The story behind the game
After an early queen exchange, Mamedyarov gains kingside space and fixes Black’s pieces with advanced pawns. His king later enters the centre, and a pawn break removes a defensive obstacle. The final promotion still allows checks, making the lesson as much about keeping the king safe as about pushing the pawn.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Gain space while keeping a central pawn break available.
- Fix a defender before changing the pawn structure.
- Use a pawn break to open a route for the king.
- Calculate the checks that follow a promotion.
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.
g5 creates a concrete decision for Black’s pawn cover. Black captures with the f-pawn, opening further possibilities for White’s e-pawn and h-pawn. White must keep the rooks coordinated while changing the structure. Calculate the next central move instead of recapturing automatically.
e5 gains time against the rook before the kingside recapture. The rook retreats to d7 and White recaptures on g5 with the h-pawn. White can then advance that pawn to g6, tying down Black’s defenders. The central tempo is what makes the sequence more than a routine exchange of wing pawns.
d5 changes the centre and opens a route for the king. Black’s bishop captures on d5, after which White’s king advances to d4. The king then reaches c3 to remove Black’s dangerous passed pawn. Evaluate the pawn offer through that king route and the continuing support for the g-pawn.
g7 forces Black to address promotion while keeping checking chances. Black improves the bishop, but White promotes in the recorded line. Black’s rook then checks by taking on c2. Promotion is not the end of the calculation: trace the king’s escape squares and the new queen’s defensive role as well.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 29: Attack the base of the pawn cover
Which g-pawn advance challenges the pawn on f6? In the game: g5. g5 creates a concrete decision for Black’s pawn cover. Black captures with the f-pawn, opening further possibilities for White’s e-pawn and h-pawn. White must keep the rooks coordinated while changing the structure. Calculate the next central move instead of recapturing automatically.
Engine-supported alternatives
g5 · +0.39 · depth 19
gxh5 Bxh5 f3 Be8 Bb3 a5 a3 Kf8 a4 bxa4 Bxa4 Nb4 · +0.14 · depth 18
f3 hxg4 fxg4 Na5 Bd3 Nc6 · +0.00 · depth 18
Move 30: Gain a tempo against the rook
Which e-pawn advance attacks the rook on d6? In the game: e5. e5 gains time against the rook before the kingside recapture. The rook retreats to d7 and White recaptures on g5 with the h-pawn. White can then advance that pawn to g6, tying down Black’s defenders. The central tempo is what makes the sequence more than a routine exchange of wing pawns.
Engine-supported alternatives
e5 R6d7 · +0.43 · depth 19
hxg5 Na5 f3 Nc4+ Kf2 e5 d5 R6d7 Bd3 Rc7 f4 exf4 · +0.46 · depth 18
a4 Na5 Bd3 bxa4 e5 Rd5 Bxa6 Nc6 Bc4 Ra5 hxg5 a3 · -0.47 · depth 18
Move 48: Open a route for the king
Which central pawn advance challenges the pawn on e6? In the game: d5. d5 changes the centre and opens a route for the king. Black’s bishop captures on d5, after which White’s king advances to d4. The king then reaches c3 to remove Black’s dangerous passed pawn. Evaluate the pawn offer through that king route and the continuing support for the g-pawn.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rh1 Rb8 Rh7 Rg8 f5 exf5 Bxf5+ Ke7 a4 Ba2 Bc2 Bc4 · +2.01 · depth 20
d5 Bxd5 Kd4 Ba2 Kxc3 Kc6 Kd4 Kb6 Rh2 Rc8 f5 exf5 · +2.00 · depth 20
Ba4+ Ke7 Bc2 Kd7 Rh2 Rc8 f5 exf5 Bxf5+ Be6 Bc2 Bc4 · +1.99 · depth 20
Move 59: Push toward promotion
Which pawn advance threatens promotion on g8? In the game: g7. g7 forces Black to address promotion while keeping checking chances. Black improves the bishop, but White promotes in the recorded line. Black’s rook then checks by taking on c2. Promotion is not the end of the calculation: trace the king’s escape squares and the new queen’s defensive role as well.
Engine-supported alternatives
g7 Be4 g8=Q Rxc2+ Kb3 Rc3+ Ka4 Rc5 Rg2 Bc6+ Kb3 a4+ · +4.53 · depth 19
Kb1 Kc5 g7 Kc6 Rg3 Rxf4 g8=R Kb7 Rd3 Be4 · +4.48 · depth 18
Kc1 Bc4 g7 a4 g8=R Bd5 Rg4 Ke3 Rg1 Rxf4 R8g3+ Kf2 · +4.41 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
After an early queen exchange, Mamedyarov gains kingside space and fixes Black’s pieces with advanced pawns. His king later enters the centre, and a pawn break removes a defensive obstacle. The final promotion still allows checks, making the lesson as much about keeping the king safe as about pushing the pawn.
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 11–20. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
Download complete engine evidence