The story behind the game
White collects queenside pawns, while Anand activates his bishops against the white queen and back rank. A short tactical sequence changes the material balance and leads to a rook-and-minor-piece ending. Study the bishop moves together: their strength comes from connected threats, rather than the value of a single diagonal.
Take these ideas to your next game
- When a pawn is taken, inspect the newly opened diagonal.
- A bishop move can attack a queen through another piece.
- Count both sides’ captures in a back-rank sequence.
- Active rooks can make a pawn lead difficult to defend.
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.
Bb7 activates the bishop opposite White’s king. Its long diagonal combines with Black’s other bishop and the queen on d5. White’s bishop returns to c5 in the recorded line, after which Black’s second bishop gains a tempo against the queen.
Bh4 attacks the queen while keeping both bishops active. White moves the queen to e2 and Black brings a rook to c8. This is a coordination move: the bishop’s tempo gives the rook time to join. Check White’s forcing alternatives before assuming the two bishops alone decide the position.
Bxc2 starts a sequence involving both sides’ rooks. White takes a rook on b8 with the bishop, and Black’s bishop takes the rook on d1. White recaptures that bishop and Black’s remaining rook captures on b8. Count the complete sequence before assessing the rook-and-minor-piece ending.
Rxb2 wins a pawn with an active rook. White’s knight has moved to a5, and the white king still needs protection from the rook and bishop. Black’s rook can switch to c2 later, keeping targets on the second rank. Compare activity as well as the immediate material gain.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 21: Open the long diagonal
Which bishop move takes aim at White’s kingside? In the game: Bb7. Bb7 activates the bishop opposite White’s king. Its long diagonal combines with Black’s other bishop and the queen on d5. White’s bishop returns to c5 in the recorded line, after which Black’s second bishop gains a tempo against the queen.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bb7 · -0.32 · depth 18
f6 Bc7 Rb7 Rd1 fxe5 Qe2 Rxf1+ Qxf1 Qc6 Bxe5 Rd7 Nd4 · +0.37 · depth 18
Bb4 Rd1 Qxe5 Nc5 Qh5 Nd7 Bxd7 Rxd7 Rbc8 Qf4 Bc5 a5 · +0.50 · depth 18
Move 22: Attack the queen with the other bishop
Which bishop move attacks the queen on f2? In the game: Bh4. Bh4 attacks the queen while keeping both bishops active. White moves the queen to e2 and Black brings a rook to c8. This is a coordination move: the bishop’s tempo gives the rook time to join. Check White’s forcing alternatives before assuming the two bishops alone decide the position.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bh4 Qe2 Rfc8 Rd1 Qe4 Qxe4 Bxe4 Bd6 Bxc2 Bxb8 Bxd1 Rxd1 · -0.46 · depth 19
Qd7 Bxe7 · +0.17 · depth 19
Qd8 Bxe7 Qxe7 Nc5 a5 b3 Rbc8 Nxb7 Qxb7 Re3 f5 exf6 · +0.20 · depth 18
Move 26: Take the knight before the back-rank exchange
Which bishop capture removes the pawn on c2? In the game: Bxc2. Bxc2 starts a sequence involving both sides’ rooks. White takes a rook on b8 with the bishop, and Black’s bishop takes the rook on d1. White recaptures that bishop and Black’s remaining rook captures on b8. Count the complete sequence before assessing the rook-and-minor-piece ending.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxc2 Bxb8 Bxd1 Rxd1 Rxb8 Nc5 Be7 Nd3 Rc8 g3 Kf8 Kg2 · -0.99 · depth 20
Rxc2 Bxb8 Rxg2 Nc5 Ba8 Rd7 Rxb2+ Kg1 Rg2+ Kh1 Rf2+ Kg1 · +0.00 · depth 20
Rb6 a5 Rb5 Nd4 Rxb2 Rf4 Bxc2 Nxc2 g5 Rb4 Rbxc2 g3 · +0.04 · depth 19
Move 29: Invade the second rank
Which rook capture removes the pawn on b2? In the game: Rxb2. Rxb2 wins a pawn with an active rook. White’s knight has moved to a5, and the white king still needs protection from the rook and bishop. Black’s rook can switch to c2 later, keeping targets on the second rank. Compare activity as well as the immediate material gain.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxb2 g3 Be7 Rd7 Rb1+ Kg2 Bf8 Nc6 Rb2+ Kh1 g5 Ra7 · -1.19 · depth 22
Kf8 g3 · -0.09 · depth 22
Bg5 b3 Rc8 g3 h5 Nc4 Rb8 Rd3 Be7 Na5 Bf8 Nc6 · +0.00 · depth 21
Every piece has a part to play.
White collects queenside pawns, while Anand activates his bishops against the white queen and back rank. A short tactical sequence changes the material balance and leads to a rook-and-minor-piece ending. Study the bishop moves together: their strength comes from connected threats, rather than the value of a single diagonal.
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 13–22. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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