GM Fabiano Caruana (United States of America) beat GM Sumiya Bilguun (Mongolia) in round 2 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026 (Open), in 43 moves.
The game turned on 26...O-O-O. Before it, Stockfish had the position as a clear advantage for White (+2.19); one move later, winning for White (+2.86). It was played with 1:03 left on the clock.
Stockfish wanted 26...Kf8 instead. Can you see why? And 27.Nxd5, the engine's best reply, came straight back.
It began as the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation.
Replay it move by move, then take the key position on against the engine.
- White
- GM Fabiano Caruana, 2789 · United States of America
- Black
- GM Sumiya Bilguun, 2414 · Mongolia
- Result
- 1–0 in 43 moves
- Opening
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation · D31
- Event
- 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026, Open, Round 2 · Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Key move: {0}
- 26...O-O-O
- Engine’s choice
- 26...Kf8