(1) Timman,J - Johannesson,I [C02]
Reykjavik open 2004 (1), 07.03.2004



1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5
The Advanced variation of the French Defense.

3...c5
Attacking the white pawn chain at its weakest point. If dxc5, both white pawns become weak

4.c3
So white reinforces the chain.

4...Nc6
Attempting to pressure the d4-pawn.

5.Nf3 Bd7
Unusual. Qb6 is more common, placing even more pressure upon d4

6.Be2 Nge7
or ...f6 to try to blow open the center.

7.Na3
or 0-0

7...cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5
threatening Bxa3

9.Nc2 Qb6 10.0-0 a5 11.b3
[11.g4 Nfe7 12.Nh4 Ng6 13.Ng2 Be7 14.f4 0-0 15.Be3~~ ]

11...Rc8 12.Bb2
over protecting d4 [12.Bf4 Nb4 13.Nce1 Bb5 14.Rc1 Rxc1 15.Bxb5+ Qxb5 16.Qxc1 Nc6 17.g4 Nfe7 18.Be3 h5 19.h3 hxg4 20.hxg4 Ng6 21.Qc2 Kd7 22.Nd3 Rh3 23.a4 Qa6 24.Nfe1 Nh4 25.Qe2 Bb4 26.Nc2 Be7 27.Rc1 Ng6 28.Kg2 Qxd3 29.Qxd3 Nf4+ 30.Bxf4 Rxd3 31.Rb1 Nxd4 32.Nxd4 Rxd4 33.Kg3 Rd3+ 34.f3 g5 35.Bc1 Rd1 36.Ra1 Bc5 37.Bb2 Rxa1 38.Bxa1 Be3 39.Kg2 Kc6 40.Bc3 b6 41.Kf1 d4 42.Ke2 dxc3 43.Kxe3 Kd5 44.Kd3 Kxe5 45.Kxc3 Kd5 0-1 Afek,Y-Gulko,B/Lugano 1988/EXT 97 (45)]

12...Nb4 13.Nxb4 axb4 14.Re1 Bb5
Trying to exchange off the bad light-squared bishop, but black's backward development is showing. [14...Be7 15.Bd3 ]

15.Rc1 Rxc1
[15...Rc6 ]

16.Qxc1
With a dangerous entry square on c8

16...Be7 17.g4 Nh6 18.Qc8+ Bd8 19.h3 Bc6 20.Qb8 0-0
threatening Bc7 trapping the queen

21.Qd6 Re8 22.Qc5 Qxc5 23.dxc5
Black's pieces are poorly placed. Bc6 and Nh6 are particularly bad.

23...Be7
Diagram

24.a4 Bxc5
winning a pawn, but white has excellent activity as compensation

25.Nd4 Bf8
[25...Bxd4 26.Bxd4 with Rc1-c5-a5 to follow]

26.Rc1 Rc8 27.Bb5 f5 28.exf6
exposing the weak e-pawn.

28...gxf6 29.Nxe6 f5 30.Nd4+- Bg7 31.Nxc6 bxc6 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Rxc6
the a-pawn trumps

33...Rd8 34.Rc7+ Kg6 35.Bd3 Kg5 36.Rg7+ Kf4 37.Rxh7 Rd6 1-0