ONE BRILLIANT MOMENT
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Alexandra Kosteniuk vs Xie Jun · 2004 · move 33.
Instead of the historical Rh5, which h-pawn advance keeps the rooks on the board?
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.
Before reaching for a move, identify the opponent’s immediate threat and the piece you most want to improve. Then compare checks, captures and quiet moves. The complete interactive lesson will let you test your answer without revealing the historical continuation first.
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