The story behind the game
A knight outpost on d6 becomes a supported passed pawn after an exchange. Krush then advances her king into the centre while Black’s rooks remain occupied with that pawn. The ending culminates in a rook offer that changes the promotion threats. Follow the king’s route and the pawn’s support as one connected plan.
Take these ideas to your next game
- An outpost can turn into a supported passed pawn.
- A central king is an attacking piece in an ending.
- Tie down rooks before advancing the king.
- Calculate a rook offer through the pawn recapture.
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.
Nd6 reaches an outpost with a concrete threat. Black moves the queen and White reinforces the kingside. The knight’s position restricts Black’s pieces, but White still needs to consider exchanges. Follow what happens to the e-pawn if Black trades a knight on d6.
exd6 creates an advanced passed pawn with rook support. The rook on d2 protects the pawn from behind, while White’s bishop can find a useful diagonal. Black’s rooks must watch the d-file. Compare the pawn’s support after each piece move instead of assuming an advanced pawn is safe by itself.
Ke4 begins the king’s route into Black’s position. Black checks with the bishop during the recorded king march, so each destination must be verified. The passed pawn and active rook limit Black’s choices. Follow the king’s safe squares rather than memorizing an advance that would fail in a different structure.
Rxb5 changes the material balance through a forcing sequence. Black captures White’s other rook on c7 with check, and the d-pawn recaptures there. Black’s a-pawn then takes the rook on b5. Count both rooks and the passed pawn before assessing the bishop move that ends the recorded game.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 18: Reach the advanced outpost
Which knight move attacks the bishop on b7? In the game: Nd6. Nd6 reaches an outpost with a concrete threat. Black moves the queen and White reinforces the kingside. The knight’s position restricts Black’s pieces, but White still needs to consider exchanges. Follow what happens to the e-pawn if Black trades a knight on d6.
Engine-supported alternatives
Be3 Qg6 Qxg6 hxg6 Bxc5 bxc5 h4 Bc6 Rab1 Be4 Rbc1 Bc6 · +0.29 · depth 20
Nd6 Qg6 Qxg6 hxg6 Be3 Bc6 Bxc5 bxc5 h4 Rfd8 Rdb1 f6 · +0.28 · depth 20
f3 Qg6 · +0.18 · depth 20
Move 24: Turn the outpost into a passer
Which pawn recapture removes the knight on d6? In the game: exd6. exd6 creates an advanced passed pawn with rook support. The rook on d2 protects the pawn from behind, while White’s bishop can find a useful diagonal. Black’s rooks must watch the d-file. Compare the pawn’s support after each piece move instead of assuming an advanced pawn is safe by itself.
Engine-supported alternatives
exd6 Bd7 Be3 Rfc8 c5 bxc5 Rb1 Rab8 Rxb8 Rxb8 Bxc5 a6 · +0.01 · depth 22
Rxd6 Rfc8 Be3 Bb7 Rd7 Ba6 c5 bxc5 Rb1 Kf8 Rd6 Bc4 · -0.11 · depth 22
g5 Nxc4 gxh6 Nxd2 hxg7 Kxg7 Bxd2 Kg6 Kf2 Rfd8 Bb4 Bxf3 · -4.18 · depth 22
Move 34: Bring the king behind the pawn
Which king move from e3 approaches d5? In the game: Ke4. Ke4 begins the king’s route into Black’s position. Black checks with the bishop during the recorded king march, so each destination must be verified. The passed pawn and active rook limit Black’s choices. Follow the king’s safe squares rather than memorizing an advance that would fail in a different structure.
Engine-supported alternatives
Ke4 Ba4 Kd5 Bb3+ Kc6 Be6 Re2 g5 Re4 Kg6 Bc5 Rd8 · +2.89 · depth 20
Rc5 f5 gxf5 Rxf5 Rxb5 axb5 Ke4 Kf7 Kd5 Rf4 Rb2 Rc4 · +2.15 · depth 20
Rd5 Ba4 Ke4 h5 Rd3 hxg4 fxg4 g5 Kd5 Kg6 Rdc3 Bd1 · +1.96 · depth 19
Move 40: Offer a rook to change the promotion threats
Which rook capture removes the bishop on b5? In the game: Rxb5. Rxb5 changes the material balance through a forcing sequence. Black captures White’s other rook on c7 with check, and the d-pawn recaptures there. Black’s a-pawn then takes the rook on b5. Count both rooks and the passed pawn before assessing the bishop move that ends the recorded game.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxb5 Rxd6 Rb2 f5 Rxf7+ Kxf7 Kb7 e4 fxe4 fxe4 Re2 Re6 · +5.64 · depth 20
Kb7 Ba4 Kxa6 f5 Kb7 Kf6 gxf5 gxf5 Rd2 Ke6 a6 Rf8 · +4.42 · depth 19
g5 Ba4 gxh6+ Kxh6 Kb7 Bb3 Rd2 Bc4 Kc6 Bb5+ Kd5 g5 · +3.94 · depth 19
Every piece has a part to play.
A knight outpost on d6 becomes a supported passed pawn after an exchange. Krush then advances her king into the centre while Black’s rooks remain occupied with that pawn. The ending culminates in a rook offer that changes the promotion threats. Follow the king’s route and the pawn’s support as one connected plan.
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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