[blind-chess] Reposting: The Chess Endgame: The Lucena and The Philidor Positions
- From: "Roderick Macdonald" <rjmacdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Blind-Chess Mailing List" <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 14:08:56 -1000
(Previously posted as articles #51 and #52)
Chess Article #51
The Chess Endgame: The Lucena position
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free encyclopedia
Diagram:
White: King at b8, Rook at c1, Pawn at b7
Black: King at d8, rook at a2
The Lucena position, White wins
The Lucena position is one of the most famous and important
positions in chess endgame theory, where one side has a rook and a
pawn and the defender has a rook. It is fundamental in the rook and
pawn versus rook endgame. If the side with the pawn can reach this
type of position, he can forcibly win the game. Most rook and pawn
versus rook endgames reach either the Lucena Position or the
Philidor Position if played accurately (de la Villa 2008:125).
The position is incorrectly named after the Spaniard Luis Ramirez
de Lucena. The name "Lucena" is pronounced "Loo THAY na" (Shenk
2006:79) in Castilian Spanish.
Introduction
The so-called Lucena position is named after the Spaniard Luis
Ramirez de Lucena, although is something of a misnomer, because the
position does not in fact appear in his book on chess, Repeticisn
de Amores e Arte de Axedrez (1497). It does appear, however, in
Alessandro Salvio's Il Puttino (1634), a romance on the career of
the chess player Leonard da Cutri, and it is in that form that it
is given here (M`uller & Lamprecht 2001:179). Salvio attributes it
to Scipione Genovino (Hooper & Whyld 1992:238).
The position is shown above and below (it should be noted that the
position can be moved as a whole or mirrored so that the pawn is on
any of the files b through g). White's aim is to either promote his
pawn or else compel Black to give up his rook for it - either
result will leave White with an overwhelming material advantage and
a straightforward win. White has managed to advance his pawn to the
seventh rank, but it is prevented from queening because his own
king is in the way. White would like to move his king and then
promote his pawn, but is prevented from moving to the a-file by the
black rook, and prevented from moving to the c-file by the black
king.
The essential characteristics of the position are:
* the pawn is any pawn except a rook pawn
* the pawn has advanced to the seventh rank
* the attacking king (the one with the pawn) is on the queening
square of its pawn
* the attacking rook cuts off the opposing king from the pawn by
at least one file
* the defending rook is on the file on the other side of the
pawn
An obvious approach by White such as
1. Rd1+ Ke7
2. Kc7
gets nowhere. Black can simply harass the white king with checks,
and White makes no progress:
2. ... Rc2+
3. Kb6 Rb2+
4. Ka7 Ra2+
5. Kb8
The winning method: building a bridge
Diagram:
White: King at b8, Rook at c1, Pawn at b7
Black: King at d8, Rook at 12
The Lucena position, White wins
In the Lucena position, the side with the pawn has a winning method
that works for any pawn except a rook pawn (i.e. on the a- or h-
file). In some circumstances, it also works for a rook pawn.
In this position, White can win with
1. Rd1+ Ke7
2. Rd4!
Now, if Black plays a waiting move, such as 2. ... Ra1 hoping to
harass the white king with checks again as in the above variation,
White continues
3. Kc7 Rc1+
4. Kb6 Rb1+
5. Kc6 Rc1+
(or 5. Ka6 Ra1+)
6. Kb5 Rb1+
7. Rb4!
FEN:
8/
1P23/
8/
1K6/
1R6/
8/
8/
1r6/
Position after 7. Rb4! Black cannot prevent White from promoting
the pawn.
The black rook can no longer check the white king and Black cannot
prevent the pawn from queening (Ward 2004:48). White's shielding
his king and pawn with the rook in this way was described as
"building a bridge" by Aron Nimzowitsch (Hooper & Whyld 1992:238).
It is important that the white rook go initially to the fourth rank
if Black uses his most active defense: repeatedly checking the
white king. If Black abandons this defense, the white rook can
build a bridge on the fifth rank. In the line above, after
5. Kc6
if Black moves
5. ... Ke6
there is a trap for White: if 6. Rd5?? (to build a bridge on the
fifth rank) then 6. ... Rxb7! draws. However, if
6. Rd6+ Ke7
7. Rd5!
and White can build a bridge on the fifth rank by getting the rook
to b5, the king to b6, and then the pawn can promote (Ward
2004:48-49) (position reflected):
7. ... Rc1+
8. Kb6 Rb1+
9. Rb5
and White wins.
Black to move
from Emms
white: King at h7, rook at d5, Pawn at b7
Black: King at e7, Rook at b2
Position after 6. Rd5
If Black is to move in the diagramed position, he can prevent the
white rook from going to the fourth rank, but then White still
wins:
6. ... Ra4
7. Rd1+ Ke7
8. Kc7 Rc4+
9. Kb6 Rb4+
10. Ka6 Rb2
(The black rook is not far enough away to keep checking: if 10. ...
Ra4+ then 11. Kb5 wins.) Now White wins by blocking the checks with
11. Rd5
followed by
12. Rb5
(Emms 2008:17) (position reflected).
Bridge on the fifth rank
Diagram:
White: King at d8, Rook at f1 Pawn at d7
Black: King at g7, Rook at c2
from de la Villa
White to move makes a bridge on the fifth rank instead of the
fourth rank.
A bridge can also be built on the fifth rank (but it is better to
build one on the fourth rank). The main line goes:
1. Rf5
(instead of 1. Rf4!)
1. ... Rc1
2. Ke7
threatening to promote the pawn, Black can just delay it with
checks
2. ... Re1+
3. Kd6 Rd1+
4. Rd5
and the pawn will promote. Or
1. ... Kg6
2. Ke7?!
(better is 2. Rf8 Kg7 3. Rf4!, back to a bridge on the fourth rank)
2. ... Kxf5!
3. d8=Q
and White has a winning (but difficult) queen versus rook endgame
(see pawnless chess endgames) (de la Villa 2008:126-27).
Alternate plan for the defense
Alternative approaches are no better for Black. After 1. Rd1+ Ke7
2. Rd4 above, after
2. ... Rb2
for example, White can still carry out his plan as above, or he can
win with the simple
3. Ra4 Kd7
4. Ka8
(or 4.Ka7) Kc7
5. Rc4+
chases the black king away and allows the pawn to promote (or 5.
b8=Q Rxb8 6. Rc4+ wins the rook).
Rook pawn
Silman, diagram 223
White: King at a8, rook at e1, Pawn at a7
Black: King at f7, Rook at b2
White wins
The Lucena method also works with a rook pawn if the white rook is
already on the fourth rank, the black rook isn't on the file
adjacent to the pawn, and White is to move.
Otherwise, the defending king must be cut off four files from the
pawn, as in the diagram. This is not a true Lucena position since
the king is cut off by more than one file. White wins:
1. Rc1 Ke7
2. Rc8 Kd6!
3. Rb8 Ra2
4. Kb7 Rb2+
5. Kc8 Rc2+
6. Kd8 Rh2!
7. Rb6+ Kc5
8. Rc6+! Kxc6
9. a8=Q+
and White has a won queen versus rook endgame - one that is easier
to win than one where the rook is close to its king (Silman
2007:223-26).
Similar positions may be drawn
de la Villa, position 10.4
White: King at e8, Rook at f1, Pawn at e7
Black: King at g7, Rook at a2
Black to move draws
Not all similar positions are wins. In this position, Black draws
because he can safely check from the side. For this defense to
work, there must be at least three files between the defending rook
and the attacking king and the defending king must be so that it
doesn't block the checks. That is, the defending king is on the
"short side" of the pawn (the one with fewer files between the pawn
and the edge of the board) (de la Villa 2008:127-28). (See the
"short side defense" at rook and pawn versus rook endgame for more
details.)
Conclusion
There is an alternate method for winning this type of position that
works only for pawns on the c-file through the f-file, see Rook and
pawn versus rook endgame.
Rook and pawn endgames occur quite often in chess, about eight to
ten percent of all games (de la Villa 2008:18), (Emms 2008:6). This
position is very important since endgames may simplify to it. As it
is a known win, endgames sometimes revolve around the player with
the pawn trying to reach the Lucena position and the other player
trying to prevent it.
----------
Chess Article #52
The Chess Endgame: The Philidor position
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
The Philidor position (or Philidor's position) usually refers to an
important chess endgame which illustrates a drawing technique when
the defender has a king and rook versus a king, rook, and pawn. It
is also known as the third rank defense, because of the importance
of the rook on the third rank cutting off the opposing king. It was
analyzed by Francois-Andre Danican Philidor in 1777. (Also see rook
and pawn versus rook endgame.) Most rook and pawn versus rook
endgames reach either the Philidor Position or the Lucena Position
if played accurately. The Philidor position is perhaps the most
important position in endgame theory (de la Villa 2008:125).
Philidor analyzed many positions, some of which have his name
associated with them (see the subsequent sections).
Philidor's position, rook and pawn versus rook
Diagram 1: Philidor position, 1777
White: King at e1 rook at a3
Black: King at f4, rook at h2 Pawn at e4
White is defending the Philidor position, and draws.
The diagram shows an example of Philidor's position. The important
characteristics of the position are (from the point of view of the
defender):
* the defending king (White in this diagram) is on the queening
square of the pawn (or adjacent to it). The pawn can be on any
file.
* the opposing pawn has not yet reached the defender's third
rank (its sixth rank).
* the opposing king is beyond the defender's third rank.
* the defender's rook is on the third rank, keeping the opposing
king off that rank.
Black would like to get his king to the e3 square and threaten
checkmate to force the white king away from the queening square of
the pawn, e1. The white rook on the third rank prevents that. If
Black checks with the rook from the side, White simply keeps the
king in front of the pawn by alternating between squares e1 and e2.
If Black offers an exchange of rooks White should take it, since
the resulting king and pawn endgame is drawn (see King and pawn
versus king endgame).
So Black's only chance of progress is to advance the pawn. The
basic idea is for the defender to keep his rook on his third rank
until the pawn advances to that rank, then check the opposing king
from behind. Here is a possible continuation:
1. ... Rb2
2. Rc3 Ra2
3. Rb3 e3
Black plans to move Kf3, then if he is unopposed, checkmate with
the rook or advance the pawn. (A passive defense does not work.)
4. Rb8!
Since now Black's king can not move to e3, it is safe to move the
rook away to the far end of the board (the defender's seventh or
eighth rank). Note that 4.Rb4+ (??) loses immediately to 4...Kf3
when black will checkmate or force the exchange of rooks followed
by Kf2 and promotion of the pawn.
4. ... Kf3
5. Rf8+ Ke4
6. Re8+
The black king can not hide from the checks without giving up the
pawn; nor can he approach the rook:
6. ... Kf4
7. Rf8+ Ke5
8. Re8+
The defender's rook must be on his seventh or eighth rank for this
defense to work.
To sum up the defense: the defender should keep his king in front
of the opposing pawn and keep his rook on the third rank until the
pawn advances to that rank, then go to the far end of the board
(the seventh or eighth rank) and check the king from behind. If the
attacker tries to get his king to his sixth rank by moving his rook
to that rank first to block the checks, the defender simply
exchanges rooks and has a drawn king and pawn versus king endgame.
Diagram 2: Philidor, 1777
White: King at d5, rook at 17, Pawn at e5
Black: King at e8, Rook at f4
White to move wins; Black to move draws.
Philidor actually studied a position that leads to the type of
position above. In this position, if it is Black's turn to move, he
moves
1. ... Rb4
and then his rook will reach his third rank, and the position is
basically the same as the diagram above, with colors reversed. If
White is to move, he wins with accurate play by
1. Ke6 Kf8
(2. Ra8# is threatened, moving the king to the "short side" of the
pawn is relatively better than to the other side)
2. Ra8+ Kg7
3. Kd6 Rd4+
4. Ke7 Rb4
5. e6
etc, and wins (Nunn 1999:281-82).
Philidor's defense can also be used if the pawn is less advanced.
In that case, the black rook can occupy its fourth rank instead of
its third rank and the black king should be on at least its second
rank. When the pawn reaches the rank of the black rook, the rook
moves to its eighth rank to check the white king from behind
(assuming that the opposing rook isn't on that rank) (Howell
1997:42).
Queen versus rook
Diagram #2: Philidor, 1777
White: King at c6, Queen at a5
Black: King at b8, rook at b7
White wins with either side to move
Philidor studied many endgame positions. Another one that he
studied in 1777 (and is also called Philidor's Position) involves
a queen versus a rook (see the diagram #2).
If Black is to move in this position, he quickly loses his rook by
a fork (or gets checkmated). For example,
1. ... Rb1
2. Qd8+ Ka7
3. Qd4+ Ka8
4. Qh8+ Ka7
5. Qh7+
If White is to move in this position, he would like to be in this
position except with Black to move. This can be accomplished by
triangulation:
1. Qe5+ Ka8
2. Qa1+ Kb8
3. Qa5
and now it is back to the same position but Black has to move (and
is in Zugzwang) (Nunn 2002:50-51), (M`uller & Pajeken 2008:178).
Nunn describes that with the pieces in the center of the board the
queen ought to force the rook towards the Philidor position. Nunn
describes the various retreat positions for the rook, the "fourth,
third, second" rank defenses, then the "Philidor position". The
rook can be won in fewer than fifty moves, avoiding a draw by the
fifty-move rule.
Rook and bishop versus rook
Diagram 3: Philidor, 1749
White: King at d6, Rook at f7, Bishop at d5
Black: King at d8, Rook at e2
White to move wins.
Another famous position studied by and named after Philidor is in
the ending of a rook and bishop versus a rook (diagram). White wins
because his king has reached the sixth rank and black's king is
poorly placed (opposite the white king) (Howell 1997:148-50). If
this type of position arises, it is usually because of inferior
defense. Nevertheless, it is tricky to win (Nunn 2007:163).
The winning method is as follows:
1. Rf8+! Re8
2. Rf7!
threatening to switch to the other side and checkmate.
