The story behind the game
In the first semifinal game of the 2008 women’s world championship, Kosteniuk’s active rooks and bishop create pressure on the b-file before the play shifts to the centre. A bishop capture allows Black to take a rook, but the e-pawn then recaptures and keeps moving. Follow which piece makes the last capture in the sequence.
Take these ideas to your next game
- A bishop can support a rook entry while capturing a pawn.
- Use king safety and piece clearance to bring another rook into play.
- A bishop retreat can create a new diagonal toward the centre.
- Calculate the pawn’s recaptures after a rook is offered.
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.
Bxa6 captures a pawn and adds support for a b-file invasion. Black can contest that invasion with the rook and later capture White’s a-pawn. The point is to compare the activity and the supported entry squares, not merely the first pawn gain. Trace the bishop’s diagonal before judging a rook capture on b7.
Rhb1 doubles the rooks on the b-file. The doubled rooks force Black to account for pressure near the king, but the game later changes its focus. Watch how White keeps useful central squares while Black defends the file. An attacking setup should be reassessed when the defender’s pieces reorganize.
Bh3 gives the bishop a diagonal toward the central pawn. The move prepares a capture while the white rook stands on d6. Black can attack that rook with the knight, so the next calculation must include the pawn recaptures as well as the bishop. Compare the two threats on the actual board.
Bxe6 begins a sequence that creates a dangerous passed pawn. The recorded knight capture on d6 is answered by the pawn, and after another bishop capture that pawn takes a rook on e7. Recount the material at the end of this sequence and inspect the remaining promotion threats. The combination depends on the pawn’s route, not only on the first capture.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 22: Capture and support the entry square
Which bishop capture takes the a6-pawn and supports a rook reaching b7? In the game: Bxa6. Bxa6 captures a pawn and adds support for a b-file invasion. Black can contest that invasion with the rook and later capture White’s a-pawn. The point is to compare the activity and the supported entry squares, not merely the first pawn gain. Trace the bishop’s diagonal before judging a rook capture on b7.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxa6 Rc7 Rh4 Ka8 Be2 Rxc3 Rg4 g6 h6 Nc6 Rf4 Be8 · +1.97 · depth 19
Kd2 Rc7 Bxa6 Nc6 Bd3 Be8 a5 Nxa5 Nd4 Rf7 Ke3 Bd7 · +1.85 · depth 19
Rh4 Ka8 · +1.61 · depth 19
Move 25: Recruit the second rook
Which move brings the h1-rook onto the b-file behind the rook on b4? In the game: Rhb1. Rhb1 doubles the rooks on the b-file. The doubled rooks force Black to account for pressure near the king, but the game later changes its focus. Watch how White keeps useful central squares while Black defends the file. An attacking setup should be reassessed when the defender’s pieces reorganize.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rhb1 b5 Rf4 Be8 Nd4 h6 g4 Re7 Ke3 Rc7 Rb3 Rg8 · +2.58 · depth 20
Bd3 h6 · +1.48 · depth 20
Nd4 Nc6 Nxc6+ Bxc6 f3 Rf8 Bd3 h6 Rhb1 Rcc8 Ke3 Kc7 · +1.42 · depth 19
Move 32: Change the bishop’s diagonal
Which move by the f1-bishop attacks the pawn on e6? In the game: Bh3. Bh3 gives the bishop a diagonal toward the central pawn. The move prepares a capture while the white rook stands on d6. Black can attack that rook with the knight, so the next calculation must include the pawn recaptures as well as the bishop. Compare the two threats on the actual board.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bh3 Rc4 Rdb6 Bc8 R1b2 Ka8 Bg4 Ra4 Rd6 Kb8 Nxe6 Ra1 · +3.14 · depth 19
Rdb6 Nc8 R6b2 Na7 Ba6 Bc8 Bd3 Bd7 Ra1 Rc5 Rba2 Nc8 · +2.65 · depth 19
Ra6 Nc6 Bd3 Re8 Ra3 Nxd4 cxd4 Rf8 Rab3 Be8 Rh1 Bd7 · +2.39 · depth 18
Move 33: Follow the pawn after the rook is taken
Which bishop capture begins the recorded sequence in which the e5-pawn recaptures on d6? In the game: Bxe6. Bxe6 begins a sequence that creates a dangerous passed pawn. The recorded knight capture on d6 is answered by the pawn, and after another bishop capture that pawn takes a rook on e7. Recount the material at the end of this sequence and inspect the remaining promotion threats. The combination depends on the pawn’s route, not only on the first capture.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxe6 Bxe6 Rxe6 Rxe6 Nxe6 Re7 Nd4 Kc7 Kd3 b6 Re1 Rf7 · +4.26 · depth 21
Bg4 Rc4 Ra6 Kc7 Ra2 Kb8 Bd1 Kc7 Rab2 b6 Ra2 Rc5 · +2.74 · depth 20
Bf1 Re8 Ra6 b6 Bh3 Re7 g4 Re8 Ra2 Rc5 g5 hxg5 · +2.71 · depth 20
Every piece has a part to play.
In the first semifinal game of the 2008 women’s world championship, Kosteniuk’s active rooks and bishop create pressure on the b-file before the play shifts to the centre. A bishop capture allows Black to take a rook, but the e-pawn then recaptures and keeps moving. Follow which piece makes the last capture in the sequence.
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 13–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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