Games

(2) Short,Nigel D (2660) - Timman,Jan H (2630) [B04]

Tilburg (4), 1991

[Newsom,Gary]

1.e4 ¤f6 Alekhine's Defense. It's a rather dicey propsition for inexperienced players, since it allows White to build up a big center, but in the hands of an expert it can be a dangerous weapon. Not in this game, however! 2.e5 ¤d5 3.d4 d6 4.¤f3 [4.c4 ¤b6 5.f4 introduces the Four Pawns Attack. This is the most basic way to play the position. White puts his hopes on his big central pawn structure to push black off the board. Black says " OK, you can have your center, Mr White, but I will find ways to attack it and make you weak." Most of the time you will see white playing less ambitiously than is required by the Four Pawns Attack.] 4...g6 5.¥c4 ¤b6 6.¥b3 ¥g7 7.£e2 ¤c6 8.0-0 0-0 Here, White has managed to obtain a good position with chances of pushing Black off the board. In these situations it is sometimes OK to spend a move to limit Black's opportunities to develop his pieces effectively. This is one such position. White's little pawn push prevents Black from developing his B to the effective g4 post. 9.h3! Diagram

XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq-trk+(
7zppzp-zppvlp'
6-snnzp-+p+&
5+-+-zP-+-%
4-+-zP-+-+$
3+L+-+N+P#
2PzPP+QzPP+"
1tRNvL-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy

9...a5 10.a4 dxe5 11.dxe5 ¤d4 12.¤xd4 £xd4 13.¦e1 e6 14.¤d2! The White knight is better placed on f3, where it will support the e5 pawn, than on c3; hence the double step with Nd2-f3. Note that White will get his move back when he moves to f3 and attacks the queen. 14...¤d5 15.¤f3 £c5 16.£e4 £b4 White prevents the exchange of queens, which would relieve black somewhat. 17.¥c4! ¤b6 White sees a potential winning attack with the maneuver of his queen to h4, so he doesn't move the bishop and allow a queen exchange. The wrecking of his q-side pawn structure matters little. 18.b3! ¤xc4 19.bxc4 ¦e8 20.¦d1! Diagram

XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+r+k+(
7+pzp-+pvlp'
6-+-+p+p+&
5zp-+-zP-+-%
4PwqP+Q+-+$
3+-+-+N+P#
2-+P+-zPP+"
1tR-vLR+-mK-!
xabcdefghy

White seizes the only open file. This is very instructive. Before launching his planned attack, white takes the time to place his pieces on optimal squares. Patience is a virtue!20...£c5 21.£h4 b6 22.¥e3 £c6 23.¥h6 ¥h8 24.¦d8 ¥b7? [24...¥d7 Was the last chance to prevent what happened in the game.] 25.¦ad1 ¥g7 26.¦8d7 ¦f8 27.¥xg7 ¢xg7 28.¦1d4 ¦ae8 29.£f6+ ¢g8 30.h4 h5 Diagram

XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+rtrk+(
7+lzpR+p+-'
6-zpq+pwQp+&
5zp-+-zP-+p%
4P+PtR-+-zP$
3+-+-+N+-#
2-+P+-zPP+"
1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy