The story behind the game
Black’s rook and queen threaten White’s king, but Krush keeps active central pieces. The knight reaches d6 and both rooks later enter the seventh rank. A bishop capture on e6 changes which heavy pieces can survive. Compare the competing threats through each exchange instead of counting attackers only around one king.
Take these ideas to your next game
- A central knight can force a defender to choose a new square.
- Coordinate both rooks on an entry rank.
- A bishop offer can redirect the defending queen.
- A capture with check can interrupt a queen attack.
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 places the knight on an active central square. Black’s knights and rook also threaten White’s king, so the outpost must be judged concretely. The recorded continuation exchanges the knights and central pawns before White’s rooks invade. Compare those forcing captures before assuming the knight can stay on d6 indefinitely.
Rd7 prepares to coordinate both rooks on the seventh rank. Black moves the queen to g6, then White brings the c-rook to c7. The two rooks can create threats while also helping the defence. Compare Black’s queen checks with those active rook targets rather than counting only the attack near White’s king.
Bxe6 offers the bishop to redirect Black’s queen. Black’s queen on g6 protects the rook on h5. After the queen captures on e6, White’s queen can take that rook. Include Black’s subsequent pawn capture on a2 in the material count and inspect the continuing checks before declaring the position settled.
Rxf7 keeps the rooks active while taking a pawn. Black answers with queen checks in the recorded line. White later blocks a check by returning the rook to f2. The same active rook can collect a target and then defend, so calculate both roles before exchanging it automatically.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 25: Return to the advanced outpost
Which knight move reaches d6 and attacks the pawn on f7? In the game: Nd6. Nd6 places the knight on an active central square. Black’s knights and rook also threaten White’s king, so the outpost must be judged concretely. The recorded continuation exchanges the knights and central pawns before White’s rooks invade. Compare those forcing captures before assuming the knight can stay on d6 indefinitely.
Engine-supported alternatives
Kg1 Rg5 Nd6 Nc5 Be3 Rd8 Bxg5 hxg5 Nc4 b5 Rxd8+ Qxd8 · +1.05 · depth 17
Nd6 Nc5 f4 Rd8 Qxh5 Nxb3 axb3 Rxd6 Kg1 Rxd1+ Qxd1 Kh7 · +0.93 · depth 17
h4 Nc5 · +0.80 · depth 17
Move 31: Put the rook on the seventh rank
Which rook move from d1 enters the seventh rank? In the game: Rd7. Rd7 prepares to coordinate both rooks on the seventh rank. Black moves the queen to g6, then White brings the c-rook to c7. The two rooks can create threats while also helping the defence. Compare Black’s queen checks with those active rook targets rather than counting only the attack near White’s king.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rc3 Bd5 Bc2 Qh3 a3 b5 Qf1 Qg4 Qf2 Rf5 Rd4 Rxf2 · +0.58 · depth 17
Rd7 · +0.39 · depth 17
Rd4 Bd5 Bxd5 exd5 Rf4 Qg6 Rc7 Rf5 Qd3 Rxf4 Qxg6 fxg6 · +0.36 · depth 16
Move 33: Divert the queen from the rook
Which bishop capture removes the pawn on e6? In the game: Bxe6. Bxe6 offers the bishop to redirect Black’s queen. Black’s queen on g6 protects the rook on h5. After the queen captures on e6, White’s queen can take that rook. Include Black’s subsequent pawn capture on a2 in the material count and inspect the continuing checks before declaring the position settled.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bxe6 Qxe6 Qxh5 Qxa2 Bf2 a5 Rd1 Qe6 Re1 b5 Bd4 b4 · +2.50 · depth 19
Qe3 Rg5 Rd4 Bf5 Rxa7 Rc8 Rad7 Bh3 Rd8+ Rxd8 Rxd8+ Kh7 · +0.16 · depth 19
Rd4 Rg5 Rxa7 Bf5 Qe3 Rc8 Rad7 Bh3 Rd8+ Rxd8 Rxd8+ Kh7 · +0.14 · depth 19
Move 38: Keep the rooks working together
Which rook capture removes the pawn on f7? In the game: Rxf7. Rxf7 keeps the rooks active while taking a pawn. Black answers with queen checks in the recorded line. White later blocks a check by returning the rook to f2. The same active rook can collect a target and then defend, so calculate both roles before exchanging it automatically.
Engine-supported alternatives
Qxf7+ Bxf7 Rxd2 Re6 Rdd7 Rf6 Rd8+ Kh7 Rd2 Kg6 Rf2 b5 · +4.45 · depth 19
Rxf7 Qd4+ Kh2 g5 Qf2 Qxf2+ Rxf2 a5 Rd2 Be6 hxg5 hxg5 · +4.25 · depth 19
Re7 Rxe7 Rxe7 Qd4+ Kh2 Qa4 Re5 Bc6 Qf2 Qd1 Re1 Qd3 · +2.77 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
Black’s rook and queen threaten White’s king, but Krush keeps active central pieces. The knight reaches d6 and both rooks later enter the seventh rank. A bishop capture on e6 changes which heavy pieces can survive. Compare the competing threats through each exchange instead of counting attackers only around one king.
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 12–21. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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