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Jan Timman vs John Nunn
"Nunn Expects the Spanish Inquisition" (game of the day Jul-31-2011)
Wijk aan Zee radio game (1983), Wijk aan Zee NED, Jan-26
Spanish Game: Marshall Attack. Modern Main Line (C89)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jul-31-11  goodevans: <Magician of Riga: 27 Rxe3 is the fatal mistake ...>

I think white is already lost by then anyway, e.g. 27 h4 Rf2 28 Qh1 Qf5 followed by ... Bf3.

Jul-31-11  Llawdogg: Wow! That was a brilliant finish!
Jul-31-11  IRONCASTLEVINAY: 27 Rxe3 was a clear blunder from 0.82 to -10.83
Jul-31-11  IRONCASTLEVINAY: That rook sacrifice is also not that sound.
Jul-31-11  goodevans: <IRONCASTLEVINAY: 27 Rxe3 was a clear blunder from 0.82 to -10.83>

What would be best play from both sides then?

Jul-31-11  Ratt Boy: I also love the pun.
Years ago, I'd ask my chessic friends, "Who do you think writes the best chess books these days?" "Nunn" was a common answer, to which I'd reply:
"Oh, come on; there has to be someone."

They stopped inviting me to parties.

Jul-31-11  Ferro: Vaya Mentira!
Jul-31-11  adbat: With 27.Kf1 ,White could secure the tie. For example;27.Rf1/Bf3 28.g4/Rg8 29.Rd8/Rd8 30.gh5/Bg2 31.Kg2/Rg8 32.Kh3/Rb8 33.b4/Rc8 34.Kg4/Rc3 35.Kf5/Rb3 36.Ke5/Rb4 37.Kd5/Rb5 38.Ke4/Rh5 39.Ke3
Jul-31-11  abuzic: <White missed a winning move with 25. f5 25. f5 Bxf5 26. Rf1 <Bh3> 27. Rxf8+ Bxf8 28. Qd2 Qf3 29. Ra1>

But black plays 26...Bf4 27.Bxf4 gxf4 28.Rxf4 Qd1+ 29.Qf1 Qxa4 30.Rxf5+ Bxf5 31.Qxf5 h6; still black's position is inferior, but not as bad as after 26...Bh3.

Jul-31-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: <25. f5> ... Bf3 anyone? To be honest I think is OK after 26. g4. Like most of the times I played the Marshall, W always found a way to slip out of my grasp
Jul-31-11  abuzic: <adbat: With 27.Kf1 ,White could secure the tie. For example;27.Rf1/Bf3 28.g4/<Rg8> 29.Rd8/Rd8 30.gh5/Bg2 31.Kg2/Rg8 32.Kh3/<Rb8> 33.b4/Rc8 34.Kg4/Rc3 35.Kf5/Rb3 36.Ke5/Rb4 37.Kd5/Rb5 38.Ke4/Rh5 39.Ke3>

The position reached in this line above is very critical ending for black, white has good chances for win.

But in this line black continues not 28...Rg8?, but 28...Qg5 29.Qg3 e2 30.Re1 Qe3+ 31.Qf2 Qxf+ 32.Kxf2 Bxg4+ 33.Ke3 Rf3+ 34.Kd2 Rd3+ 35.Kc2 Rd1 36.Rxe2 Bxe2 37.Rxd5 Rh1 38.b4 Bd3+ 39.Kd2 Rxh2+ 40.Ke3 and black stands well.

Jul-31-11  Lil Swine: i love the marshall, with the lovely spot for the knight and the ruthless attacks, but only as black
Jul-31-11  abuzic: <scormus: <25. f5> ... Bf3 anyone? To be honest I think is OK after 26. g4. Like most of the times I played the Marshall, W always found a way to slip out of my grasp>

After 25.f5 Bf3? (25...Bxf5) white should not play 26.g4? because after 26...Qh4! only 27.Bf2 or 27.Kf1 saves white from impending mate, for example 27.Qg3? Bxg3 28.Re2 Bxe2 29.hxg3 Qxg3+ 30.Kh1 Bf3#.