2. ... Re2
If 2. ... Re3 3. Rb7. If now 3. ...K c8 4. Ra7 and checkmate on a8,
else black loses the rook because the bishop covers b3 (one of the
reasons white wants to force the black rook to the third rank). If
3. ... Rc3 5. Rd7+ and white has achieved the position at move 8
below, only some moves faster. Other second moves for black lose
faster: 2. ... Rh8. 3. Ra7 Rh6+ 4. Be6 with checkmate or loss of
rook. 2. ...K c8 3. Ra7 Rd8+ 4. Kc6 Kb8 5. Rb7+ Ka8 (5. ... Kc8 6.
Be6+) 6. Rb1 Ka7 (6. ... Rc8+ 7. Kd7+) 7. Kc7 with checkmate or
loss of rook to follow. Correct bishop moves are required for White
to win.
3. Rh7 Re1
4. Rb7
The winning line only works if the white rook is on b7 or f7.
4. ... Rc1
Or 4. ... Kc8 5. Ra7 Rb1 6. Rf7 Kb8 7. Rf8+ Ka7 8. Ra8+. White wins
because the chessboard has only eight files.
5. Bb3
This is the key idea. It forces the black rook to the inferior
third rank while preventing 5. ... Rd1+. Black is in zugzwang.
5. ... Rc3
If instead 5. ... Kc8 then 6. Rb4 Kd8 7. Rf4 Re1 (or 7. ... Kc8 8.
Bd5 Kb8 9. Ra4) 8. Ba4 Kc8 9. Bc6 Rd1+ 10. Bd5 Kb8 11. Ra4. Now
White completes the following maneuvers, getting the bishop back to
d5 with gain of tempo.
6. Be6 Rd3+
7. Bd5! Rc3
8. Rd7+ Kc8
If 8. ... Ke8 then 9. Rg7 and checkmate on g8 next move, else loss
of rook since the bishop covers f3.
9. Rh7 Kb8
10. Rb7+ Kc8
11. Rb4 Kd8
If 11. ... Rd3 12. Ra4 and checkmate or loss of rook since the
bishop covers b3.
12. Bc4
Stopping the check on d3 and cutting off the rook entirely.
12. ... Kc8
13. Be6+ Kd8
14. Rb8+
and checkmate next move (Howell 1997:148-50), (Nunn 2007:163-64),
(M`uller & Pajeken 2008:178).
This is an exercise in domination of the king. Many of the longest
games on record involve this endgame, especially during the period
when the fifty move rule was extended to 75 or 100 moves for this
combination of material.
--------------------
Cochrane Defense
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
The Cochrane Defense is a method for drawing in the chess endgame
with a rook versus a rook and bishop. It was discovered by John
Cochrane. This combination of material is one of the most common
pawnless chess endgames. Many of the longest chess games on record
have this combination of material since at one time the fifty-move
rule which would make the game a draw after fifty moves with no
capture was extended to one-hundred moves for this combination of
material. For example, the longest tournament game on record is a
269-move game by Ivan Nikolic and International Master Goran
Arsovic. The last 103 moves of this game had this material and
ended in a draw.
Accurate play is required for the defense. The defense is most
effective near the center of the board, and doesn't work on the
edge (Nunn 2007:174ff). The Cochrane Defense works when:
* the defending rook pins the bishop to the king on one of the
four central files (c through f) or ranks (3 through 6), and
* there are two or more ranks or files (respectively) between
the kings (de la Villa 2008:213-16).
Details
Diagram #1:
White: King at e5, Rook at a7, Bishop at e4
Black: King at e8, Rook at e2
Budnikov-Novik, 1991
Cochrane defense. Black to move, draw with either side to move.
The defense is most effective near the center of the board. In this
position, if the pieces on the e-file were moved to the f-file,
then if 1. Ke5 the response 1. ... Kg8, puts the black king
dangerously close to the corner (Nunn 2007:161ff). The defense does
not work on the edge of the board.
In this position (Diagram #1) from a 1991 game between Alexandar
Budnikov and Maxim Novik, White would like to get his king to d6
and bishop to d5, to win by a method of Philidor (see Philidor
position; Rook and bishop versus rook, Chess Article #52#) -
however the pin of the bishop to the king prevents it. If White
plays 1. Kd5 or 1. Kf5 then Black moves his king in the opposite
direction, so if the bishop then moves, the black rook cuts off the
white king. There is another drawing method in positions with this
set of material, called the "second rank" defense (with the king
and rook both on a rank or file next to the edge of the board).
However, the Cochrane Defense is more popular among grandmasters
(Nunn 2002:174ff).
There are some key ideas for the defender to observe:
* wait by moving the rook between e1 and e2
* answer Kd5 with ... Kf8 and Kf5 by ... Kd8
* drive the rook away from the seventh rank at the first
opportunity
* move the king away from the eighth rank, as near the center of
the board as possible
* once the king has left the back rank, hold off the attacking
king for a few moves
* when the white king gets back to the fifth rank (or equivalent
in other directions), switch the rook around and head for the
Cochrane position again (perhaps rotated 90 or 180 degrees).
This phase is important because the opposing king must not be
allowed to reach the sixth rank (or equivalent).
The game continued:
1. ... Re1
2. Kd5 Kf8!
3. Bf5 Re7!
4. Ra8+ Kf7
5. Ra1 Kf6
6. Bc8 Re5+
7. Kd6 Re2
8. Rf1+ Kg5
9. Bb7 Re3
10. Kd5 Re2
11. Kd4 Re7
12. Bd5 Re8
13. Rf7 Rb8
14. Ke5 Rb5
and the position is back to the basic Cochrane position, rotated 90
degrees, and the fifty-move rule is closer to coming into effect.
The Budnikov-Novik game continued, with the Cochrane position being
reached again. Eventually a draw was claimed by the fifty-move rule
(Howell 1997:145-47).
--------------------
The Rook and pawn versus rook endgame
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Part One of Three Parts
The chess endgame of a rook and pawn versus rook is of fundamental
importance, and has been widely studied. Endings with rooks and
pawns are the most common type to occur in games, occurring in
about 8 to 10 percent of all games (de la Villa 2008:18), (Emms
2008:6). Rook and pawn endings with more pawns have the potential
of being reduced to this type of endgame. John Nunn wrote entire
352-page book about this ending, Secrets of Rook Endings (Nunn
2007:126). Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of Chess Endings devotes 92
pages to the analysis of 428 positions of this type (Matanovic
1985:14-105). Precise play is usually required in these positions.
Some complicated wins require sixty moves (Speelman, Tisdall & Wade
1993:7). In some cases, thirty-five moves are required to advance
the pawn once (Thompson 1986).
Diagram #1:
White: King at d1, Rook at d6, Pawn at b2
Black: King at h6, Rook at a8
Black to move, White converts to a won position in 60 moves
The play of this type of ending revolves around whether or not the
pawn can be promoted, or if the rook has to be sacrificed to keep
it from promoting. If the pawn promotes, that side will have an
overwhelming material advantage. If the pawn is about to promote,
the defending side may give up his rook for the pawn, resulting in
an easily-won endgame for the superior side. In a few cases, the
superior side gives up his rook in order to promote the pawn,
resulting in a won queen versus rook position (see Pawnless chess
endgames#Queen versus rook).
A general rule of thumb (with exceptions) is: if the king on the
side without the pawn can reach the queening square of the pawn,
the game is a draw; otherwise it is a win for the opponent (except
with a rook pawn, i.e. a- or h- file) (Fine & Benko 2003:294ff).
The side with the pawn can cut off the opposing king or strive for
the Lucena position, which is a win. The defender can aim for the
Philidor position (which is a draw) or try to set up one of the
other defensive techniques that draw.
++1. Terminology
* In the following discussion and positions, assume that the
side with the pawn is white.
* Ranks are counted from that player's side of the board. Thus,
"the rook's third rank" would be the third rank counting from
that player's side of the board. The ranks for the white
pieces correspond to the rank in algebraic notation whereas
the ranks for the black pieces are reversed.
* In these positions with one pawn, the pawn's file divides the
board into a "short side" and a "long side", in which the long
side consists of more files than the short side.
* Pawns are referred to by the file on which they reside: a rook
pawn is on the a- or h-file, a knight pawn is on the b- or g-
file, a bishop pawn is on the c- or f-file. A central pawn is
a queen pawn or a king pawn, on the d- or e-file.
++2. Pawn on the sixth or seventh rank
In his 1958 book Chess Endgames, Nikolay Kopaev gave these general
guidelines for when the pawn is on the sixth or seventh rank:
* When the black king is cut off two or more files from the
pawn, White always wins
* If the black king is on the long side of the pawn and his rook
is on the short side, White wins with very few exceptions.
* If the pawn is on the seventh rank, the only defense involves
checks from the side. If the pawn is on the sixth rank, a
defense of checks from the rear is possible.
* The defense of checking from the side normally requires three
empty files between the pawn and the black rook. Sometimes it
is possible with only two files when the pawn is on the
seventh rank.
* In order for a defense of checking from behind to be
successful, the white king must be behind the pawn, not in
front of it.
* There are tactical possibilities: (1) deflecting the black
rook, and (2) creating a shelter for the white king (Minev
2004:72).
++3. Winning methods
In order to force a win with the extra pawn, normally the black
king must be cut off from the pawn by the white rook along a rank
or file, and that is not always sufficient.
++3.a Black king is cut off along a rank
Diagram #2:
White: King at e5, rook at h4, , Pawn at d5
Black: King at e3, Rook at e8
Cutting off the king. The black king is cut off along a rank, so
White wins easily.
If the black king is cut off from the pawn along a rank (as in
diagram #2), White wins easily if the king is behind the pawn:
1. Kd6 Rd8+
2. Ke6 Re8+
3. Kd7 Rg8
Checks from the front or side does not help Black.
4. d6 Rg7+
5. Kc8 Rg8+
6. Kc7 Rg7+
7. d7
and the pawn will soon queen (Seirawan 2003:86).
When cutting the defending king off by a rank, a Perfect Cut is
when the pawn is on the same rank as the defending king. An
Imperfect Cut is when the king is on the rank ahead of the pawn.
These general rules apply:
1. The defending king should be cut off on a rank on the long
side of the pawn. Otherwise, the position is not dangerous for
the defense if the defending rook is on the long side.
2. With a Perfect Cut, the position is always won with a bishop
pawn or knight pawn on any rank. A central pawn wins if it is
on the fourth rank or beyond.
3. With an Imperfect Cut, the position is a draw if the defending
rook is on the file adjacent to the pawn. In addition, the
defense has more possibilities against a central pawn (de la
Villa 2008:141-45).
diagram #3: de la Villa, position 10.17
white: King at b3, Rook at c5, Pawn at b4
Black: King at d4, Rook at b8
White has a perfect cut of the king along a rank
In this position, White has a pefect cut and wins:
1. ... Ra8
2. Rc6 Rb8
3. Ra6 Kd5
4. Ka4! Kc4
5. Rc6+! Kd5
6. b5 Ra8+
7. Kb4
This is the same position but advanced one rank. Now the process is
repeated:
7. ... Rb8
8. Rc7 Kd6
9. Ra7 Kd5
10. Ka5 Kc5
11. Rc7+ Kd6
12. b6 Ra8+
13. Kb5 Ra1
White threatened Rh7, Pb7, and Kb6 so Black tries checks from the
rear. However, play will soon lead to a Lucena position (see
below), which wins for White (de la Villa 2008:141-42).
++3.b Black king is cut off from the pawn's file
When the black king is cut off from the pawn's file the outcome
depends on where the black king is in relation to the pawn. Black's
king is often cut off from the pawn along a file. Some general
rules (with exceptions) are:
* If the pawn is a rook pawn, the position is usually a draw.
* If the pawn is on the fifth rank (or sixth or seventh rank)
with its king near, and the black king is cut off from the
pawn's file, White has a won position.
* If the pawn is on the third or fourth rank, (a) if it is a
bishop pawn or central pawn, White always wins if the black
king is cut off by two files for fourth rank pawn and the
black king is cut off by three files for third rank pawn (see
"The Rule Of Five" below) (i.e. White's rook is two files over
from his pawn and the black king is on the other side), and
(b) if the pawn is a knight pawn, White always wins if the
black king is cut off by three files.
* If the pawn is on the second rank and the black king is on the
fourth or fifth rank, White wins only if the opposing king is
cut off five files from the pawn.
* In some cases White wins even if the black king is closer
(Fine & Benko 2003:298-305).
++3.b1 Rule of five
Diagram #4:
White: King at d3, Rook at f1, Pawn at d4
Black: King at g5, rook at d8
The rule of five. White to move. The pawn is on the fourth rank,
the king is cut off by two files, White wins.
The rule of five is for positions in which the pawn is protected
and the opposing king is cut off by files: Add the number of rank
of the pawn to the number of files the defender's king is cut off.
If the sum is more than five, it is usually a win. Otherwise it is
normally a draw. (Soltis 2003:138), (Mednis 1998:41-42). For
example, in diagram #4, white wins by:
1. Kc4 Rc8+
2. Kb5
(the white king must have this file available)
2. ... Rd8
3. Kc5 Rc8+
4. Kb6! Rd8
5. Rd1! Kf6
6. Kc7 Ra8
7. d5
and White will win.
Diagram #5: Chiron, 1923
White: King at b3, Rood at d1, Pawn at b4
Black: King at e6, Rook at b8
The rule of five seems to apply, but Black draws because the pawn
is a knight pawn.
The position by Chiron is basically the same, except moved over two
files. Now the white king has less room to maneuver on the left of
the pawn's file, and Black can prevent the advance of the pawn and
draw. If White starts with 1. Ka4, the rook checks the king, and
the king is forced back to b3. White can try:
1. Rd4 Ke5
2. Kc3 Rc8+
3. Rc4 Rb8
4. Rc6 Kd5
5. Ra6 Rc8+
6. Kb3 Rc6!
7. Ra8 Kd6
(or 7. Ra7 Rc1)
and the black king reaches the pawn's file, for a draw. Another try
for White is:
1. Rd2 Ke5
2. Rd7 Ke6
3. Rc7 Kd6
4. Rc5 Kd7
5. Ka4 Ra8+
6. Ra5 Rb8
7. Ra7+ Kc6
8. Ka5 Rb5+
9. Ka4 Rb8
and the position is drawn. If the pieces are moved one file to the
right, White has a win (Korchnoi 2002:12-13).
diagram #6:
Capablanca
White: King at e3, Rook at d2, Pawn at f2
Black: King at c5, Rook at h2
White wins because Black's rook is not in position for frontal
checks
In the discussion above about the defending king being cut off by
files, it is assumed that the defending rook is already in position
to check the attacking king along files (usually from his first
rank). In this position by Josi Capablanca, White wins because the
white pawn can reach its fourth rank before the black rook can
check along files. If the black rook were already at h8 and it were
Black's move, Black would draw by checking the king and by playing
... Rf8 when the white king moves to f1 (Capablanca de Firmian
2006:121). With White to move in the diagramm #6 position:
1. Rd1 Rh8
2. f4 Re8+
3. Kf3 Rf8
4. Kg4 Rg8+
5. Kh5 Rh8+
6. Kg6, etc,
and White will win. With Black to move,
1. ... Kc6
2. Rd8 Rh7
3. f3 (3. f4 draws after 3. ... Rd7 or 3. ... Kc7)
3. ... Re7+
4. Kf2 Rf7
5. Kg3 etc, and White wins.
++3.b2 Lucena position
Diagram #7:
White: King at b8, Rook at c1, Pawn at b7
Black: King at d8, Rook at a2
The Lucena position, White wins.
The Lucena position is one of the most famous and important
positions in chess endgame theory. It is a win for the side with
the pawn. The essential characteristics are that White's king is on
the queening square in front of his pawn, the pawn is on the b
through g files, and the black king is cut off on a file.
White wins in the position in diagram #7 by 1. Rd1+, forcing the
black king one file farther away, then bringing rook to the fourth
rank, then bringing out the king, which will be checked by Black's
rook. White maneuvers his king to the fifth rank (without giving up
the pawn) and then when the black rook checks, White interposes his
rook and has a winning position. See Lucena position for more
details (Fine & Benko 2003:297-98).
++3.b3 Alternate method for bishop pawns and central pawns
Diagram #8:
White: King at e8, rook at d2, Pawn at e7
Black: King at c7, Rook at f1
White wins, using the alternate method for bishop pawns and central
pawns
The Lucena position is a win for White if the pawn is not a rook
pawn. There is another way of winning if the pawn is a bishop pawn
or central pawn.
In diagram #8, 1. Rc2+ would start the process of winning with the
process above. However, White also wins by
1. Rh2 Rf3
2. Rh8 Rf1
3. Rf8 Re1
4. Kf7
(Emms 2008:17-18). Now either
4. ... Kd7
5. e8=Q+
wins, or the white king can approach the black rook on the two
files next to the pawn's file until it can no longer check:
4. ... Rf1+
5. Kg6 Rg1+
6. Kf5 Rf1+
7. Kg4 Rg1+
8. Kf3 Rf1+
9. Ke2
and the black rook can no longer attack and the pawn promotes.
++3.c Other methods
Diagram #9:
White: King at e8, Rook at d2, Pawn at e7
Black: King at c7, Rook at e1
Horowitz and Kling, 1851
White to move wins
It may not be necessary to build a bridge to win, if the king is on
its pawn's promotion square. White wins in this position:
1. Rc2+ Kb8
(or 1... Kd6 2. Kd8 Rxe7 3. Rd2+ Ke6 4. Re2 wins)
2. Rf2 Rh1
3. Kf7 Rh7+
4. Ke6 Rh8
5. Kd7 Rh7
6. Kd8
wins (Horwitz & Kling 1986:143).
--------------------
The Rook and pawn versus rook endgame
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Part Two of Three Parts
++4. Defensive methods
Often White will not be able to utilize one of the winning methods.
Black has several defensive methods available, depending mainly on
the position of the pawn and his king.
If the defending king is in front of the pawn and the attacking
king and pawn have not yet reached their sixth rank, the Philidor
position (or Philidor defense) easily works to secure a draw. If
the defending king can not get in front of the pawn but is not cut
off, the short side defense can be used. If the pawn is a rook pawn
or knight pawn, the back rank defense can be used. The back rank
defense can also be used when the pawn is on other files if the
attacking king has not reached the sixth rank. If the king is cut
off along a file, the frontal defense may work, depending on the
file of the pawn and how far advanced it is.
(See Chess Article #51 for more on the Lucena Position)
++4.a Philidor position
Diagram #10:
Philidor position
White: King at f5, Rook at h7, Pawn at e4
Black: King at e8, Rook at b6
Philidor's position, or third rank defense. Black is defending the
Philidor position, and draws, even if White is to move.
Philidor's position (see diagram #10) illustrates an important
drawing technique in this endgame. The technique is also known as
the third rank defense and works when the defending king is in
front of the pawn and the attacking king and pawn have not reached
their sixth rank. Black keeps his rook on his third rank to keep
the white king from reaching that rank. If White advances the pawn
to its sixth rank (Black's third rank), then the king is deprived
of shelter, so Black moves his rook to the eight (or seventh) rank,
and keeps checking the white king from behind. It is very important
that the defender keep his rook on his third rank, and move to the
far side of the board only after the attacking pawn has moved to
its sixth rank. (An exchange of rooks will result in a drawn
position, see king and pawn versus king endgame.) See Philidor
position for more details (Fine & Benko 2003:294).
There are three errors that Black must avoid:
1. Immobilizing the rook
2. Allowing the king to be driven away from the queening square
3. Playing the king to the wrong side
Philidor's defense can also be used with the black rook on the
fourth rank, if White's king and pawn have not reached that rank.
If this defense is used, the black king should be on the second
rank. The principle is the same: Black keeps his rook on the fourth
rank, keeping the white king from advancing to that rank. If the
pawn advances to that rank, Black moves the rook to the eighth rank
and checks the king from behind.
(See also Chess Article #52 for more ont he Philidor Position.)
++4.b Back-rank defense
Diagram #11:
White: King at f6, Rook at a7, Pawn at g6
Black: King at g8, Rook at b8
Back rank defense. Black draws using the back-rank defense.
The back-rank defense always works if the pawn is a rook pawn or
knight pawn and the defending king is in front of the pawn. The
defending king blocks the pawn and the rook is on the first rank
preventing checks by the rook. In diagram #11, Black draws. If 1.
g7 then 1. ... Rb6+ draws and if 1. Rg7+ then 1. ... Kh8 draws.
White's best attempt is:
1. Kg5 Rc8
(waiting passively, also known as the passive defense)
2. Kh6 Rb8
3. Rg7+
(the only trick for White)
3. ... Kh8!
If 3. ... Kf8? then 4. Kh7 Rb1 5. Rf7+ Ke8 6. Rf4 and White gets to
the Lucena position.
