The story behind the game
A central pawn advance and a queen-trade combination lead to an unusual ending in this Candidates game. Aronian creates a c-pawn close to promotion, but Kramnik’s king controls its promotion square. The later king-and-bishop play shows why the promotion square, the king’s path and the distant pawns must be considered together.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Central pawn play can change a bishop’s diagonal.
- Check an intermediate attack before recapturing a queen.
- A passer on the seventh rank still needs support.
- Compare promotion control with the kings’ routes.
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.
f4 challenges White’s bishop and changes the centre. White uses the rook actively on c5, while Black’s queen steps to d6 before taking on e3. The central tension is tactical: moving a pawn near the king can open useful lines for either side. Compare White’s checking bishop ideas with Black’s capture.
Bxe5 changes the exchanges in the centre. White recaptures with the knight, and Black’s rook takes on c5. A knight check on g6 then starts another forcing sequence. Keep track of which rook and bishop remain before judging the material balance after the queen exchange.
Be4 creates an intermediate attack on White’s queen. White takes Black’s queen on d6 with the rook, but Black’s bishop then captures the queen on c2. The sequence trades queens through two different captures. Identify that intermediate move before assuming Black must immediately answer the pawn capture on c5.
Bg8 removes the bishop from the white king’s approach. Black’s king on d7 controls c8, so White cannot keep a new queen there without further support. The bishop retreats while the king stays near the pawn. In the recorded line White promotes with check and Black captures the queen with the king.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 16: Open a line against the bishop
Which f-pawn advance attacks the bishop on e3? In the game: f4. f4 challenges White’s bishop and changes the centre. White uses the rook actively on c5, while Black’s queen steps to d6 before taking on e3. The central tension is tactical: moving a pawn near the king can open useful lines for either side. Compare White’s checking bishop ideas with Black’s capture.
Engine-supported alternatives
f4 Rc5 Qd6 Bxf4 Qxf4 Qxe6+ Kh8 Rxc6 Bxc6 Qxc6 Bxd4 Qe4 · -0.86 · depth 17
Rad8 a4 · -0.37 · depth 17
g6 Rc5 Qd6 Rcc1 Na5 h4 Rac8 h5 Rxc1 Bxc1 Nb3 Be3 · -0.27 · depth 16
Move 22: Remove the central pawn
Which bishop capture takes the pawn on e5? In the game: Bxe5. Bxe5 changes the exchanges in the centre. White recaptures with the knight, and Black’s rook takes on c5. A knight check on g6 then starts another forcing sequence. Keep track of which rook and bishop remain before judging the material balance after the queen exchange.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxe5 Nxe5 Rxc5 Ng6+ Nxg6 dxc5 Be4 Bxg6 Bxc2 Rxd6 · -0.52 · depth 21
Rxc5 dxc5 · +0.84 · depth 21
Qb6 exf6 gxf6 Nh4 f5 Ng6+ Nxg6 Bxg6 Kg7 Bh5 Rh8 Rxc8 · +1.17 · depth 20
Move 25: Attack the queen before recapturing
Which bishop move attacks the queen on c2? In the game: Be4. Be4 creates an intermediate attack on White’s queen. White takes Black’s queen on d6 with the rook, but Black’s bishop then captures the queen on c2. The sequence trades queens through two different captures. Identify that intermediate move before assuming Black must immediately answer the pawn capture on c5.
Engine-supported alternatives
Be4 Bxg6 Bxc2 Rxd6 Bxg6 g4 Kh7 Rxe6 a5 Rb6 Be8 Rb8 · -2.05 · depth 21
Qe5 Bxg6 Qe3+ Kh1 Bd5 Qd3 Qxd3 Bxd3 Rf2 Bg6 Kg8 b4 · +0.07 · depth 21
Qf4 Bxg6 Qe3+ Kh1 Bd5 Qd3 Qxd3 Bxd3 Rf2 Bg6 Kg8 b4 · +0.10 · depth 21
Move 44: Keep the king ready for promotion
Which bishop retreat leaves the king near the c-pawn? In the game: Bg8. Bg8 removes the bishop from the white king’s approach. Black’s king on d7 controls c8, so White cannot keep a new queen there without further support. The bishop retreats while the king stays near the pawn. In the recorded line White promotes with check and Black captures the queen with the king.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bg8 Kd4 Kxc7 Kc5 Bc4 h6 gxh6 gxh6 Bd3 h7 Bxh7 Kxb5 · +0.00 · depth 24
Bf7 h6 gxh6 gxh6 Bg6 Kd4 Kxc7 Kc5 Bd3 h7 Bxh7 Kxb5 · +0.00 · depth 24
Bb3 h6 gxh6 gxh6 Bc2 Kd4 Kxc7 Kc5 Bd3 h7 Bxh7 Kxb5 · +0.00 · depth 24
Every piece has a part to play.
A central pawn advance and a queen-trade combination lead to an unusual ending in this Candidates game. Aronian creates a c-pawn close to promotion, but Kramnik’s king controls its promotion square. The later king-and-bishop play shows why the promotion square, the king’s path and the distant pawns must be considered together.
Look a little deeper
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 12–33. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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