1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez Opening.

3...a6

Morphy's idea forcing Kosteniuk to make a decision about the future of her bishop.

4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5

Developing another minor piece and threatening ...Ng4.

6.c3
Giving her bishop an escape route in case Stefanova plays ..b5.

6...b5 The main continuation in this variation forcing the White bishop back. 7.Bb3 d6
Supporting her e-pawn and opening up the diagonal for her light-squared bishop.

8.d4
Attacking in the center.

8...Bb6 Preserving central tension.

13.d5

Kosteniuk decides to close the center. [Analysis:White usually plays the move axb5 here: 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8 15.Qd3 Na5 16.Bd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 e4 18.Rxe4 Rxe4 19.Qxe4 g5 20.Bxg5 hxg5 =] Returning to the moves played in the game:
13...Na5 Attacking the bishop.

14.Ba2 c6N

15.Nbd2

Kosteniuk develops her last minor piece,protecting her e-pawn. [Analysis: Other ideas were to play (a) 15.Bxf6 (Fritz 7) ie. 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Na3 cxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 or; (b)Hiarcs 8: 15.axb5 cxb5 16.b4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.Na3 Rc8 19.Qe2 g5 20.Bg3 a5 ]

15...g5

16.Nxg5!?

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bg3 Nb7 (18...Nc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.Rxa8 Bxa8) 19.b4 Qc7 ] The game continued:

16...hxg5

[16...cxd5? doesn't lead to anything significant 17.Nh3 Nc4 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Nxc4 Bxc4 20.Qf3 ]

17.Bxg5 Kg7

Overprotecting her knight,which frees up her queen. [Analysis:Fritz 8: 17...bxa4 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Bd5 Rb8 20.Qf3 Kg7 =]

18.b4

Attacking the knight winning a tempo.
18...Nc4
19.Bxc4

[Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 19.Nxc4!? bxc4 (a)Fritz 7: 20.a5 ((b)Hiarcs 8: 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.a5 Ba7 22.Bxc4 Bb5 23.Bxb5 axb5 24.Qf3 Rc8 ) 20...Ba7 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.Bxc4 Bb7] Returning to the moves played in the game:
19...bxc4

20.Nxc4

Now Kosteniuk has three pawns for the piece. [Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Nxc4 Bc7 22.Qf3 Re6 23.Ne3 Qg8 24.Nf5+ Kh8 25.Nxd6 Qg6 26.Bxf6+ Rxf6 27.Nf5 Re8 ]

The game continued:
20...cxd5 21.exd5 Ba7

Analysis:Hiarcs 8: 21...Rc8 22.Bxf6+ Kxf6 23.Qf3+ Ke7 24.Nxe5 dxe5 25.d6+ Qxd6 26.Qxb7+ Rc7 27.Qe4 f6 =]

Now Kosteniuk blunders when she plays:

22.Qf3??

Analysis:The Shredder 8 chess program gave this move the ?? (blunder) annotation stating: "this move [gives the opponent counterplay. [Analysis:Better was >=22.Ne3 and White is still in the game 22...Kg6 23.Bh4 Rh8 24.Qb1+ Kg7 25.Qf5 Rh6 26.Ng4 Rxh4 27.Qg5+ Kf8 28.Qxh4 Nxg4 29.Qxg4 Bxd5 ]

Returning to the moves played in the game:

22...Bxd5

23.Bxf6+
[Analysis:Worse is 23.Qxd5? Nxd5 24.Bxd8 Rexd8 25.Rad1 Nxc3 26.Rxd6 Rxd6 27.Nxd6]

Play in the game continued:
23...Qxf6

24.Qxd5 Bxf2+

25.Kh1 Rh8

Creating the threat of 26...Rxh2 27.Kxh2 Qh4 checkmate. [Analysis:Shredder 8: 25...Bxe1 26.Rxe1 Rad8 27.Ne3 Qe6 28.Qf3 d5] The game continued:

26.h3 Qf5

[Analysis: Not 26...Bxe1 27.Rxe1 Rad8 28.Ne3=]

27.Rg1??

Strolling merrily down the path to disaster [Better was >=27.Re3 Bxe3 28.Nxe3 Rxh3+ 29.Kg1 Rxe3 30.Rf1 ]

The game concluded: