The story behind the game
Ding’s game against Duda at the 2018 Olympiad turns a central pawn into a lasting tactical force. After a central break, the e-pawn reaches the seventh rank and supports a rook entry on d8. The promotion is the end of a coordinated sequence, with the queen and knight helping the pawn survive.
Take these ideas to your next game
- A central pawn break can create a passer rather than win material immediately.
- An advanced pawn can attack a rook and support an entry square.
- Place a rook where the pawn protects it.
- Check promotion choices against the saved position, not habit alone.
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.
d5 begins the central breakthrough. Black captures on d5, allowing White’s e-pawn to advance to e6. The resulting passer changes the tasks of Black’s pieces. The saved evaluation still requires calculation: a dangerous pawn is a source of threats, not an automatic win.
e7 attacks the rook and threatens promotion. Black blocks the pawn with Re8 in the score. White then improves the knight and rook instead of pushing immediately into an occupied square. The pawn’s attacks remain useful even while its forward move is blocked.
Rd8 creates contact on the eighth rank while the pawn protects the rook. Black has rooks on b8 and e8, so every capture must be counted. In the recorded continuation White first exchanges the b8-rook, then collects f4 with the queen. The advanced pawn helps coordinate the exchange sequence rather than merely waiting to promote.
e8=Q creates a second queen. The saved candidates also support promotion to a rook and the quiet bishop development Bd2 within the exercise threshold. Promotion to a queen is therefore a supported answer, not the only accepted move. The recorded game continues with a knight move and Bg5 before ending.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 22: Break the centre
Which pawn advance challenges Black’s pawn on e6? In the game: d5. d5 begins the central breakthrough. Black captures on d5, allowing White’s e-pawn to advance to e6. The resulting passer changes the tasks of Black’s pieces. The saved evaluation still requires calculation: a dangerous pawn is a source of threats, not an automatic win.
Engine-supported alternatives
d5 N6xd5 Bxd5 exd5 e6 Ba6 Re5 Bd6 Bf4 Bxe5 Bxe5 Qe7 · +0.29 · depth 17
Bg5 Bb7 h4 Qe8 Bxe7 Qxe7 Ng5 Bd5 Nxd5 N4xd5 Rc2 a4 · +0.26 · depth 17
Ree1 Nxc4 bxc4 Ba6 d5 Bxc4 d6 cxd6 exd6 Bf6 Ne5 Bb3 · -0.19 · depth 17
Move 27: Reach the seventh rank
Which pawn advance attacks the rook on f8? In the game: e7. e7 attacks the rook and threatens promotion. Black blocks the pawn with Re8 in the score. White then improves the knight and rook instead of pushing immediately into an occupied square. The pawn’s attacks remain useful even while its forward move is blocked.
Engine-supported alternatives
e7 Re8 Ng5 Qg6 Rxd6 f4 Qh4 Qb1 Re1 Bd7 f3 N4d5 · +1.07 · depth 16
Ng5 h6 e7 Bd7 exf8=R+ Rxf8 Ne6 Bxe6 Bb2 Qg6 Rxd6 f4 · +0.79 · depth 16
Rxd6 f4 · +0.29 · depth 16
Move 32: Enter on the pawn’s protected square
Which rook move reaches d8, supported by the e7-pawn? In the game: Rd8. Rd8 creates contact on the eighth rank while the pawn protects the rook. Black has rooks on b8 and e8, so every capture must be counted. In the recorded continuation White first exchanges the b8-rook, then collects f4 with the queen. The advanced pawn helps coordinate the exchange sequence rather than merely waiting to promote.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rd8 h6 Rxb8 Nc8 Nf7+ Kg8 Rxc8 Bxc8 Nd6 Nd3 Nxe8 Bd7 · +2.96 · depth 20
Bd2 Qxe1+ Bxe1 Rxe7 Nf3 Ree8 Qxf4 N4d5 Qxf5 cxb3 Qb1 a4 · +1.93 · depth 20
Nf7+ Kg8 Rd8 Kxf7 Qh5+ Bg6 Qe5 Qf5 Qxb8 Nc8 Rxe8 Kxe8 · +1.47 · depth 20
Move 37: Promote with a choice
Which move promotes the e-pawn to a queen? In the game: e8=Q. e8=Q creates a second queen. The saved candidates also support promotion to a rook and the quiet bishop development Bd2 within the exercise threshold. Promotion to a queen is therefore a supported answer, not the only accepted move. The recorded game continues with a knight move and Bg5 before ending.
Engine-supported alternatives
e8=R Nf6 Rxg8+ Nxg8 Bd2 Qg6 Qxg6 hxg6 Bxb4 axb4 bxc4 Nf6 · +5.73 · depth 20
Bd2 Qg6 e8=Q Nf6 Qexg8+ Nxg8 Qxg6 hxg6 Bxb4 axb4 bxc4 Nf6 · +5.70 · depth 20
e8=Q Nf6 Qexg8+ Nxg8 Bd2 Qg6 Qxg6 hxg6 Bxb4 axb4 bxc4 Nf6 · +5.64 · depth 20
Every piece has a part to play.
Ding’s game against Duda at the 2018 Olympiad turns a central pawn into a lasting tactical force. After a central break, the e-pawn reaches the seventh rank and supports a rook entry on d8. The promotion is the end of a coordinated sequence, with the queen and knight helping the pawn survive.
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 12–22. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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