The story behind the game
Game six of the 2013 championship in Chennai reaches a rook ending after a long struggle for activity and pawns. Carlsen’s black pieces keep creating practical problems. The final h-pawn advance is especially instructive: a capture can move a defender away from the file of a different pawn.
Take these ideas to your next game
- An active rook can create targets on more than one rank.
- Entering a rook ending does not remove the need to calculate pawn captures.
- Improve the king and rook together before advancing the decisive pawn.
- Check whether a pawn offer can clear a neighbouring file for a passer.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
Carlsen plays 26…c4, increasing central space and pressure on d3. White replies d4, changing the structure rather than allowing the pawn to remain a fixed target. The game then trades one pair of rooks. Follow the resulting open lines and pawn targets; the value of the advance depends on the position after the reply.
The historical 38…Rxe4 takes a central pawn while keeping the rook active. The recorded sequence includes Qxd6, …Rxe3, Qxe7 and …Rxe7, entering a rook ending. Count all the captures, not just the first pawn. Both sides must consider activity and king position once the queens disappear.
Carlsen plays 47…f5, making further kingside progress. White captures b5 later in the game, but Black’s rook checks and king activity remain practical threats. An extra pawn on the other wing does not decide an ending by itself. Compare the saved defensive resources before judging the pawn advance by the eventual result.
The move 60…h3 invites gxh3 and changes which pawns can stop the f-pawn. In the game, White accepts, and Black’s rook reaches g6 before the f-pawn advances again. A passed pawn has no opposing pawn ahead on its own or an adjacent file; the capture helps create that condition. Calculate White’s alternatives too—the capture is part of the historical line, not a rule that every pawn offer must be accepted.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 26: Gain space with a concrete target
Black’s c-pawn has reached c5. Which advance gains more space and attacks White’s d3-pawn? In the game: c4. Carlsen plays 26…c4, increasing central space and pressure on d3. White replies d4, changing the structure rather than allowing the pawn to remain a fixed target. The game then trades one pair of rooks. Follow the resulting open lines and pawn targets; the value of the advance depends on the position after the reply.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxa1 Rxa1 g6 Qe2 Qb7 Qf2 Kg7 Rf1 Qe7 b4 cxb4 cxb4 · -0.21 · depth 19
Reb8 Rxa8 Rxa8 h4 Qe6 Qxe6 fxe6 Kg3 Ra2 Rb1 Kf7 Kf3 · -0.18 · depth 19
Ra4 Rad1 · -0.14 · depth 19
c4 · -0.13 · depth 24
Move 38: Keep the rook active through exchanges
White’s queen has reached g3. Can Black use the rook to capture e4 while accounting for White’s queen capture on d6? In the game: Rxe4. The historical 38…Rxe4 takes a central pawn while keeping the rook active. The recorded sequence includes Qxd6, …Rxe3, Qxe7 and …Rxe7, entering a rook ending. Count all the captures, not just the first pawn. Both sides must consider activity and king position once the queens disappear.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxe4 Qxd6 Rxe3 Qxe7 Rxe7 Rd5 Rb7 g4 Kf6 Kg3 Ke6 Rc5 · -0.89 · depth 20
Qe8 Qf4 Rf6 Qg3 h5 Qe1 Kf8 Kg1 Qe5 Qd2 Kg8 Qe1 · -0.28 · depth 20
Rf6 Qh4 · -0.24 · depth 20
Move 47: Make room for the king
Black’s f-pawn is on f6. Which advance gains space while the king and rook seek active squares? In the game: f5. Carlsen plays 47…f5, making further kingside progress. White captures b5 later in the game, but Black’s rook checks and king activity remain practical threats. An extra pawn on the other wing does not decide an ending by itself. Compare the saved defensive resources before judging the pawn advance by the eventual result.
Engine-supported alternatives
f5 Kf4 Re6 Rxb5 Re4+ Kf3 Kg5 Rb8 Rf4+ Ke3 Kh4 Kxf4 · +0.00 · depth 30
Rb8 Rd5 Rb6 Kf4 f5 Rc5 Re6 Rxb5 Re4+ Kf3 Kg5 Rb8 · +0.00 · depth 29
Re6 Rxb5 Re4 Kf3 Rg4 Rb8 Kg5 Rb4 f5 Rb8 Rf4+ Ke3 · +0.00 · depth 29
Move 60: Clear the neighbouring file
Black’s pawn is on h4 and White still has a pawn on g2. How can Black invite that pawn away from the f-pawn’s path? In the game: h3. The move 60…h3 invites gxh3 and changes which pawns can stop the f-pawn. In the game, White accepts, and Black’s rook reaches g6 before the f-pawn advances again. A passed pawn has no opposing pawn ahead on its own or an adjacent file; the capture helps create that condition. Calculate White’s alternatives too—the capture is part of the historical line, not a rule that every pawn offer must be accepted.
Engine-supported alternatives
h3 gxh3 Rg6 Ra7 f3 Re7+ Kf2 Ra7 Rg2+ Kh1 Kg3 Rg7+ · -2.97 · depth 19
h5 b4 · -0.49 · depth 19
Rg5 c4 Kf2 c5 Rxg2+ Kh3 Rg3+ Kh2 f3 c6 Rg2+ Kh3 · -0.34 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
Game six of the 2013 championship in Chennai reaches a rook ending after a long struggle for activity and pawns. Carlsen’s black pieces keep creating practical problems. The final h-pawn advance is especially instructive: a capture can move a defender away from the file of a different pawn.
Look a little deeper
Play on the board or type your move. Strong engine-supported alternatives receive credit.
Future moves stay hidden until you continue.
Try a different path.
Select a key moment to explore legal continuations supported by saved Stockfish analysis.
Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 11–30. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
Download complete engine evidence