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Don3
Hey guys.The below given position looks like a simple rook endgame,doesn't it?(Just like any other instructive rook endgame!)But it's not so.In this position just one move can make white win.I find this position very instructive and I found it out on a chess magazine.The main reason I'am putting it infront of you is I myself have many doubts regarding this position that I want to share with you
TomBarrister
The ending is a win for White, albeit not a simple win.
If it were Black's move, 1 ... Kf5 would draw> The main line is as follows:
2 b5 Rd3!
The only move that draws. Black's threat is Rd5, followed by Rb5(+).
3 Ka2 Rd54 Rb1 Ke5
Or 4... Ke6. Black gets within the "square" of the Pawn.
5 Ka3
If 5 b6 Ra5+, 6 Kb2 Rb5+, 7 Kc2, Rxc1, 8 Kxc1, Kd6 catches the pawn .
6 Ka3 Kd67 Ka4
7 b6 Kc6, 8 b7 Ra5+, 9 Kb3 Rb5+, 10 Kc2 Rxc1, 11 Kxc1 Kxb7.
7 ... Kc7Black gets in front of the Pawn.
White wins by taking d3 away from the Rook.
1 Kc2! Kf5
The Rook has to stay on the third rank, in order to keep White's King from getting too near to the Pawn.
The other possibility is:
1.... Ra32 b5 Ra53 b6 Rc5+ 4 Kd3 Rd5 5 Re6
The reason that 1... Kf5 would draw, if Black moved first, as now Re6 wouldn't be feasible.
5... Kf5 6 Kc4! Rb17 Rh6 Ke48 Kc5
and White will promote.
2 b5!
This is now possible, as d3 is covered.
2... Ra3
Black tries to approach from the other side of the Pawn.
3 b6 Ra6
3... Ra8, 4 Kc3 Rb8, 5 Rb1 Ke6, 6 Kc4 Kd6, 7 Kb5 (White keeps Black out of c6) Kd7, 8 Ra7 Rb7 (other moves also lose), 9 Kc6! Rb8, 10 Rb7. There are other lines, but White has just enough tempo to win.
4 Rb1 Ra85 b7 Rb86 Rb6!
White keeps Black off of the sixth rank.
6 .... Ke57 Kc3 Kd58 Kb4
Once again, White keeps Black away from the Pawn
8... Kd59 Ka5 Kd410 Ka6 Kc611 Ka7
(Edited to correct a typo and missing moves.)
After 1 Kc2! Kf5 2 b5 Ra3 3 b6 Ra6 4 Rb1 Ra8 how 5 Re6 is possible?
It's not. I was working back and forth with different variations and omitted a full move in the analysis (5 b7 Rb8) followed by 6 Rb6 (not Re6). The line has been corrected.
At that, I guess I spoiled it by posting the solution before you could. Apologies for doing so.
But why is it important to take away d3 from the rook?
Look at the analysis in blue and you'll see why d3 is important.
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