(1) Adams,M (2720) - Timman,J (2578) [B69]
GMA Wijk aan Zee NED (12), 24.01.2004



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 a6 9.f4 Bd7 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.Ne2 0-0-0 14.f5 Kb8 15.Nf4 Bc8 16.Qe1 Rhe8 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.g3 Bf8 19.Bh3 Bg7 20.Rf1 Bh8 21.c3 Re7 22.Rf2 Na5 23.Nd4 Rde8 24.Bg4 Nc4 25.Bh5 Rg8 26.Be2 Ne5 27.Bf1 Rge8 28.Rfd2 Bb7 29.a3 Qc7 30.Ka1 Bg7 31.Be2 Nc4 32.Bxc4 Qxc4 33.Nc2 Qxe4 34.Re2 Qc4 35.Rxd6 e5 36.Nh5 Qc7 37.Red2 f5 38.Nxg7 Rxg7
Diagram Black's king is exposed, and there are many black pawn weaknesses, notably the a6-pawn.

39.Nb4
Targeting the a-pawn

39...a5
[39...Ka7 40.Qf2++- ]

40.Rc6
Bxc6 Na6 wins the queen, and that may be black's best try!

40...Qf7 41.Na6+ Bxa6
[41...Ka8 42.Nc7++- ; 41...Ka7 42.Qe3+ Ka8 43.Nc7++- ]

42.Rxa6
Black's king is laid bare. White threatens the a-pawn as well as Qd1 and Rd5

42...Qb7
Attacking the Ra6 and guarding the d5 entry square

43.Rxa5
[43.Rdd6 Rg6! 44.Rxg6 hxg6 45.Rxg6 b4 46.cxb4 axb4 47.Qxb4+- ; 43.Rad6 This is the move I expected, with Qd1 to follow]

43...Qb6 44.b4
Right from Nimzovich. Identify the weakness (the b5-pawn), fix it (by playing b4), attack it with your pieces (Ra5 and soon the queen), and then and only then, attack the weakness with a pawn (a3-a4)

44...Qc6 45.Kb2 Rc7 46.Rc2 e4 47.Qf1!
The second attack on b5

47...Re5 48.a4
Nimzovitch wins again! 1-0