The story behind the game
This 2004 Olympiad game passes from an active-rook middlegame into a same-coloured-bishop ending. Xie Jun brings her king forward and creates queenside pressure, but the winning result does not make every recorded decision strongest. Two exercises compare the historical choice with a stronger saved candidate, including a pawn advance that allowed White a defensive resource.
Take these ideas to your next game
- An active rook can attack a pawn while preparing to double.
- Before exchanging the last rooks, compare the bishop ending carefully.
- Use the king to support queenside pawn pressure.
- Keep pawn tension when releasing it gives the defender a clear reply.
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.
Rf5 activates the rook against f3. The other rook later comes to f7 to double on the file. White can contest open files and challenge the queenside pawns, so the attacking target does not justify ignoring the rest of the position. Compare the active rook arrangement with the other saved candidates.
h5 is a stronger saved candidate than the recorded rook exchange. The saved analysis also accepts Rf7. In the game Black played Rh5, White exchanged rooks and the g-pawn recaptured. The bishop ending still contained chances, but its doubled h-pawns and queenside play needed fresh assessment. A finite search preference does not prove a forced win.
Kd5 activates the king toward the queenside. Black follows with b4 and brings the king through d4 to d3 in the score. White’s king has to travel from the kingside toward the same wing. Compare the speed of those routes and the bishop’s defensive squares before advancing another pawn.
Bf6 is one supported bishop retreat that preserves Black’s queenside pressure. The saved candidates also accept Be1 and Bd2. The historical b3 allowed axb3, and the saved evaluation then became near level. Black eventually won after later play, so the result must not be used to label b3 as a forced winning breakthrough. Study White’s response as well as Black’s attacking plan.
Result: 0-1. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 22: Lift the rook toward a target
Which rook move attacks the f3-pawn along the f-file? In the game: Rf5. Rf5 activates the rook against f3. The other rook later comes to f7 to double on the file. White can contest open files and challenge the queenside pawns, so the attacking target does not justify ignoring the rest of the position. Compare the active rook arrangement with the other saved candidates.
Engine-supported alternatives
Be5 Bd4 Bxd4 Rxd4 Rdf7 Rd3 c6 a4 a5 bxa5 Kc7 Rb1 · -1.20 · depth 18
Rf5 Rd1 · -0.83 · depth 18
b6 Rd1 Rf5 a4 Kb7 b5 Bc5 f4 Rdf7 Rg5 Be7 Rxf5 · -0.80 · depth 17
Move 33: Keep the rook while gaining space
Instead of the historical Rh5, which h-pawn advance keeps the rooks on the board? In the game: Rh5. h5 is a stronger saved candidate than the recorded rook exchange. The saved analysis also accepts Rf7. In the game Black played Rh5, White exchanged rooks and the g-pawn recaptured. The bishop ending still contained chances, but its doubled h-pawns and queenside play needed fresh assessment. A finite search preference does not prove a forced win.
Engine-supported alternatives
h5 Rd4 b5 f4 Ke6 Kf3 Rd5 Re4+ Kf5 Be3 Rd3 Re8 · -1.26 · depth 21
Rf7 · -1.20 · depth 21
Rh5 Rxh5 gxh5 a4 Ke6 f4 Kf5 Kf3 b5 axb5 axb5 h3 · -0.67 · depth 20
Move 37: Advance the king toward the queenside
Which king move from e6 approaches the queenside pawns? In the game: Kd5. Kd5 activates the king toward the queenside. Black follows with b4 and brings the king through d4 to d3 in the score. White’s king has to travel from the kingside toward the same wing. Compare the speed of those routes and the bishop’s defensive squares before advancing another pawn.
Engine-supported alternatives
b4 Kf1 Kd5 f4 a5 Ke2 Ke4 f3+ Kf5 Be3 Bxf4 Bc5 · -1.58 · depth 22
Kd5 Kf1 b4 f4 a5 Ke2 Ke4 f3+ Kf5 Be3 Bxf4 Bc5 · -1.55 · depth 22
Ke5 Kf1 Kd4 Ke2 b4 Kd1 Kd3 f4 Ke4 Ke2 a5 f3+ · -1.49 · depth 22
Move 46: Preserve the queenside tension
Instead of the historical b3, which bishop retreat to the long diagonal keeps both queenside pawns in place? In the game: b3. Bf6 is one supported bishop retreat that preserves Black’s queenside pressure. The saved candidates also accept Be1 and Bd2. The historical b3 allowed axb3, and the saved evaluation then became near level. Black eventually won after later play, so the result must not be used to label b3 as a forced winning breakthrough. Study White’s response as well as Black’s attacking plan.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bf6 f4 · -1.86 · depth 20
Be1 Bb6 Bc3 Bc5 Bd2 f4 Ke4 Be3 Bc3 Kc2 Bf6 Bc1 · -1.92 · depth 19
Bd2 f4 Bxf4 Bxb4 Ke2 Bc5 Be5 Kc2 Kf3 Kd3 Bf6 Bd6 · -1.91 · depth 19
b3 axb3 · -0.10 · depth 23
Every piece has a part to play.
This 2004 Olympiad game passes from an active-rook middlegame into a same-coloured-bishop ending. Xie Jun brings her king forward and creates queenside pressure, but the winning result does not make every recorded decision strongest. Two exercises compare the historical choice with a stronger saved candidate, including a pawn advance that allowed White a defensive resource.
Look a little deeper
Play on the board or type your move. Strong engine-supported alternatives receive credit.
Future moves stay hidden until you continue.
Try a different path.
Select a key moment to explore legal continuations supported by saved Stockfish analysis.
Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 9–22. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
Download complete engine evidence