GM Anton Demchenko (Slovenia) beat GM Richard Rapport (Hungary) in round 3 of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026 (Open), in 24 moves.
The game turned on 23.Kh2. Before it, Stockfish had the position as a small edge for Black (-0.44); one move later, winning for Black (-2.67).
Stockfish wanted 23.h4 instead. Can you see why? And 23...Qh4, the engine's best reply, came straight back.
The ratings said otherwise: Demchenko was 146 points lower. It began as the English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Flexible Line.
Replay it move by move, then take the key position on against the engine.
- White
- GM Richard Rapport, 2726 · Hungary
- Black
- GM Anton Demchenko, 2580 · Slovenia
- Result
- 0–1 in 24 moves
- Opening
- English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Flexible Line · A28
- Event
- 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 2026, Open, Round 3 · Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Key move: {0}
- 23.Kh2
- Engine’s choice
- 23.h4