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Not a simple rook endgame.


  • 19 months ago · Quote · #1

    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

    people.I will post the solution soon(with my doubts!)

  • 19 months ago · Quote · #2

    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 Rd5
    4 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 Kd6
    7 Ka4

    7 b6 Kc6, 8 b7 Ra5+, 9 Kb3 Rb5+, 10 Kc2 Rxc1, 11 Kxc1 Kxb7.

    7 ... Kc7

    Black 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.... Ra3
    2 b5 Ra5
    3 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! Rb1
    7 Rh6 Ke4
    8 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 Ra8
    5 b7 Rb8
    6 Rb6!

    White keeps Black off of the sixth rank.

    6 .... Ke5
    7 Kc3 Kd5
    8 Kb4

    Once again, White keeps Black away from the Pawn

    8... Kd5
    9 Ka5 Kd4
    10 Ka6 Kc6
    11 Ka7

    (Edited to correct a typo and missing moves.)

  • 19 months ago · Quote · #3

    Don3

    After 1 Kc2! Kf5 2 b5 Ra3 3 b6 Ra6 4 Rb1 Ra8 how 5 Re6 is possible?

  • 19 months ago · Quote · #4

    TomBarrister

    Don3 wrote:

    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.

  • 19 months ago · Quote · #5

    TomBarrister

    At that, I guess I spoiled it by posting the solution before you could.  Apologies for doing so.

  • 18 months ago · Quote · #6

    Don3

    But why is it important to take away d3 from the rook?

  • 18 months ago · Quote · #7

    TomBarrister

    Don3 wrote:

    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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