4. Rh7+ Kg8
5. Ra7 Rc8
and White makes no progress. The defense fails for other pawns (if
the attacking king has reached the sixth rank) because White has
another file available to go around the pawn (Emms 2008:20).
Diagram #12:
Averbakh and Kopayev
White: King at g5, Rook at a7, Pawn at f6
Black: King at f8, Rook at b8
White to move wins. Black to move draws
If the attacking king has not reached the sixth rank, the defense
works for any pawn. In the second diagram (#12), White to move wins
by getting his king to the sixth rank so the defending rook can not
leave the back rank because of the threat of checkmate. This
illustrates how the defense fails for a bishop pawn or central
pawn:
1. Kg6 Rd8
2. Rh7 Kg8
3. f7+ Kf8
4. Rh8+ Ke7
5. Rxd8 and wins.
If Black is to move in diagram #12, he draws:
1. ... Rb1!
which neutralizes the threat of Kg6, because Black check from
behind and there is no immediate threat of checkmate by White
(Averbakh & Kopayev 1987:115). Black checks from behind, as in the
Philidor defense.
If neither the pawn or king have reached the sixth rank, Black can
normally draw by reaching the Philidor position, above.
++4.c Defending king is in front of pawn, but pawn is too
advanced for the Philidor position
Diagram #13:
White: King at g1, Rook at a1
Black: King at g3, Rook at b2, Pawn at f3
Can not reach Philidor position. White to move can not reach the
Philidor position, and loses.
Diagram #14:
White: King at g1, Rook at a1
Black: King at h3, Rook at b2, Pawn at g3
Knight's pawn. Similar position with knight's pawn, but White
draws.
Sometimes the defender's king is in front of the pawn, but the rook
can not get to its third rank to reach the Philidor position. Thus
he has two choices: try to attack from behind, or retreat to the
back rank with his rook to guard the mating threats. The diagrams
show such back-rank positions.
For a bishop pawn (see diagram #13) or central pawn, if the
defending rook is tied down to the back rank, he loses:
1. ... Rg2+
2 Kf1
(or Kh1)
2. ... Rh2!
3 Kg1 f2+
4. Kf1 Rh1+
winning the rook
But the defender can hold the draw with an accurately-conducted
"active defense" from behind the pawn while it is still on the
fifth rank, with the king moving to the short side (see next
section).
But with a knight pawn (see diagram #14), the attacker has no file
equivalent to 2. ... Rh2, so he can not make progress. Here, the
defender should avoid the active defense (attacking the pawn from
behind while it is on the fifth with the rook) fails, because his
king will be forced to the long side (stepping the other way would
lose immediately because of the corner, allowing immediate mate).
The defender can draw against the rook pawn either way, because
most king and pawn versus king positions are drawn with the rook's
pawn (see King and pawn versus king endgame - Rook pawn), (Mednis
1982:15-19), (Dvoretsky 2006:144), (Ward 2004:37-42).
++4.d "Short side" defense
Not all positions similar to the Lucena position above are wins for
the superior side -- it depends on the position of Black's rook and
king (relative to White's pawn), and which side is to move. In
positions such as the position in this diagram #15, the defending
rook must be at least four files away from the pawn on the "long
side" for the defense to work (the "checking distance"); otherwise
the white king can support its pawn and approach the black rook to
drive it away. The black king needs to be on the "short side" so it
will not block checks by its own rook. This method was worked out
by Josef Kling and Bernhard Horwitz (de la Villa 2008:129-32).
Diagram #15:
White: King at e8, Rook at f1, Pawn at e7
Black: King at g7, rook at a2
Siegbert Tarrasch, 1906
The short side defense. Black to play draws. (White to move wins.)
As an example, Black to move draws in this diagram #15. The reason
is that Black can check the white king from the side with his rook,
and the rook is just far enough away from the white king that if it
tries to approach the rook to stop the checks, the rook can get
behind the pawn and win it, resulting in a drawn position. For
example:
1. ... Ra8+
2. Kd7 Ra7+
3. Kd6 Ra6+
4. Kd5 Ra5+
5. Kc6 Ra6+
(if 5 ... Ra8 6. Ra1! (either black takes the rook and the white
pawn queens, or it forces the enemy rook off the vital a-file that
has "checking distance", the rook moves on the back rank, followed
by 7. Kd7, and the pawn promotes)
6. Kb7 Re6
with a draw after winning the pawn, which can no longer be defended
by its king (Emms 2008:21-23).
Tarrasch, 1906
Diagram #16:
White: King at d8, Rook at e1, Pawn at d7
Black: King at f7, rook at a2
White wins
If White's king and pawn are moved to the left, White wins as in
the Lucena position above. With a few exceptions, the defending
rook must be at least four files over from the pawn for this
defense to work (which is why the defending king should go to the
short side, to not block checks by his rook).
1. ... Ra8+
(1. ... Rc2 leads to a Lucena position)
2. Kc7 Ra7+
3. Kc8 Ra8+
4. Kb7 Rd8
5. Kc7!
and White wins (Emms 2008:21-23). The rook was too close to the
pawn, so White's king could both approach the rook to prevent
checks and return to protect the pawn.
++4.d1 Short side defense, less advanced pawn
Diagram #17:
White: King at g5, Rook at a7, Pawn at f5
Black: King at f8, rook at b1
Short side defense, less advanced pawn.
Black to move should play Rb6 with an easy Philidor draw. But White
to play can prevent that, and Black must be careful.
1. Kg6
(This threatens 2. Ra8+ Ke7 3. f6+ driving the black king far from
the pawn. See the Lucena Position next section for White's winning
method.)
1. ... Rb6+
This is too late because of 2. f6, forcing Black to retreat to the
back rank, which is a loss as shown in the previous section. The
point of Philidor's third rank defense is to prevent White from
moving the king to the sixth rank before the pawn.
2. Kf6
Diagram #18:
White: King at f6, Rook at a7, Pawn at f5
Black: King at f8, rook at f1
Position after 2. Kf6.
Black (to move) is at a crossroads: he must move his king to the
side to avoid mate, but which square?
Black's defense is:
2. ... Rf1
(Tarrasch rule, rook behind pawn)
3. Kf6
(diagram #18) (3. Ra8+ Ke7 and now the black rook stops 3. f6+)
3. ... Kg8!
(going to the short side is vital, as will become clear)
4. Ra8+ Kh7
5. Rf8
Other moves make no progress because of Black's obeying the
Tarrasch rule. E.g. 4. Ke6 Kg7 and 5. f6+ is impossible. The main
move protects the pawn and threatens 5. Ke7 followed by f6)
5. ... Ra1!
(now Black threatens to check from the side to keep White from
making any progress. He needs space to do this, which is why the
king must move out of the way to the short side. There must be at
least three files between Black's rook and the pawn, otherwise
White's king can protect his pawn while attacking Black's rook and
gain time necessary to advance the pawn.
6. Re8
(one try, to use the rook to block the checks from the side)
6. ... Rf1!
Black moves behind the pawn again, so 7. Ke6 is answered by 7. ...
Kg7, as per note to move 5 (Emms 2008:22).
