The story behind the game
In this World Blitz game, Carlsen expands on the kingside while Kosteniuk improves her bishop and doubles rooks toward the queenside. Black’s activity creates threats against the second rank even while White has advanced pawns near the king. Compare the recorded decisions with the saved alternatives without treating the result as proof that every move was strongest.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Remove an advanced knight before consolidating the centre.
- A central bishop can support play on both wings.
- Use a rook lift to attack fixed pawn targets.
- Compare both kings’ threats before taking a pawn.
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.
Bxc2 is the strongest saved candidate. Kosteniuk instead played Bxc5 with the bishop from f8, removing White’s advanced knight. The saved comparison prefers the other bishop’s capture on c2. This sharp position requires comparing both captures; the eventual result alone cannot establish which was strongest.
Be4 establishes the bishop in front of the central pawns. White advances the f-pawn, while Black repositions the queen and brings a rook to the b-file. The bishop’s central placement supports that activity. Keep the competing threats in view rather than assuming that the advancing pawns automatically favour White.
Rb4 brings the rook closer to White’s queenside targets. White’s f-pawn advances again, but Black can continue increasing pressure with the second rook. Compare the attack on the white king with the threats near Black’s king. In a sharp blitz position, the result should not replace concrete calculation.
Rxb3 prepares further activity on the second rank. White has just captured on h6 with the bishop, so both sides are attacking. Black’s rook then reaches b2 in the recorded line. Check White’s defensive moves and queen threats before treating a pawn capture near an exposed king as routine.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 31: Use the other bishop’s capture
Which bishop capture removes the pawn on c2? In the game: Bxc5. Bxc2 is the strongest saved candidate. Kosteniuk instead played Bxc5 with the bishop from f8, removing White’s advanced knight. The saved comparison prefers the other bishop’s capture on c2. This sharp position requires comparing both captures; the eventual result alone cannot establish which was strongest.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxc2 · +0.79 · depth 19
Bxc5 Bxc5 Be4 Rg1 Qe6 Rae1 f6 exf6 Qxf6 Re2 Kg8 Qg3 · +1.40 · depth 18
Bc8 f5 Qg5 Re2 Kg8 Rg1 Rb8 Nd3 Qd8 Rg3 c5 Bxc5 · +2.91 · depth 18
Move 32: Centralize the bishop
Which bishop move from f5 takes a central square? In the game: Be4. Be4 establishes the bishop in front of the central pawns. White advances the f-pawn, while Black repositions the queen and brings a rook to the b-file. The bishop’s central placement supports that activity. Keep the competing threats in view rather than assuming that the advancing pawns automatically favour White.
Engine-supported alternatives
Be4 Re3 Kg8 Rg3 Rad8 Bd4 c5 Bxc5 Qe6 Bd4 Rc8 Rc1 · +1.39 · depth 20
Bc8 f5 · +3.41 · depth 20
Bd7 f5 Qh7 Rad1 h5 Kg3 Qh6 Rd3 Qg5 Kh2 hxg4 hxg4 · +3.26 · depth 19
Move 38: Lift the rook toward the targets
Which rook move attacks a4 along the fourth rank? In the game: Rb4. Rb4 brings the rook closer to White’s queenside targets. White’s f-pawn advances again, but Black can continue increasing pressure with the second rook. Compare the attack on the white king with the threats near Black’s king. In a sharp blitz position, the result should not replace concrete calculation.
Engine-supported alternatives
Qd4 · +0.61 · depth 17
Kg8 Qg3 Qe7 Re2 c5 Rd1 Rb6 Rf2 Rb4 Re1 c4 Bd2 · +0.90 · depth 16
Qe7 Qg3 Kg8 h5 Kh7 Re2 c5 Rd1 Rb4 Rde1 Rd4 Be3 · +0.99 · depth 16
Rb4 · +1.04 · depth 20
Move 41: Capture with an invasion in mind
Which rook capture removes the pawn on b3? In the game: Rxb3. Rxb3 prepares further activity on the second rank. White has just captured on h6 with the bishop, so both sides are attacking. Black’s rook then reaches b2 in the recorded line. Check White’s defensive moves and queen threats before treating a pawn capture near an exposed king as routine.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxb3 Re2 · -0.14 · depth 17
Kh7 h5 g5 Bxg5 Rxb3 Rc2 Ra3 Rce2 Ra1 Rxe4 Qxf2+ Rxf2 · +0.85 · depth 16
Qd4 e6 Qe5+ Bf4 Qxf6 cxd5 cxd5 exf7 Qxf7 Rxc7 Qf6 Rec3 · +0.97 · depth 16
Every piece has a part to play.
In this World Blitz game, Carlsen expands on the kingside while Kosteniuk improves her bishop and doubles rooks toward the queenside. Black’s activity creates threats against the second rank even while White has advanced pawns near the king. Compare the recorded decisions with the saved alternatives without treating the result as proof that every move was strongest.
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 12–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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