The story behind the game
Ding’s king stays in the centre while Caruana builds threats with knights and queen. White keeps the rooks active, later captures on f6 and uses a central pawn check to gain time against the rook. Follow how defence changes into counterplay without assuming the exposed king can simply retreat to safety.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Compare a pawn break with the opponent’s forcing knight moves.
- Use an open file to keep a rook active while defending.
- A rook capture can remove a central defensive pawn.
- A pawn check can gain time against a second target.
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 changes the central tension around the active black knights. Black captures on f4 with one knight, White’s g-pawn recaptures and the second knight takes that pawn. Black obtains active pieces while White must reorganize the king and rooks. Count the resulting material and threats before choosing a defensive route.
Rg1 gives the rook an open file while White defends the king. Black supports the centre with f6 and White brings the bishop to b5. Both rooks need active tasks in this position. Compare pressure on the g-file with the other rook’s route through c2 and c6 before retreating automatically.
Bc4 is the strongest saved candidate; Rg3 and Re6 also receive credit. Ding played Rxf6, taking the central pawn with the rook. The saved comparison prefers improving the bishop or choosing one of the other credited rook moves first. Compare Black’s defensive resources and queen-trade possibilities before selecting a direct capture.
e5+ opens a queen check and attacks the knight on d6. Black blocks the diagonal with Nf5 in the recorded line, and White centralizes the queen. The pawn advance works against two targets at once: the king along the diagonal and the knight beside the pawn. Check the blocking moves before treating a discovered check as forced mate.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 35: Challenge the knights’ coordination
Which f-pawn advance reaches f4? In the game: f4. f4 changes the central tension around the active black knights. Black captures on f4 with one knight, White’s g-pawn recaptures and the second knight takes that pawn. Black obtains active pieces while White must reorganize the king and rooks. Count the resulting material and threats before choosing a defensive route.
Engine-supported alternatives
Kg2 a4 Nd3 a3 Qxb4 a2 Ra1 Ra6 Bf1 Qd8 Qc3 Qg5 · +2.74 · depth 20
Nd3 a4 Kg2 a3 Qxb4 Reb8 Qd4 Ra4 Qf2 axb2 Rb1 Ra2 · +2.65 · depth 20
f4 Nhxf4 gxf4 Nxf4 Kf1 a4 Rg1 f5 e5 Nxe2 Rxe2 a3 · +2.44 · depth 20
Move 38: Use the newly opened file
Which rook move activates the rook on h1 along the g-file? In the game: Rg1. Rg1 gives the rook an open file while White defends the king. Black supports the centre with f6 and White brings the bishop to b5. Both rooks need active tasks in this position. Compare pressure on the g-file with the other rook’s route through c2 and c6 before retreating automatically.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rg1 f6 Nd3 Ne6 Qe3 Ng5 Nf2 a4 Qg3 Re5 h4 a3 · +2.76 · depth 19
Bb5 Rec8 e5 Rc1+ Nd1 Qxd5 Qxd5 Nxd5 Rxd5 a4 Bxa4 Rxa4 · +2.44 · depth 19
b3 f6 Rg1 a4 bxa4 Rec8 Rg3 Rc1+ Rd1 Rac8 Rxc1 Rxc1+ · +2.34 · depth 18
Move 46: Improve the bishop before capturing
Which bishop move places it on c4 before a rook capture? In the game: Rxf6. Bc4 is the strongest saved candidate; Rg3 and Re6 also receive credit. Ding played Rxf6, taking the central pawn with the rook. The saved comparison prefers improving the bishop or choosing one of the other credited rook moves first. Compare Black’s defensive resources and queen-trade possibilities before selecting a direct capture.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bc4 Re5 Qb6 Qxb6 Rxb6 f5 Ke2 Kh8 Re6 fxe4 Ng4 Rf5 · +4.17 · depth 20
Rg3 Rd7 Qb6 Ne5 Qxd8 Rfxd8 Rc1 Rb7 Ba4 f5 exf5 Rf7 · +3.91 · depth 20
Re6 Rc7 Rc6 Rd7 Qb6 Ne5 Qxd8 Rfxd8 Rc5 Re7 Ba4 Nf3 · +3.85 · depth 20
Rxf6 Kh8 Rf3 Rc7 Bc6 a4 e5 a3 Nd3 Rc8 e6 Nd6 · +3.37 · depth 23
Move 56: Open a checking diagonal
Which pawn advance opens the queen’s diagonal toward h7? In the game: e5+. e5+ opens a queen check and attacks the knight on d6. Black blocks the diagonal with Nf5 in the recorded line, and White centralizes the queen. The pawn advance works against two targets at once: the king along the diagonal and the knight beside the pawn. Check the blocking moves before treating a discovered check as forced mate.
Engine-supported alternatives
e5+ · +5.19 · depth 19
Rd8 g6 Rd7 Rxd7 Bxd7 Qxh4 Qd3 Qf4 Kg2 Kg7 Qd4+ Kf8 · +4.38 · depth 19
Rb3 Kg8 Kg2 Rf7 Qe2 Nc4 Rg3 Ne5 Bb5 Qxh4 Qe3 Rf4 · +3.56 · depth 19
Every piece has a part to play.
Ding’s king stays in the centre while Caruana builds threats with knights and queen. White keeps the rooks active, later captures on f6 and uses a central pawn check to gain time against the rook. Follow how defence changes into counterplay without assuming the exposed king can simply retreat to safety.
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 11–20. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
Download complete engine evidence