The story behind the game
This 2004 Olympiad game shows why a central counterstrike can be stronger than defending one wing passively. Humpy opens the d-file, exploits a knight’s alignment with its queen and later coordinates both knights in a queen-and-minor-piece position. The tactical gain grows out of the changed pawn structure.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Check central counterplay when the opponent advances on a wing.
- A piece pinned to its queen may be an unreliable defender.
- After a rook exchange, reassess the knight’s attacking squares.
- Coordinate two knights around a useful central entry square.
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.
d5 challenges the centre while both sides have advanced pieces. The recorded pawn exchange opens lines for the rook and bishop. The important consequence is the relationship between the white knights and queen. Compare the forcing central captures before choosing a move that only responds to the queenside pawn gain.
Rxd4 exploits the fact that the b5-knight cannot freely leave its diagonal. A knight capture of the rook would expose the queen to the a6-bishop. That makes the apparent defender unreliable. Check the complete diagonal and White’s other replies before counting the capture as safe; the saved lines show the resulting material advantage.
Nd7 gains a tempo against the active rook. White answers in the game by exchanging on c8, after which Black’s queen recaptures. That changes the tasks of the remaining pieces. Compare the queen checks, the other knight’s route and the pawn targets instead of assuming the rook exchange removes Black’s activity.
Nd5 coordinates the two knights around the c3 entry square. The recorded knight entry is followed by a bishop capture and a central pawn recapture. Each exchange changes which squares and pieces are attacked. Calculate that sequence with the queen on the board rather than using a general rule about centralized knights.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 24: Open the central contest
White has captured on b5. Which advance by the d6-pawn challenges the pawn on e4? In the game: d5. d5 challenges the centre while both sides have advanced pieces. The recorded pawn exchange opens lines for the rook and bishop. The important consequence is the relationship between the white knights and queen. Compare the forcing central captures before choosing a move that only responds to the queenside pawn gain.
Engine-supported alternatives
d5 Qh4 Rd7 Be3 dxe4 Bxe4 Bf6 Rxf6 Bxe4 Rf2 Bd5 Rfc2 · +0.19 · depth 17
Rd7 · +0.47 · depth 17
Ba6 a4 d5 exd5 exd5 Qh4 Qb6 Rce1 Nc4 Bg5 Rc8 Ba2 · +1.41 · depth 16
Move 27: Capture the pinned knight’s partner
Which rook capture takes the knight on d4 while the b5-knight is aligned with its queen? In the game: Rxd4. Rxd4 exploits the fact that the b5-knight cannot freely leave its diagonal. A knight capture of the rook would expose the queen to the a6-bishop. That makes the apparent defender unreliable. Check the complete diagonal and White’s other replies before counting the capture as safe; the saved lines show the resulting material advantage.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxd4 a4 Rxa4 Bc3 Rxe4 Qxe4 Bxb5 Bxe5 Bxe5 Rd1 Bg7 Qc2 · -4.15 · depth 20
Nf6 Rxf6 Bxf6 Bc3 Nd7 Rc6 Bxd4 Rxa6 Bxc3 Nxc3 Qf4 Rxe6 · -2.38 · depth 20
Bf8 Rxf8+ · -1.96 · depth 20
Move 32: Attack the rook with the knight
Which move by the e5-knight attacks the rook on c5? In the game: Nd7. Nd7 gains a tempo against the active rook. White answers in the game by exchanging on c8, after which Black’s queen recaptures. That changes the tasks of the remaining pieces. Compare the queen checks, the other knight’s route and the pawn targets instead of assuming the rook exchange removes Black’s activity.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nf7 Bd2 Rxc5 bxc5 Qe5 Qc4 Nf6 Bf3 Qb2 Be3 Nd5 Bxd5 · -3.04 · depth 20
Nd7 Rc6 Bxb5 Qxb5 Bxc3 Qc4 Rxc6 Bxc6 Qxb4 Qxe6+ Kg7 Qxd7+ · -2.89 · depth 20
Rxc5 bxc5 · -2.61 · depth 20
Move 41: Support the other knight’s entry
Which move by the f6-knight supports a future entry on c3 by the knight on a4? In the game: Nd5. Nd5 coordinates the two knights around the c3 entry square. The recorded knight entry is followed by a bishop capture and a central pawn recapture. Each exchange changes which squares and pieces are attacked. Calculate that sequence with the queen on the board rather than using a general rule about centralized knights.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nb6 Qe2 Nbd5 Kg1 h5 h3 Qxh3 g4 Bxb5 Bxb5 Qg3+ Kf1 · -4.96 · depth 20
Nd5 Kg1 Nab6 Qe2 h5 g4 Qe5 Qxe5 Bxe5 Na7 Bd4+ Kg2 · -4.71 · depth 20
Bxb5 Qxb5 Qb1+ Kg2 Qc2 Kh3 Qxd2 Qc4 h5 Bxa4 Kh7 Bb5 · -4.69 · depth 19
Every piece has a part to play.
This 2004 Olympiad game shows why a central counterstrike can be stronger than defending one wing passively. Humpy opens the d-file, exploits a knight’s alignment with its queen and later coordinates both knights in a queen-and-minor-piece position. The tactical gain grows out of the changed pawn structure.
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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