in Nimzowitsch

• My System: I. Teil, 1.2 Der Bauernzug ist an und für sich keineswegs als Entwicklungszug aufzufassen, sondern vielmehr bloß als Hilfszug für die Entwicklung (original text)

  Here Nimzowitsch defines the centre as the four squares e4, d4, e5 and d5 and explains why a pawn centre secures development.

• My System: I. Teil, 1.6 Das Zentrum und dessen Demobilisierungswut. Übungsbeispiele: wann und wie ist das Vorgehen des gegnerischen Zentrums auszuhalten. Über Behauptung und Aufgabe des Zentrums original text not yet published

  The mobile centre as an attacking weapon, how to meet its advance, and the advice to hold your own centre if possible.

• My System: II. Teil, 1.5 Das Zentrum original text not yet published

  Why you must watch the middle even in a closed position, with the warning against the swing and four lessons.

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

  The leading idea of strategy: overprotecting the centre and centralising, plus the fight of a central file against a flank attack.

• My System: II. Teil, 1.7 Das Aufgeben des Zentrums original text not yet published

  Nimzowitsch’s view that pieces in the centre and lines aimed at the centre can replace the pawns, with his essay on it.

In the course

• Why the middle of the board matters
• Answer in the centre
• The leap into the centre
• Nimzowitsch – Ahues, Berlin 1928
• Nimzowitsch – Romi, London 1927