The story behind the game
Benko gains queenside space and material while Fischer concentrates around the black king. White’s central break and knight manoeuvres create a forcing sequence on f6. The queen then changes targets to remove the remaining knight. Count the complete exchanges before deciding whether the original material investment was justified.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Challenge the centre before bringing in the queen.
- Two knights can support a forcing capture sequence.
- Count the queen recapture at the end of a combination.
- Use a checking tempo to find 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.
e5 creates central tension before White’s queen enters the kingside. Black takes the pawn with dxe5, and White exchanges a bishop for the knight on f6. Black’s g-pawn recapture changes the king’s shelter. Calculate those exchanges before judging the space-gaining pawn advance only by its immediate material cost.
Nh5 prepares further pressure on the squares around Black’s king. Black advances a pawn and White activates the rook on d1. The two knights can then arrive on f6 in succession. Compare the queen’s support and Black’s possible captures before assuming either knight can enter alone.
Nef6+ starts the checking sequence with the e4 knight. Black’s bishop captures on f6, the other knight recaptures with check and Black’s queen takes that knight. White’s queen then captures on f6. Count the queen recapture at the end before deciding whether the knight checks lose material.
Qxc5 takes the knight after the earlier checking sequence. Black’s bishop can capture a rook on f1, but White’s other rook then recaptures. Include that exchange in the count. The recorded score ends with White’s rook on f1; use the saved analysis to inspect the resulting position rather than inventing a forced continuation.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 14: Challenge the central knight
Which pawn advance attacks the knight on f6? In the game: e5. e5 creates central tension before White’s queen enters the kingside. Black takes the pawn with dxe5, and White exchanges a bishop for the knight on f6. Black’s g-pawn recapture changes the king’s shelter. Calculate those exchanges before judging the space-gaining pawn advance only by its immediate material cost.
Engine-supported alternatives
e5 · +0.39 · depth 19
Bxf6 Bxf6 e5 bxc3 exf6 cxb2 fxg7 Kxg7 Rb1 Ba6 Re1 Qf2 · +0.26 · depth 19
Na4 Qc7 c3 Nxb3 axb3 a5 Bxf6 Bxf6 Nh5 Bd8 f5 g6 · -0.57 · depth 18
Move 19: Bring the second knight closer
Which knight move from g3 prepares a jump to f6? In the game: Nh5. Nh5 prepares further pressure on the squares around Black’s king. Black advances a pawn and White activates the rook on d1. The two knights can then arrive on f6 in succession. Compare the queen’s support and Black’s possible captures before assuming either knight can enter alone.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nh5 f5 Rad1 Qxb2 Nhf6+ Bxf6 Nxf6+ Qxf6 Qxf6 Nc5 Qg5+ Kh8 · +4.20 · depth 19
c3 Qe5 Nh5 f5 Nhf6+ Bxf6 Nxf6+ Qxf6 Qxf6 Nxa1 Qg5+ Kh8 · +1.50 · depth 19
Rxf4 f5 Nh5 Nxa1 Nef6+ Bxf6 Nxf6+ Qxf6 Qxf6 Bb7 Rh4 Rfd8 · +1.11 · depth 19
Move 21: Start the forcing knight sequence
Which knight check reaches f6 from e4? In the game: Nef6+. Nef6+ starts the checking sequence with the e4 knight. Black’s bishop captures on f6, the other knight recaptures with check and Black’s queen takes that knight. White’s queen then captures on f6. Count the queen recapture at the end before deciding whether the knight checks lose material.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nef6+ Bxf6 Nxf6+ Qxf6 Qxf6 Nc5 Qg5+ Kh8 Rxf4 Bb7 Rh4 Rg8 · +4.52 · depth 18
Nhf6+ Bxf6 Nxf6+ Qxf6 Qxf6 Nc5 Qg5+ Kh8 Rxf4 Bb7 Rh4 Rg8 · +4.49 · depth 18
Rxf4 fxe4 Rg4+ Kh8 Rf1 Rd8 Rg7 Qf5 Ng3 Qg6 Rxg6 fxg6 · +4.32 · depth 17
Move 26: Remove the remaining knight
Which queen capture removes the knight on c5? In the game: Qxc5. Qxc5 takes the knight after the earlier checking sequence. Black’s bishop can capture a rook on f1, but White’s other rook then recaptures. Include that exchange in the count. The recorded score ends with White’s rook on f1; use the saved analysis to inspect the resulting position rather than inventing a forced continuation.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxf4 Ne4 Rxe4 fxe4 Qf6+ Kg8 Qg5+ Kh8 Rd7 Be2 Qh6 Rac8 · +4.44 · depth 21
Qxc5 Bxf1 Rxf1 Rfd8 Qe5+ Kg8 Qxf4 Rac8 h4 Rd5 h5 Rcd8 · +4.40 · depth 21
Qf6+ Kg8 Rxf4 Bb7 Qg5+ Kh8 Rh4 Rg8 Qf6+ Rg7 Rd8+ Rxd8 · +4.36 · depth 21
Every piece has a part to play.
Benko gains queenside space and material while Fischer concentrates around the black king. White’s central break and knight manoeuvres create a forcing sequence on f6. The queen then changes targets to remove the remaining knight. Count the complete exchanges before deciding whether the original material investment was justified.
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 12–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
Download complete engine evidence