The story behind the game
Caruana’s first-round win in the 2018 Candidates tournament shows how a central pawn can help pieces reach active squares. The knight approaches the king, the e-pawn advances with threats and a second knight jump creates pressure around f7. The final rook entry works with the queen and bishop rather than as a lone invasion.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Bring another piece toward an advanced central pawn.
- A pawn break can gain access rather than material immediately.
- A knight’s attack on a defender may prepare a different threat.
- Before a rook invasion, check which pieces support its entry.
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.
Ng5 creates pressure against f7 and h7. Black answers with g6, and White develops the bishop to f4 before playing in the centre. The knight’s threats are part of a developing attack; compare them with Black’s queenside play instead of assuming that a piece near the king already decides the game.
e6 attacks two targets and changes the central structure. Black captures White’s other e-pawn with the d-pawn, and White captures f7 with check. After the bishop recaptures, the knight takes the pawn on e4. Track which pawn moves each time: the central breakthrough clears squares for the pieces as well as exchanging pawns.
Nd6 attacks the bishop and establishes a supported advanced post. Black’s bishop steps to d5. White changes the queen’s square, exchanges bishops with check and then brings the queen back to f3. The knight on d6 remains a key part of the coordination even when it is no longer making an immediate capture.
Re7 brings the rook to the seventh rank. The rook attacks h7 from the side while the knight controls e8 and f7. White’s queen remains active on f3 and the bishop supports the knight on d6. The recorded game ends with this coordinated invasion; inspect the saved continuations to see how Black’s possible queen checks affect the attack.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 19: Approach f7
Which knight move attacks the pawn on f7? In the game: Ng5. Ng5 creates pressure against f7 and h7. Black answers with g6, and White develops the bishop to f4 before playing in the centre. The knight’s threats are part of a developing attack; compare them with Black’s queenside play instead of assuming that a piece near the king already decides the game.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ng5 g6 Bf4 Qb6 e4 b3 axb3 axb3 Qe2 Rxa1 Rxa1 Nxe5 · +0.57 · depth 18
Bf4 · +0.19 · depth 18
Rf1 Re8 Bf4 Qb6 Rac1 h6 b3 axb3 axb3 Ra5 h4 Nf8 · -0.52 · depth 17
Move 26: Advance with two targets
Which e-pawn advance attacks f7 and the knight on d7? In the game: e6. e6 attacks two targets and changes the central structure. Black captures White’s other e-pawn with the d-pawn, and White captures f7 with check. After the bishop recaptures, the knight takes the pawn on e4. Track which pawn moves each time: the central breakthrough clears squares for the pieces as well as exchanging pawns.
Engine-supported alternatives
e6 dxe4 exf7+ Bxf7 Nxe4 Re8 Rd1 Bd5 Qd3 Qa5 Nc3 Nb6 · +1.42 · depth 18
Bh3 · +1.22 · depth 18
h4 dxe4 Nxe4 Bd5 Bh6 Qb4 Rc1 Bf8 Bxf8 Kxf8 Qf4 Ra2 · +0.54 · depth 17
Move 29: Attack the defender
Which knight move attacks the bishop on f7? In the game: Nd6. Nd6 attacks the bishop and establishes a supported advanced post. Black’s bishop steps to d5. White changes the queen’s square, exchanges bishops with check and then brings the queen back to f3. The knight on d6 remains a key part of the coordination even when it is no longer making an immediate capture.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nd6 Nf6 Nxf7 Kxf7 Bf1 Ra7 Bc4+ Kg7 Re6 Qc5 Qe2 Rd7 · +2.12 · depth 18
Qd1 Qa7 · +0.86 · depth 18
Rd1 Bd5 Qg4 Nf8 Qe2 Ne6 Be3 Bxe3 Nf6+ Kg7 Nxd5 cxd5 · +0.82 · depth 17
Move 33: Enter with support
Which rook move attacks h7 along the seventh rank? In the game: Re7. Re7 brings the rook to the seventh rank. The rook attacks h7 from the side while the knight controls e8 and f7. White’s queen remains active on f3 and the bishop supports the knight on d6. The recorded game ends with this coordinated invasion; inspect the saved continuations to see how Black’s possible queen checks affect the attack.
Engine-supported alternatives
Re7 Ne6 Bh6 Qe1+ Kg2 Kh8 Qf7 Qxf2+ Qxf2 Bxf2 Kxf2 Nc5 · +5.63 · depth 19
Rc1 Bg7 Be3 Kh8 Qf7 d4 Qc4 h6 Bxd4 Qd2 Bxg7+ Kxg7 · +3.38 · depth 18
Rd1 Bg7 Be3 Kh8 Kg2 h6 Bd4 Bxd4 Rxd4 Qe1 Rd1 Qe6 · +3.28 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
Caruana’s first-round win in the 2018 Candidates tournament shows how a central pawn can help pieces reach active squares. The knight approaches the king, the e-pawn advances with threats and a second knight jump creates pressure around f7. The final rook entry works with the queen and bishop rather than as a lone invasion.
Look a little deeper
Play on the board or type your move. Strong engine-supported alternatives receive credit.
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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 12–19. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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