The story behind the game
Both kings castle queenside, but the important play comes through the centre and kingside pawn structure. Kosintseva establishes a knight on f6, exchanges into an ending and removes central pawns with the bishop. The advancing g-pawn then works with the bishop and knight to restrict Black’s remaining pieces.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Gain time against the queen while keeping pawn support.
- An advanced knight can tie down central defenders.
- Count the endgame pawn targets after a rook exchange.
- A bishop can support a passed pawn from an adjacent diagonal.
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.
g4 gains space with a direct threat to Black’s queen. Black’s queen retreats to a5 and White centralizes the queen on d4. Both kings are on the queenside, so the wing pawn advance must be judged through central activity and open files, rather than a simple race to the enemy king.
Nc5 is the strongest saved candidate; Ra3 also receives credit. Kosintseva played Nf6, attacking the bishop on d7 and establishing the advanced knight. The saved comparison prefers Nc5 or the rook move Ra3. Compare the concrete pawn targets and rook activity before choosing between two attractive knight squares.
Bxe6 takes a central pawn after the rook exchange. Black repositions the bishop and White next captures on f7. The changed pawn balance makes the g-pawn advance more important. Count the remaining pawns and the bishop’s useful diagonals before assuming the ending is decided by material alone.
g6 advances the passer while supporting the bishop. Black’s bishop guards squares near promotion, so White improves the knight and advances the e-pawn next. Study the two pawn threats together with the bishop’s support rather than trying to push the g-pawn without preparing the next square.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 19: Gain time against the queen
Which g-pawn advance attacks the queen on f5? In the game: g4. g4 gains space with a direct threat to Black’s queen. Black’s queen retreats to a5 and White centralizes the queen on d4. Both kings are on the queenside, so the wing pawn advance must be judged through central activity and open files, rather than a simple race to the enemy king.
Engine-supported alternatives
g4 Qa5 Qe1 Be7 g5 f6 g6 Qf5 Rf3 d5 Bd3 Qg4 · +0.91 · depth 19
b4 · +0.21 · depth 19
Bf3 Qa5 g3 Be7 gxh4 Qc7 h5 a6 f5 d5 Qf2 Bc5 · +0.13 · depth 18
Move 23: Compare the knight’s other outpost
Which knight move attacks the pawn on e6? In the game: Nf6. Nc5 is the strongest saved candidate; Ra3 also receives credit. Kosintseva played Nf6, attacking the bishop on d7 and establishing the advanced knight. The saved comparison prefers Nc5 or the rook move Ra3. Compare the concrete pawn targets and rook activity before choosing between two attractive knight squares.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nc5 Rhg8 Ra3 Qb6 g5 Be8 Rg1 Rc8 Rc3 Bd6 Rg4 a5 · +0.70 · depth 17
Ra3 · +0.68 · depth 17
Nf6 Ba4 b3 Rc8 Rd2 Bd7 g5 Rhd8 Rxh4 a5 Nxd7+ Rxd7 · +0.00 · depth 16
Move 34: Take the central pawn with the bishop
Which bishop capture removes the pawn on e6? In the game: Bxe6. Bxe6 takes a central pawn after the rook exchange. Black repositions the bishop and White next captures on f7. The changed pawn balance makes the g-pawn advance more important. Count the remaining pawns and the bishop’s useful diagonals before assuming the ending is decided by material alone.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxe6 Be7 Bxf7 Bf8 g6 Bg7 Nh5 Bxe5 g7 Bxg7 Nxg7 Kd6 · +3.60 · depth 20
Bb3 Be7 c4 Bd7 Bd1 Bc5 Bh5 Be3 Bxf7 Bxg5 Nxd7 Kxd7 · -0.15 · depth 20
Bxb5 axb5 Kb2 Kb6 h3 Kc5 Kc3 Bc7 Ng4 b4+ Kb3 Bd8 · -0.22 · depth 20
Move 36: Support the bishop with a passer
Which pawn advance protects the bishop on f7? In the game: g6. g6 advances the passer while supporting the bishop. Black’s bishop guards squares near promotion, so White improves the knight and advances the e-pawn next. Study the two pawn threats together with the bishop’s support rather than trying to push the g-pawn without preparing the next square.
Engine-supported alternatives
g6 Bg7 c4 Bc6 Bd5 Ba4 Ka2 Kd8 Nh5 Bxe5 g7 Bxg7 · +3.72 · depth 19
Nh5 Be2 Nf4 Bg4 Ng6 Bb4 e6 Kd6 e7 Bd7 e8=B Bxe8 · +3.59 · depth 19
c4 Bc6 Bd5 Ba4 g6 Bg7 Ka2 Kd8 Nh5 Bxe5 g7 Bxg7 · +3.53 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
Both kings castle queenside, but the important play comes through the centre and kingside pawn structure. Kosintseva establishes a knight on f6, exchanges into an ending and removes central pawns with the bishop. The advancing g-pawn then works with the bishop and knight to restrict Black’s remaining pieces.
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 12–20. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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