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Play

Short vs Timman, 1991

Short’s king walks from g1 to g5 while queens are still on the board. 34.Kg5 is the move that made the game famous: the king is a mating piece, not a liability.

White
Nigel Short
Black
Jan Timman
Event
Tilburg
Year
1991
Result
1-0

Critical position

Short vs Timman, 1991, after ply 66♝♜♜♚♟♖♟♟♛♟♕♟♟♙♟♙♙♖♔♙♘♙♙♙abcdefgh12345678

After 33... Bc8. White to move.

Take over as White vs Maia

Step through

Position after 33... Bc8♝♜♜♚♟♖♟♟♛♟♕♟♟♙♟♙♙♖♔♙♘♙♙♙abcdefgh12345678

33... Bc8

Annotated score

  1. 1. e4 (best) Nf6 (excellent)

  2. 2. e5 (best) Nd5 (best)

  3. 3. d4 (good) d6 (best)

  4. 4. Nf3 (best) g6 (good)

  5. 5. Bc4 (good) Nb6 (good)

  6. 6. Bb3 (best) Bg7 (best)

  7. 7. Qe2 (good) Nc6 (excellent)

  8. 8. O-O (good) O-O (good)

  9. 9. h3 (best) a5 (best)

  10. 10. a4 (best) dxe5 (good)

  11. 11. dxe5 (best) Nd4 (best)

  12. 12. Nxd4 (best) Qxd4 (best)

  13. 13. Re1 (best) e6 (excellent)

  14. 14. Nd2 (best) Nd5 (best)

  15. 15. Nf3 (best) Qc5 (best)

  16. 16. Qe4 (good) Qb4 (good)

  17. 17. Bc4 (best) Nb6 (good)

  18. 18. b3 (good) Nxc4 (best)

  19. 19. bxc4 (best) Re8 (best)

  20. 20. Rd1 (excellent) Qc5 (good)

  21. 21. Qh4 (inaccuracy) b6 (best)

  22. 22. Be3 (best) Qc6 (good)

  23. 23. Bh6 (best) Bh8 (best)

  24. 24. Rd8 (good) Bb7 (best)

  25. 25. Rad1 (best) Bg7 (good)

  26. 26. R8d7 (best) Rf8 (best)

  27. 27. Bxg7 (best) Kxg7 (best)

  28. 28. R1d4 (best) Rae8 (excellent)

  29. 29. Qf6+ (excellent) Kg8 (good)

    Qf6+: 29.Qf6+ fixes the black king and frees White’s own king to walk.

  30. 30. h4 (inaccuracy) h5 (good)

  31. 31. Kh2 (inaccuracy) Rc8 (inaccuracy)

  32. 32. Kg3 (inaccuracy) Rce8 (inaccuracy)

    Kg3: 32.Kg3. The king is going to g5 on purpose.

  33. 33. Kf4 (inaccuracy) Bc8 (good)

  34. 34. Kg5 (best)

    Kg5: 34.Kg5. Mate on h6 is next unless Black can check, and he cannot.