But after 25.f5 Bf3?, 26.Qf2 is OK for white.

Jul-31-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: <abuzic.> Thanks, youre right. I thought I'd seen 27 Bf2 as a way out for B after 26 ... Qh4, but I cant now think what it could have been. Of course 27 Bf2 Qh6

I also thought 25 ... Bf3 26 Qf2 Rxf5. It looks promising but doesnt come to anything.

This is just how it was when I played the Marshall and couldnt ever win

Jul-31-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: <Whitehat1963> I came unstuck against f4! which clues whites position together. You've probably seen it doing in the rounds it was a little while ago ill swallow your pride and repost mail tool,

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats, and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross". The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940, when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance". The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Jul-31-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: <chrisowen>

"The Mariner is sailing
Sailing across the sea
Seeking out the enemy
Bringing spices back home to me

Spanish gold for the taking
At the harbour of Cadiz
Their fleet was left a-blazing
On the Ocean bed, stone cold, her cannons lie
Eldorado lies a shimmering
Shimmering like a mirage
Luring the merchant venturer
On a brutal grim and overlong voyage

..."

Maddy Prior, The Sovereign Prince

Jul-31-11  castledweller: <The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.>

Thank you, Chris - Its only 3pm here, and there is still a bit more to go for today . . . . But that is the funniest thing Ive read all day and probably will be!!

Jul-31-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  scormus: <castledweller: ... Thank you, Chris >

Absolutely, when reality gets just too much to cope with, Chris's words keep me sane.

Jul-31-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  chrisowen: <castledweller> <scormus> egg me on why dont you, license to krill...

It inspired me again old culpeper

(G) Gaughin (Em) glory
(C) Doctors in (D) town
(G) Heavey queen apri (Em) ori
(C) Ships laden (D) down

(G) Nutmeg oil (Em) gold
(C) Rich is the (D) sea
(G) Troy has no (Em) beauty
(C) In dungeons it (D) be

(G) Jail gate over (Em) ocean
(C) Neptune is (D) king
(G) Catch chime rain (Em) gantry
(C) Flat prayers it a (D) lain
(G) me.

Aug-01-11  kevin86: White will be mated very soon.If white takes the queen,the rook mates at f1;if the rook takes the bishop,the queen will check on d1 and mate next.
Aug-14-11  horseboat: I'm not sure which I enjoy more: the great game or the great(er?) pun.
Feb-10-19  BwanaVa: ...and in the neatest conclusion, if 28. Rg3, then 28...Bxg2. If Rxg4, then Bh3 threatens mate on f1 and hits the rook on g4, winning either a rook or the White King.
Aug-09-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jonathan Sarfati: <BwanaVa:> did you mean 29. ♖g3 (on move 28, the ♙ is in the way)? Your line is not correct though: 29.♖g3 ♗xg2 30. ♖xg4 ♗h3 31.♖g2! winning for White.

Instead, just play 29. ♕d1+ and mate next move.

Feb-21-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: < Ady- Hebden 1985 followed this game right down to 28...♕g4! Apparently Hebden knew of this game and Ady didn't.>

Not quite correct but definitely on the right path. This game was actually Timman v Tal & Nunn (and Hebden 1982. read on)

From the BCM July 1983, (page 297)

This game, given in the BCM up to move 28 was Kosten - Hebden at the Regency Masters, Ramsgate December 1982. here, when Timman resigned.


click for larger view

White played one more move 29.Rg3 Qd1+ and then resigned. John Nunn saw this game.

On a rest day at Wijk aan Zee a telephone match was organised between Timman and Tal but the line failed after 6 moves so John Nunn was persuaded to take over.

The 1982 report says John did not normally defend a Ruy Lopez (at that time he was mainly into Sicilians and the Pirc ) but remembered the Hebden game and reproduced it.

So this is Timman v Tal & Nunn (with a bit of help from Hebden) - shall I send in a correction slip?

Feb-21-23  Retireborn: Geoff, thanks for that. One wonders whether Timman and Nunn had boards in front of them and moved pieces, or if they just played the game in their heads.
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