Tilburg · 1991
The King Walk
Nigel Short vs. Jan Timman — Nigel Short marches his king from g1 to g5 while the queens are still on the board.
Moves · tap to jump
0/67Use ← → keys to step through the game
Starting position
Ready
Press Auto-play to watch the game, or step move by move.
Main lesson
Restrict counterplay before activating the king
Lesson notes
Moves 1–10 — space against the Alekhine
- White uses central pawns to gain space and limit Black's knight.
Moves 11–22 — improve pieces first
- White exchanges active defenders and claims the d-file before attacking.
Moves 23–30 — create a bind
- Rooks on the seventh rank and the queen on f6 restrict Black's whole army.
Moves 31–34 — the king joins
- Check every enemy check before each king step; the walk is a calculated attack, not a gamble.
What your student should learn
- Use space to restrict a hypermodern defence.
- Place rooks on open files and the seventh rank.
- List enemy checks before moving your king.
- Identify when a king can safely attack.
Rules to remember
- Rule 1Restrict counterplay before activating your king.
- Rule 2Seventh-rank rooks can paralyse defenders.
- Rule 3A king can attack when the enemy has no useful checks.
Mini tournament checklist
- ✓ Can my opponent give checks?
- ✓ Are their pieces tied to defence?
- ✓ Is the queen supported by rooks or pawns?
- ✓ Will my king create a real mating threat?
Run through this list before you start an attack in a real game. Mostly yes means look for tactics; otherwise improve one more piece first.
Coach's challenge
Stop after 30...h5. Ask the student to find the plan with Kh2, Kg3, Kf4 and Kg5, then list Black's checks first.
Full move list
The Alekhine Defence
Building a Bind
Seventh-Rank Pressure
The King Walk
Note: The recorded game ends with resignation after 34.Kg5. Kh6 and Qg7# are White's plan, not played moves.