The story behind the game
White advances kingside pawns and places both rooks near the attack. Wang Hao first removes an attacking knight, then strikes in the centre with c5. The exchange offer on b5 creates open lines toward White’s king, and the passed e-pawn eventually becomes a second source of forcing threats.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Remove an attacker before opening the centre.
- Compare a wing attack with a central breakthrough.
- An exchange offer can open lines against the king.
- A passed pawn can force a rook into passivity.
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.
Bxg3 exchanges an attacking knight. White recaptures with the rook, after which Black’s knight takes on g5. The operation changes White’s attacking force and Black’s central resources. Compare the resulting rook placement and pawn structure before opening the centre.
Nc7 is the strongest saved candidate; Rb7 and Rc7 also receive credit. Wang Hao played c5, opening the centre and later sacrificing a rook on b5. The saved comparison prefers further coordination first. Keep that distinction clear: the historical exchange offer is a useful attacking example, but the central break is not a credited answer at this position.
Rxb5 opens the queenside at the cost of the exchange. White’s a-pawn recaptures on b5, after which Black takes on d4 with the c-pawn. The queen and knight then find routes toward the white king. Evaluate that activity and the central passer as part of the sacrifice, rather than focusing only on the rook lost.
e3 gains time against the rook while nearing promotion. The rook moves to d3 and the pawn continues to e2. White’s bishop tries to interfere, but Black’s queen can enter on d1. Compare the queen’s entry squares and the pawn’s promotion threat before choosing a defensive move.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 23: Remove a kingside attacker
Which bishop capture removes the knight on g3? In the game: Bxg3. Bxg3 exchanges an attacking knight. White recaptures with the rook, after which Black’s knight takes on g5. The operation changes White’s attacking force and Black’s central resources. Compare the resulting rook placement and pawn structure before opening the centre.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxg3 Rxg3 Nxg5 f4 Ne6 h6 g6 Ka2 Nc8 Ba3 Qb7 Rc1 · +0.00 · depth 20
g6 Nxf5 gxf5 g6 Kh8 gxf7 Rf8 Nd1 Rxf7 Qxc6 Rb8 Ka2 · +1.77 · depth 19
Qxg5 f4 Qf6 Nxf5 Qxf5 h6 g6 Bg4 Qf6 Nxe4 Qd8 f5 · +2.64 · depth 19
Move 32: Improve the knight before opening lines
Which knight retreat from e6 controls b5 and d5? In the game: c5. Nc7 is the strongest saved candidate; Rb7 and Rc7 also receive credit. Wang Hao played c5, opening the centre and later sacrificing a rook on b5. The saved comparison prefers further coordination first. Keep that distinction clear: the historical exchange offer is a useful attacking example, but the central break is not a credited answer at this position.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nc7 Be2 Rb7 Rhh1 Rcb8 Rb1 Bg4 Nd1 Bf3 Rg1 Nce8 Nf2 · -0.43 · depth 17
Rb7 Ne2 · -0.31 · depth 17
Rc7 Ne2 Rcb7 Rhg2 Bh3 Rg3 Bf5 R3g2 · +0.00 · depth 16
c5 Nb5 · +0.40 · depth 21
Move 33: Offer the exchange to open lines
Which rook capture removes the knight on b5? In the game: Rxb5. Rxb5 opens the queenside at the cost of the exchange. White’s a-pawn recaptures on b5, after which Black takes on d4 with the c-pawn. The queen and knight then find routes toward the white king. Evaluate that activity and the central passer as part of the sacrifice, rather than focusing only on the rook lost.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxb5 axb5 · +0.66 · depth 18
cxd4 Nxd4 Nxd4 Qxd4 Qb6 Qe5 Qe6 Rd2 Qxe5 fxe5 Nd7 Rxd5 · +1.23 · depth 17
Rb7 dxc5 Rxb5 axb5 d4 exd4 Nd5 Rg3 Nxd4 b6 Nb5 b7 · +1.64 · depth 17
Move 47: Advance with a threat to the rook
Which e-pawn advance attacks the rook on d2? In the game: e3. e3 gains time against the rook while nearing promotion. The rook moves to d3 and the pawn continues to e2. White’s bishop tries to interfere, but Black’s queen can enter on d1. Compare the queen’s entry squares and the pawn’s promotion threat before choosing a defensive move.
Engine-supported alternatives
e3 Rg2 Qd1 Bd6 e2 Be5+ f6 Bg3 h5 Qc3 g5 Be1 · -5.27 · depth 20
h5 Rc2 e3 Rc1 Qd2 b4 Qxb2+ Kxb2 axb4 Bxb4 g5 Be7 · -5.08 · depth 20
g5 Rh2 h5 Qc2 Qg3 Rg2 Qf3 Rf2 Qd1 Qxd1 Bxd1 Bd6 · -4.87 · depth 19
Every piece has a part to play.
White advances kingside pawns and places both rooks near the attack. Wang Hao first removes an attacking knight, then strikes in the centre with c5. The exchange offer on b5 creates open lines toward White’s king, and the passed e-pawn eventually becomes a second source of forcing threats.
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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