chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Friso Nijboer vs Jan Timman
"Everybody Needs Good Nijboers" (game of the day Dec-12-2023)
Dutch Championship (2006), Hilversum NED, rd 5, Jun-22
French Defense: Winawer. Poisoned Pawn Variation Main Line (C18)  ·  1-0

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 9 more Nijboer/Timman games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: Some games have photographs. These are denoted in the game list with the icon.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-22-06  russep: wow Timman losing so quickly that's shocking.
Jun-23-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  IMlday: Missing 19.♘e4 could happen to anyone.
Jun-23-06  Ybrevo: I think there is another explanation: Timman just don´t have the strength anymore to play at top-level. It is sad to see one of the former greatest players in the World being humiliated this way.
Jun-23-06  nescio: <Ybrevo: I think there is another explanation: Timman just don´t have the strength anymore to play at top-level.>

That seems too pessimistic to me. Last month Timman won the Malmò tournament in good style. He'll bounce back, oversights have always been part of his game. Look what happened to him in the 1978 zonal when he should have had strength enough: Timman vs J M Bellon Lopez, 1978 17.Ng3??

Jun-25-06  Atking: <IMlday: Missing 19.Ne4 could happen to anyone.> Right ! Black king to h7-h8 is an old set-up 17. ...Kf8! 18.h6 Rg6 19.Bd2 Kg8 20.h7+ Kh8 21.a4 b5 22.axb axb 23.Rb2 Qc5 looks balanced. If 24.Kd1? b4 and Nxc2 with Ba4 I don't know why Timman didn't play it.
Jul-18-06  notyetagm: <IMlday: Missing 19. Ne4 could happen to anyone.>

Yes, the <LOOSENESS> of the d7-square right next to the Black e8-king is fatal.

It really is amazing that in spite of the fact that the Black pieces surround the Black king, Black has so little control over the critical light squares d7 and f7 next to his king. The Black pieces cover c7 three times, e7 three times, and g7 twice, but only the Black king covers d7 and f7!

One of the most glaring tactical weaknesses is a <LOOSE SQUARE NEXT TO THE ENEMY KING THAT CAN BE COORDINATED ON>. Here the White b7-rook makes the Black d7-bishop/d7-square loose. The White d3-queen is all lined up and ready to play ♕x♗d7+ and ♕xf7#. The only Black piece meeting this threat is the Black d5-pawn, by <BLOCKING> the d-file from the White d3-queen to the d7-checking focal point. Unfortunately for Timman, since <BLOCKING A LINE IS A FULL-TIME JOB>, the Black d5-pawn cannot also <DEFEND> the e4-square to keep the White c3-knight out and White wins immediately with the bone-crunching 19 ♘e4!.

The defensive power of a pinned piece is merely illusory, aka, <BLOCKING A LINE IS A FULL-TIME JOB>. The Black d5-pawn, <PINNED> to the d-file to meet the threat of ♕d3x♗d7+ by <BLOCKING> this line, only -pretends- to <DEFEND> the e4-square.

Apr-12-10  notyetagm: Game Collection: COORDINATE YOUR PIECES ON LOOSE SQUARES NEXT TO
Apr-12-10  notyetagm: Game Collection: Pins! Exploit every pin!!!
Nov-07-12  billyhan: What a wonderful day in the Nijboerhood... a luv-uh-lee day for a Nijbor...
Jan-08-13  shakman: How should black avoid 19.Ne4?

Another game in this line where white managed to lose quickly J Sarkar vs Y Shulman, 2007

Dec-12-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: Nice pun by <Dom>, although he surely didn't like a French losing.
Dec-12-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: According to the Opening Explorer, this game remained theory through 17.h5. All of us might have played games where we lost almost as soon as we left theoretical lines.
Dec-12-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: Another point is that, while Timman tended to play everything, even at top level, the French is something one only rarely saw in his praxis. Even grandmasters develop a feel for lines only after playing and working at them.
Dec-12-23  Granny O Doul: Bad Frenches make good Nijboers.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC