Is rook & king v. rook & king always a draw?

Sort:
Avatar of dillydream

It seems to me that there is no way for either side to get a win if each side has just a king and one rook.  Am I correct, or is there a way?

Avatar of gztgztgzt

Unless there's something going on which forces something in the next move or two, yes, it's a draw. An example where it isn't a draw: White has a King on g6 and a Rook on b2, Black has a King on g8 and a Rook on h8. Black is toast even if it is his move. Try to figure out why without setting up a board. Another one to try without setting up the board: White King on e2, White Rook on a2; Black King on c7, Black Rook on g7. Whoever has the move wins. Without something like that, it's a draw.

Avatar of dillydream

Thanks for answering my question, although I'm afraid I did have to set up the board in order to see what you meant.  I wouldn't be too good at blind chess.  Many thanks for your help.

Avatar of duskrevival

1st one.. forced mate, black has to lose the rook to stop mate

2nd one.. a skewer... 

I am sure if anyone can easily imagine a position with 4 pieces, but just gotta try a bit hard Wink

Avatar of checkmateibeatu

duskrevival, you forgot something- the skewer has to actually work- the king must not be able to support the rook.

Avatar of duskrevival
I'm talking about gzthompson's example here, but you have a point.
Avatar of TripleXDooM

its not always a draw e.g.

but then it can be if its kinda like this:

Avatar of TripleXDooM

wow, thats a very nice example, promoting to a rook to avoide stalemate and white wins by forcing a mate :D

Avatar of GlennBk

That is simply beautiful so startling in its final crunch, and the underpromotion is magnificent.

Thanks.

Avatar of checkmateibeatu

Here is the full analysis of that position...

Avatar of Flav787
TheMouse wrote:
ReasonableDoubt wrote:

There is a very famous example of winning a rook vs. rook ending, from a study:

 


5...Rf3 delays the inevitable by an extra 11 moves, so I don't think 5...Rd4 deserves a!.


 I think the point is that Rd4 sets a trap that forces white to play very carefully to win, while Rf3 leaves black in a (theoretically) lost queen versus rook endgame.

Avatar of jplex1

the problem with a q v. r in this case is that black's king is vulnerable to attack and the rook is nowhere close to defend.

Avatar of tooWEAKtooSL0W

Just don't get skewered and it should be a draw

Avatar of ZlyphrrPlayz
Just don't play like this

 

Avatar of MayCaesar

Not necessarily: in bullet games, when both players have little time left, people can flag each other and even win a rook sometimes after an unfortunate pre-move!

Avatar of GM_chess_player

Not really,because there is a 50 50 percent chance your opponent can make a blunder saw on #15 black's last move was a complete blunder which resulted to wr.pnga8#.

Avatar of MoveNotToMove
[COMMENT DELETED]
Avatar of MoveNotToMove
ZlyphrrPlayz wrote:
Just don't play like this

 referring to post #15, if 9... Rg7+, the white rook is gone.

 

Avatar of AsianCalamariSQ

 

This position arose when I was playing a friend. Black wins. (I was black, but I completely missed this and played Rh1+ instead and just traded rooks into a draw.)

Avatar of MickinMD

There are stupid moves one can make and lose. I think I read in one endgame book that if you are in a K+R vs K+R endgame and your opponent won't accept a draw because you are short on time, just keep making quick moves that keep your K in the center of the board without allowing your R to get skewered.  I can't speak for FIDE, but as a former USCF TD, I know most, perhaps all, USCF Tournament Directors will agree to declaring a draw if the side short on clock time requests it before the clock runs out, due to "insuffiient winning chances" - especially when they see you're keeping your king in the middle of the board.