The story behind the game
This short 1971 Candidates quarterfinal game builds its pressure quietly. Korchnoi moves a knight backward, places the bishop on a more active diagonal and adds the queen to the attack on c5. The final capture illustrates why a defended pawn must be assessed against the coordination of every attacking piece.
Take these ideas to your next game
- A backward knight move can prepare a stronger forward route.
- Improve a bishop with a concrete target in mind.
- Add pressure before resolving a central pawn tension.
- After a recapture, inspect the next attacked piece.
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.
Ne1 prepares a route toward the c5-pawn. The knight’s route matters more than whether its first step goes forward. On d3 it will attack c5 alongside White’s c-file pieces. Black also has active rooks, so the manoeuvre has to be judged against the concrete threats in the position.
Bg4 attacks the d7-knight and changes the bishop’s role. The queen steps from b6 to g6, and White’s bishop then moves to h3. From that diagonal the bishop continues to bear on d7. The manoeuvre coordinates with the knight’s route toward d3 instead of seeking an isolated one-move threat.
Nd3 adds another attacker to c5. White next brings the queen to a5, keeping pressure on the queenside and centre. Count the attackers and defenders again after Black’s knight moves: changes to one defender can alter whether the rook capture on c5 works.
Rxc5 liquidates the c5-pawn and brings the queen into the centre after the recapture. In the recorded sequence Rxc5 is met by a rook recapture and Qxc5. White’s queen reaches an active central square while the remaining rook keeps contact with the d-file. Compare the resulting position and Black’s alternatives in the saved lines; the resignation is the end of the recorded score, not an additional played variation.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 20: Retreat with a destination
Which knight retreat prepares Nd3 to increase pressure on c5? In the game: Ne1. Ne1 prepares a route toward the c5-pawn. The knight’s route matters more than whether its first step goes forward. On d3 it will attack c5 alongside White’s c-file pieces. Black also has active rooks, so the manoeuvre has to be judged against the concrete threats in the position.
Engine-supported alternatives
h3 Rbc8 · +0.25 · depth 18
Ne1 Rbc8 Bg4 Rc7 h3 Nf6 Bf3 Rdc8 Qb2 c4 Rdc1 Ba6 · +0.25 · depth 17
Rdc1 Re8 h3 Rbc8 a4 Ba6 Bxa6 Qxa6 Nh4 · +0.20 · depth 17
Move 21: Make the bishop relevant
Which bishop move attacks the knight on d7? In the game: Bg4. Bg4 attacks the d7-knight and changes the bishop’s role. The queen steps from b6 to g6, and White’s bishop then moves to h3. From that diagonal the bishop continues to bear on d7. The manoeuvre coordinates with the knight’s route toward d3 instead of seeking an isolated one-move threat.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bg4 Rc7 h3 Nf6 Bf3 Rcc8 Qe5 Ne4 Qf5 c4 Qe5 Ng5 · +0.18 · depth 19
h3 Nf8 · +0.10 · depth 19
Bf3 Nf8 Qe5 Ng6 Qg3 c4 Bg4 cxb3 axb3 Rxc2 Nxc2 Qxb3 · +0.09 · depth 18
Move 23: Complete the knight route
Which move brings the e1-knight into contact with the c5-pawn? In the game: Nd3. Nd3 adds another attacker to c5. White next brings the queen to a5, keeping pressure on the queenside and centre. Count the attackers and defenders again after Black’s knight moves: changes to one defender can alter whether the rook capture on c5 works.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nd3 c4 · +0.52 · depth 18
Rcc1 Qb6 b4 c4 Bxd7 Rcxd7 Nc2 Rd6 Nd4 Rg6 Rd2 Re8 · +0.15 · depth 17
Qa1 Qd6 Nd3 d4 exd4 cxd4 Rxc7 Qxc7 Ne1 Nf6 Rxd4 Rxd4 · +0.07 · depth 17
Move 25: Resolve the pressure
Which rook capture removes the pawn on c5? In the game: Rxc5. Rxc5 liquidates the c5-pawn and brings the queen into the centre after the recapture. In the recorded sequence Rxc5 is met by a rook recapture and Qxc5. White’s queen reaches an active central square while the remaining rook keeps contact with the d-file. Compare the resulting position and Black’s alternatives in the saved lines; the resignation is the end of the recorded score, not an additional played variation.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxc5 Qb6 Qxb6 axb6 Rxc7 Nxc7 Nb4 Kf8 g3 Ke7 Bg2 Ra8 · +2.29 · depth 19
Rcc1 c4 Nf4 Qf6 Ne2 Rb8 bxc4 dxc4 Rd4 Bc8 Bxc8 Rcxc8 · +0.35 · depth 19
Rc3 c4 · +0.15 · depth 19
Every piece has a part to play.
This short 1971 Candidates quarterfinal game builds its pressure quietly. Korchnoi moves a knight backward, places the bishop on a more active diagonal and adds the queen to the attack on c5. The final capture illustrates why a defended pawn must be assessed against the coordination of every attacking piece.
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 13–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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