The story behind the game
The queens disappear early, but the position remains tactically sensitive. Kosteniuk takes queenside pawns, brings the rook to the sixth rank and exchanges her bishop for a defender on e6. The resulting rook-and-knight play is a useful study in switching targets while respecting the opponent’s active rook.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Count the opponent’s pawn captures alongside your own.
- A rook on the sixth rank can attack and defend.
- An exchange can create a new pawn target.
- Use knight activity to support a rook’s next move.
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.
Bxb5 takes a queenside pawn in the queenless position. Black’s bishop takes on a2 in response, so White must count both pawn captures. The activity of the rook on d1 creates another target on d6. Compare that follow-up with Black’s active rook before choosing a quiet defence.
Rxd6 takes a central pawn with an active rook. Black brings the rook to b8 and White shifts the rook to a6. The rook’s sixth-rank activity helps White keep targets on both sides of the board. Check the bishop and knight support before assuming every pawn capture is safe.
Bxe6 trades the defender and changes Black’s pawn structure. Black recaptures with the f-pawn, and White’s rook then captures that pawn on e6. Black’s rook remains active on the b-file. Assess the resulting rook-and-knight position through piece activity and the remaining e-pawn, not just the immediate exchanges.
Nc4 adds pressure to the remaining central pawn. Black’s rook changes squares to defend and stay active. White later repeats the knight route and finds Rc6. Compare the rook’s ability to defend e5 with the knight’s safe squares rather than chasing the pawn with the rook alone.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 22: Take a pawn with the bishop
Which bishop capture removes Black’s pawn on b5? In the game: Bxb5. Bxb5 takes a queenside pawn in the queenless position. Black’s bishop takes on a2 in response, so White must count both pawn captures. The activity of the rook on d1 creates another target on d6. Compare that follow-up with Black’s active rook before choosing a quiet defence.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxb5 · +1.48 · depth 20
Be2 Ne8 Bxb5 Bxa2 Bxe8 Kxe8 Rxd6 Rb8 Rd2 Be6 Kf2 g6 · +0.51 · depth 19
Bf1 Ne8 Bxb5 Bxa2 Bxe8 Kxe8 Rxd6 Rb8 Rd2 Be6 Kf2 g6 · +0.32 · depth 19
Move 23: Use the sixth rank
Which rook capture removes the pawn on d6? In the game: Rxd6. Rxd6 takes a central pawn with an active rook. Black brings the rook to b8 and White shifts the rook to a6. The rook’s sixth-rank activity helps White keep targets on both sides of the board. Check the bishop and knight support before assuming every pawn capture is safe.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxd6 Be6 Rb6 Rc1+ Kf2 g5 Bc6 h5 Bd5 Nxd5 exd5 Bd7 · +1.48 · depth 20
Ba4 Ne8 · +0.40 · depth 20
Bf1 Rb8 Rxd6 Rxb2 Ra6 Nd7 Ra8+ Ke7 Bc4 Bxc4 Nxc4 Rb4 · +0.23 · depth 19
Move 26: Change the pawn target
Which bishop capture removes the bishop on e6? In the game: Bxe6. Bxe6 trades the defender and changes Black’s pawn structure. Black recaptures with the f-pawn, and White’s rook then captures that pawn on e6. Black’s rook remains active on the b-file. Assess the resulting rook-and-knight position through piece activity and the remaining e-pawn, not just the immediate exchanges.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxe6 Rb1+ Kf2 fxe6 Rxe6 Rb5 h4 Nh5 Nc4 Nf4 Rc6 Ke7 · +1.51 · depth 19
h4 Bd7 · +0.58 · depth 19
Ra8+ Ke7 Bxe6 Rb1+ Kf2 fxe6 Ra7+ Nd7 Kg3 Rc1 Ra2 Ke8 · +0.44 · depth 18
Move 28: Attack the remaining central pawn
Which knight move attacks the pawn on e5? In the game: Nc4. Nc4 adds pressure to the remaining central pawn. Black’s rook changes squares to defend and stay active. White later repeats the knight route and finds Rc6. Compare the rook’s ability to defend e5 with the knight’s safe squares rather than chasing the pawn with the rook alone.
Engine-supported alternatives
h4 · +2.18 · depth 20
Nc4 Rc5 Ne3 Nh5 g3 Nf6 g4 Kf7 Ra6 Rc7 Kf2 Nd7 · +1.73 · depth 20
h3 Rc5 h4 Kf7 Rb6 Nh5 Rb7+ Kf8 Nf5 g6 Rb8+ Kf7 · +1.57 · depth 20
Every piece has a part to play.
The queens disappear early, but the position remains tactically sensitive. Kosteniuk takes queenside pawns, brings the rook to the sixth rank and exchanges her bishop for a defender on e6. The resulting rook-and-knight play is a useful study in switching targets while respecting the opponent’s active rook.
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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