++4.d2 Long side blunder
If the black king went to the long side, Black would not have the
resource of checking from the side. For example, from diagram #18
above, where 3. ... Kg8! draws as shown above:
3. ... Ke8?
4. Ra8+ Kd7
5. Rf8! Rh1
6. Kg7 Ke7
(there is no room to check on the side. If 6. ... Rg1+ then 7. Kf7
followed by f6.
7. f6+
(the point of 5. Rf8)
7. ... Kd7
(7. ... Ke6 8. Re8+ Kd7 9. Re2 and converts to Lucena position,
next section)
8. Kf7
followed by Ra8 then Ra2-d2+ (or any other safe check on the d-
file).
After this, and the same if Black prevents the check by placing his
own rook on the d-file, White plays Kg7 Rg(any)+; Kf8 then f7,
reaching the Lucena position.
If the pawn is a central pawn, going to the long side with the
defending king will sometimes give the rook just enough checking
distance if it is on the rook file on the opposite side of the pawn
(Ward 2004:42). Defending this way is a far more arduous task, so
moving the defending king to the short side is always recommended
(Emms 2008:2). With the defending rook three files over from the
pawn, the attacker usually wins, but there are exceptions,
depending on the location of the attacking rook (Seirawan 2003:79).
++4.e Last-rank defense
Diagram #19:
White: King at d7, Rook at a7, Pawn at e7
Black: King at f7, Rook at b8
The last-rank defense. Black draws.
In diagram #19, Black draws:
1. ... Re8!
2. Kd6 Rb8!
if 2. ... Rg8 then 3. Ra1!. If 2. ... Kf6 then 3. Ra1! Rb8 4. Rf1+
Kg7 5. Kc6 Ra8 6. Ra1, a winning position
3. Kd7 Re8
and White can not make any progress (Emms 2008:24-25).
++4.f Frontal defense
Diagram #20:
White: King at g3, Rook at f2, Pawn at G4
Black: King at e7, Rook at b8
Frontal defense. If White is to move, Black draws using the frontal
defense. Black to move has an alternate drawing defense.
The Frontal Defense is a way that Black may keep White from getting
to the Lucena position, even if the defending king is cut off from
the pawn's file. Black's rook is well-placed on its first rank and
can check the white king or offer itself for exchange when the
resulting king and pawn versus king endgame is a draw. The farther
back the pawn is, the more likely the defense is to be successful.
To have good drawing chances, there should be at least three ranks
between the pawn and the defending rook (called the rule of three).
The file of the pawn matters too: a bishop pawn gives the best
winning chances, followed by a central pawn, followed by a knight
pawn, with a rook pawn having little chance of winning (Mednis
1998:40).
If White is to move in diagram #20, Black draws by using the
frontal defense: 1. Kh4 Rh8+! 2. Kg5 Rg8+ 3. Kh5 Rh8+ 4. Kg6 Rg8+
5. Kh5 Rh8+ and White can not make any progress (Emms 2008:18-20).
If Black to move in this position (Diagram #20), he has an
alternative drawing method that requires knowledge of the king and
pawn versus king endgame: 1. ... Rf8 to bring the king over to the
pawn. If 2. Rxf8 Kxf8 3. Kf4 Kg8! (avoids losing the opposition. 3.
Kh4 is met the same way) 4. Kf5 Kf7 or 4. Kg5 Kg7, and the position
is a draw.
diagram #21:
White: King at f3, Rook at e2, Pawn at f4
Black: King at d7, Rook at b8
Emms
White to move wins, Black to move draws. Draw if the black king is
on d6.
The frontal defense may or may not work for bishop pawns and
central pawns, even if there are three ranks between the pawn and
the defending rook. In diagram #21 from Emms, White to move wins:
1. Kg4! Rg8+
2. Kh5 Rf8
3. Kg5 Rg8+
4. Kh6 Rf8
5. Re4! Kd6
6. Kg7 Rf5
7. Kg6 Rf8
8. f5
and White will reach the Lucena position.
Black to move in that position draws, by reaching a drawn king and
pawn versus king endgame position:
1. ... Re8
2. Rxe8 Kxe8
3. Ke4 Kf8
4. Ke5 Ke7
Black to move in that position (Diagram #21) also draws with 1. ...
Kd6, getting the king to a favorable position (Emms 2008:18-20).
--------------------
The Rook and pawn versus rook endgame
Adapted and Condensed from
Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
Part Three of Three Parts
++5. Rook pawn
Endings with a rook pawn arise frequently because they are more
likely to be the last remaining pawn (de la Villa 2008:145). If the
pawn is a rook pawn, the chances of a draw are much greater. Even
the equivalent of the Lucena position is no guarantee of success
(it depends on the location of the white rook and who is to move)
(Emms 2008:25). These endings are more likely to be a draw because
of two reasons (1) the pawn can protect the king from checks from
the rear only, and not from the side, and (2) the edge of the board
reduces the king's mobility in trying to support the pawn (Averbakh
& Kopayev 1987:150).
With a rook pawn, usually in actual play the defending rook or king
is able to get in front of the pawn. If the defending king gets in
front of the pawn, the game is a draw. If the defending rook gets
in front of the pawn, the result depends on which king arrives on
the scene first (de la Villa 2008:145).
The attacking king or rook may be in front of the pawn.
++5.a King in front of pawn
Diagram 22:
White: King at a8, Rook at d2, Pawn at a7
Black: King at e7, Rook at b1
White has a rook pawn. Black draws.
In diagram #22, the only way for White to make progress is to get
his rook to b8, but this allows the black king to get to the c-file
and draw.
1. Rh2 Kd7
2. Rh8 Kc7!
3. Rb8 Rc1
4. Rb2 Rc3!
This is the simplest way for Black. Now there is no way to force
the black king away from the c-file.
5. Rb7+ Kc8
6. Rg7 Rc1
and Black draws.
Diagram #23:
White: King at 18, Rook at e3, Pawn at a7
Black: King at f7, Rook at b1
Rook pawn, black king is cut off far away, White wins.
If the black king is cut off by four or more files, White wins, as
in this diagram:
1. Rc3! Ke7
2. Rc8 Kd6
3. Rb8 Ra1
4. Kb7 Rb1+
5. Kc8 Rc1+
6. Kd8 Rh1
7. Rb6+ Kc5
8. Rc6+! Kd5
9. Ra6
and White wins (Emms 2008:25-27).
++5.b Rook in front of pawn
Diagram 24:
from de la Villa, position 10. 22
White: King at g2, Rook at a8, Pawn at a7
Black: King at f7, Rook at a1
Black would draw if the king gets to the indicated squares
In this position (Diagram #24), the black king needs to get to one
of the marked squares in order to draw. If he gets to one of the
squares marked with "x" (b6, b7, c6 and c7), the king can move next
to the pawn and the rook can capture the pawn for a draw.
Otherwise, the king needs to stay on the squares marked with dots
(g7 and h7). The reason is that if the black king is on another
rank, the white rook can check and then the pawn promotes and wins.
