Rook vs Knight Ending Compilation
In the Pirc Defense group, we have an intense R vs 2 N and pawns ending, with pawns on both sides of the board. To help me understand these types of endings, which I hear are very difficult to play from the Knights side, I am going to write this post about all Rook vs Knight endings
- Rook vs Knight - pawnless
- Rook and Pawns vs Knight + pawns
- Rook vs 2 Kights - no pawns
- And building up towards Rook and 2 Knights with pawns on both sides
Since our side has the 2 Knights, I will lean most commentary towards that side, giving the scenarios that are more favorable, and why.
I will try to compile this from the view of 4 different ending books
- Dvoretsky's
- Silman's Endgame Course
- Pandolfini's Endgame Course
- Nunn's Understanding Chess Endgames
To start I will look at Rook vs Knight - to quote Pandolfini - "The horseman needs its majesty's aegis" or - Don't separate your Knight and King in general. And of course, knight on rim is dim.
W: Ke5 Rc6 B: Kb5 Ne8
Rc8 Ng7 Rg8 etcTogetherness
Rook and Pawn vs Knight and pawn
When there are 3 vs 3 or even 2 vs 2 pawns then the R will win, however there are drawing chances when the weaker side has an extra pawn.
http://www.chess.com/games/view?id=21409
I haven't found any good examples or this, but from what I can tell the general idea might be to try and get all the pawns on one side of the board, and keep the king close to both knights as much as possible.