Blitz blockade

The Blitz blockade in chess is a rare type of action which results in the nearly complete blockade of the opponent's forces, while leaving his king subject to attack. Such a slow-motion method can only succeed quickly if the opponent is oblivious to the threat and fails to make the required freeing moves in a timely fashion. Thus, this tactical motif is more likely to ensnare the amateur. Blockade is an important strategic concept in chess, well described by Aron Nimzowitsch in the seminal work ‘Die Blockade (The Blockade)’, whose mantra was “First restrain, then blockade, finally destroy!”[1] The importance of the blockade was formalized in Nimzowitsch's rule – Blockade every pawn that shows the slightest inclination to advance. Blockade every passed pawn, every portion of the center, every quantitative or qualitative majority.[2]

Example
Blitz blockade
abcdefgh
8
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves11. c4 12.h3 Nd3+ 13.Ke2 b5 14.a4 Nxe4 15.Resigns
ECOB50
ParentSicilian Defense

The diagram on the right shows the position after White's 11.fxg4, from a game between amateurs, reported by Hans Kmoch.[3] This miniature originates from a Sicilan Defense and follows the moves (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qc2 Bg4 6.Ng5 e6 7.a3 a6 8.b4 Ne5 9.Bh2 h3 10.f3 hxg5 11.fxg4).

After the moves (11. c4 12.h3 Nd3+ 13.Ke2 b5 14.a4 Nxe4), White resigns because, according to Kmoch, "He is totally blockaded and subject to many threats, such as 15...Qf6 as well as 15...Ng3+.”[3]

The final position is shown in the second diagram on the right.

Final position
abcdefgh
8
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
ECOB50
ParentSicilian Defense

References
  1. Aron Nimzowitsch (1925). Die Blockade. Harding Simpole. ISBN 1-84382-182-6.
  2. Bill Paschall (2018-06-01). "'Nimzowitsch's Blockade – Middlegame Masterclass'". ichess.net. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  3. Hans Kmoch (1971). "Games from Recent Events, Indiana 1971, Indiana Open at Muncie, Unusual Miniature" (July)). Chess Life & Review: 358–415. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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