For example, if the black king were on f6 instead, with White to
move, 1. Rf8+ followed by 2. a8=Q wins. Also, the black king needs
to be on g7 or h7 rather than d7, e7, or f7. If it were White's
move in this position, White wins by
1. Rh8 Rxa7
(otherwise the pawn promotes and wins)
2. Rh7+
skewering the rook (de la Villa 2008:145-46). If the black king is
on g7 or h7 and the white king approaches the pawn (to protect it
while the rook moves out of the way), the black rook will check
from behind and the king has no cover from the checks.
++5.b1 Vancura position
Diagram 25:
Study by Josef Vancura (1898-1921), published in 1924
White: King at c4, Rook at a8, Pawn at a6
Black: King at g7, Rook at f6
Vancura position. Black draws.
The Vancura Position (see diagram #25) is a drawing position with
a rook and rook's pawn versus a rook, when the pawn is not beyond
its sixth rank, and the stronger side's rook is in front of the
pawn (Dvoretsky 2006:155). Black's rook attacks the pawn from the
side from some distance away, while keeping the white king from
finding cover from checks. Black keeps attacking the pawn (Emms
2008:28). Black's king must be on the opposite side of his rook as
the pawn to not block the attacks. Also, Black's king must be near
corner on the opposite side of the board if the pawn advances to
its seventh rank so the white rook can not check the black king and
then support the advance of the pawn, or sacrifice its pawn to
skewer Black's king and rook on the seventh rank, as in the section
above.
1. Kb5
(Protecting the pawn in order to free the rook to move. If 1. a7
Ra6! 2. Kb5 Ra1 3. Kb6 Rb1+ 4. Kc7 Rc1+ 5. Kd7 Ra1, and White can
not win. Note that if Black's king was on g6 there would follow 2.
Rg8+ with 3. a8=Q, and if it was on f7 White wins with 3. Rh8! Rxa7
4. Rh7+.)
1. ... Rf5+!
2. Kc6 Rf6+
(an important square for the rook)
3. Kd5 Rb6
(Keeping the attack on the pawn.)
4. Ke5
(If 4. a7 then 4. ... Ra6 draws.)
4. ... Rc6
5. Ra7+ Kg6
6. Kd5 Rf6
7. Kc5 Kh6
8. Kb5 Rf5+
9. Kb6 Rf6+
10. Kb7 Rf7+
11. Kb8 Rf6
etc.
or
3. ... Rf5+
4. Ke6 Rf6+
(an important square for the rook)
5. Ke5 Rb6
6. Kd5 Rf6
7. Ra7+ Kg6
8. Ra8 Kg7
and White can not win. The white king can not advance because of
the checks and the pawn can not advance because the black rook gets
behind the pawn (Seirawan 2003:88-89).
The Vancura defense was used in a 2008 game between Magnus Carlsen
and Vassily Ivanchuk.
++6. Most common rook endgame
Diagram #26:
White: King anywhere, Rook at a8, Pawn at a7
Black: King at g7, Rook at a1
White king anywhere, Black to move draws.
Diagram #27:
White: King anywhere, Rook at a7, Pawn at a6
Black: King at g8, Rook at f6
White king anywhere, Black to move draws.
Diagram #28:
White: King at a7, Rook at a8, Pawn at a6
Black: King at f7, Rook at b1
White wins with either side to move.
The most common type of rook endgame is with a rook and rook pawn
versus a rook, with the rook in front of its pawn. In the third
diagram (#28), White wins easily. If it is Black's move:
1. ... Ke7
2. Rb8 R-any
3. Kb7 Rb1+
4. Ka8! R-any
5. a7
and White wins. He can force his king out by Kb7 or if the black
rook prevents that by going to the seventh rank, then Rh8 and Kb8
(Purdy 2003:116-17).
++7. Examples from master games
The positions discussed above are somewhat idealized, but they are
fundamental to practical play. Here are some examples of this
endgame from master games.
++7.a Pein-Ward, 1997
Diagram #30:
Pein-Ward
1997 British Championship
Diagram #29:
White: King at f4, Rook at a5
Black: King at d6, Rook at c2, Pawn at c4
Black to move wins
60. ... Re2!
61. Kf3 Re7
62. Kf2 Kc6
63. Kf3 Kb6
64. Rd5 c3
65. Rh5 c2
66. Rh1 Rc7
67. Rc1 Kb5
68. Ke2 Kb4
69. Kd2 Kb3
70. Rh1 Kb2!
0-1
++7.b Ward-Arkell, 1994
Diagram #31:
Ward-Arkell
1994 British Championship
White: King at f6, Rook at a7, Pawn at f5
Black: King at g8, Rook at g4
Black to move, draw
Black can not reach the Philidor position, but still draws.
45. ... Rf4!!
46. Ra8+ Kh7
47. Ke6 Kg7
48. Ra7+ Kf8
49. Kf6 Kg8
50. Ra8+ Kh7
51. Rf8 Ra4!
52. Rf7+ Kg8
53. Re7 Kf8
54. Re6 Ra7
55. Rb6 Rf7+
56. Kg5 Ra7
57. f6 Kf7
=-=
++7.c Kasparov-Kramnik, 2000
Diagram #32:
Kasparov-Kramnik
Braingames World Championship 2000
White: King at g1, Rook at c3, Pawn at g2
Black: King at e6, Rook at h4
White to move, draw.
51. Rf3 Rh5
52. Kf2 Rg5
53. Rf8 Ke5
=-=
++7.d Anand-Shirov, 2004
Diagram #33:
Anand-Shirov, 2004
Anand-Shirov
2004 Wijk an Zee Corus Chess
White: King at d3, Rook at a7, Pawn at a6
Black: King at g7, Rook at h4
Black to move; White wins
53. ... Kf6
54. Kc3 Re4
55. Rh7 Ra4
56. a7
1-0
++7.e Ward-Emms, 1997
Diagram #34:
Ward-Emms
1997
White: King at g4, Rook at c3
Black: King at g6, Rook at b5, Pawn at G5
Black to move, draw
95. ... Rb4+
96. Kg3 Kh5
97. Ra3 Rg4+
98. Kh3 Rh4+
99. Kg3 Rb4
100. Re3 Rb5
101. Ra3 g4
102. Rc3 Kg5
103. Ra3 Rc5
=-=
(Ward 2004:87-92).
++8 Subtle differences
Diagram #35:
Diagram #35:
Nikolay Grigoriev, 1937
White: King at e7, Rook at a1, Pawn at e6
Black: King at g6, Rook at b7
White to move wins
Diagram #36:
Grigoriev, 1937
White: King at e7, Rook at a4, Pawn at e6
Black: King at g6, Rook at b7
White to move, draw
There can be subtle differences in positions that make the
difference between a win and a draw. Two examples of this is shown
in the diagrams (Matanovic 1985:24, 28).
Diagram #37:
Grigoriev, 1937
White: King at e7, Rook at d1, Pawn at e6
Black: King at g7, Rook at b2
Black to move, White wins
Diagram #38:
Siegbert Tarrasch, 1906
White: King at e7, Rook at d1, Pawn at e6
Black: King at g7, Rook at a2
Black to move, draw
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