The final round in Moscow

Olga Rubtsova vs Lyudmila Rudenko

Women’s world championship · 1956 · 1-0

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0 / 55 half-moves

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The story behind the moves

A masterpiece, move by move

Rubtsova’s last-round victory in the three-player 1956 championship ends in a king-and-pawn position.

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11. e5

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Strike in the center. White advances the e-pawn, attacking the knight on f6. Black replies ...Nd5, and a series of exchanges soon removes the queens.

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17. Rxd7+

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Exchange the active pieces. The rook captures the bishop on d7 with check. After ...Rxd7 and Nxd7, Black’s king takes the knight, leaving one rook and a minor piece on each side.

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26. Bxe6

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Reach a pawn ending. Rubtsova exchanges the bishop for the knight. Both kings enter the center, and White follows with b4 to create queenside space.