My Favorite Game Of. Number 23. Jan Timman.

Afternoon Everyone!

Yep, this little, temporary when I started out, series, keeps rattling along. It won't pretend that you will put 200 points on to your rating just by reading it, but perhaps you will be able to enjoy some great chess that you have never seen before

After a recent one on Smyslov, I was putting the relevant books back into my bookcases (aka database in the modern world!!) and had to make some room. That meant moving my Timman books - I have a few - onto the next shelf, and that in turn reminded me that I had one of his games lined up for this little series.

SO! Jan Timman. When I started out playing chess he was already an elite player, and stayed that way through all the time that I was actively playing 'over the board'.

Sadly for him, he was in the era of two of the greatest - Karpov and Kasparov and so, in my opinion, has never really been credited for just how wonderful a player he was/ is.

I can't resist - my sense of humour being what it is - posting this picture. Timman in his usual position - i.e. behind Karpov and Kasparov.

He was - and still is - a brilliant player.

Strong and original  in opening preparation. Capable of playing any kind of middle game position - particularly complex ones - at the highest level. A renowned endgames expert. Serious player.

He didn't always lose out to Karpov and Kasparov, by the way. I think that he regards the following game - from a tournament that he won ahead of Karpov - as his best game. To win against Karpov - in one of the latter's favourite opening lines to boot - at that time was quite something. I first saw the game in one of the Soviet chess magazines at the time, and it made a big impression.

Of course, he also played what FIDE laughingly called a 'World Championship Match',  against Karpov

No one took much notice, but chess wise the match was actually much more interesting than the 'real thing' between Kasparov and Short.

O.K. Best post my favourite Timman game - one of the easiest choices in this series.

Heidenfeld once wrote a book about great drawn games. Well, this one is 'only a draw', and goes on for over 100 moves. Whizzing through the databases most players wouldn't even pause to look at it, I am sure.

Indeed, I am going to warn you that you will have to work hard to get the best out of studying this one!! Those of you who have followed this series will know that I love my battles, and this is an incredible battle. In fact, the whole Timman - Ivanchuk match was - although infected with time trouble - a wonderful match. Go dig out the games for yourselves and have a look.

My favourite Timman game is, in my opinion, one of the truly great chess battles.

Before I forget, there are loads of great pictures involving Timman - one of my favourites is this one. 78 year old Korchnoi in his last invitational tournament, against the 'young' - 58 year old - Timman.

There has been an idea on this site - go see my friend kamalakanta's posts on the subject - about annotated games.

Timman is a magnificent annotator. Just outstanding. To put this game file together - transcribing his notes and adding a few thoughts of my own - took around 7 hours,and I had to leave out big chunks of Timman's notes and analysis to do it in that time. ( I actually have a life to get on with when I am not doing this stuff! )

As I say - be prepared to work hard here - if you want to be a good chess player the first thing to learn is how to work hard!

So, as I always say, enjoy the game and feel free to add any games of Jan Timman - or studies if that is your thing - in the comments. Plus any photos of course - lots of great ones out there.

  A drawing that I have scanned - hopefully with no copyright infringement - from a book that means a lot to me as it was once owned by my dear, and terribly missed, friend, the legend that was Peter  Wason.