ROOK+PAWN vs. ROOK
The rook endings are one of the most important endgames, because they are very often met in the practice. Starting from the 15th century, many players have occupied themselves with the study of rook endings. Because they are so often met in the practice, there are many examples concerning this problem, thus is very hard to make a proper selection from the vast number of studies and positions.
A. The pawn is marginal. (it is placed on a- or h-file)
Usually, this kind of endings ends with a draw. This happens especially because the king who supports the pawn is has a limited mobility due to the fact that the pawn is marginal. Anyway, we cannot reach a general conclusion! The result depends on the concrete situation and just a small detail can change the result drastically.
J. Berger 1922
The rook is placed unfavorable in front of his pawn. White can win here only if the black king allows the rook to deliver check, followed by promotion. If the black king maintains the opposition, the position is drawn:
1.Kf7 Kf5 2.Ke7 Ke5 3.Kd7 Kd5 4.Kc7 Kc5 5.Rc8 To draw leads also 5.Kb7 Rb1+ followed by Ra1
5...Rxa7+ 6.Kb8+ Kb6=
In the rook endings, both rooks aim to occupy a position at the back of the pawn.
In the previous example, this aspect was enough for Black for a draw. If the rook occupies a more passive position, for example on the 7th rank, then White has good changes to win: Cheron 1923
If White is to move, he can win with 1.Kd4 Rd7+ 2.Kc5 Re7 3.Kb6 With Black to move, it is an interesting draw:
1...Kf6+ Paradoxically, the black king has to move away from pawn. 1...Kd6+? 2.Kd4 Ke6 (2...Rd7 3.Kc4 Rc7+ 4.Kb5 Rd7 (4...Rc5+ 5.Kb4+-) 5.Kb6+-) 3.Kc5 Ke5 4.Kc6 and Black gets in zugzwang: 4…Ke6 (4...Ke4 5.Kd6; 4...Re6+ 5.Kd7 Rd6+ 6.Kc7) 5.Kb6
2.Kd4 Rf7! We will see soon that the f-file is more advantageous for Black, compared to the e-file. 2...Ke6 3.Kc5+-; 2...Rd7+ 3.Kc5 Rf7 4.Kb6+-
3.Kd5 Kf5 4.Kd6 Kf6! Black has to perform a careful play, otherwise he may lose: 4...Rf6+ 5.Ke7+-
5.Kc6 Kf5 6.Kc5 Kf4! 6...Kf6 7.Kb6+-
7.Kb6 Rf6+ 8.Kc7 Rf7+ 9.Kc6 Kf5= On the f-file, Black has enough resources and the game is draw.
A much known position is the following one: To obtain the draw, Black has to move Kg7-h7-g7-h7 until the white king comes near his pawn. In that moment, the black rook starts to deliver checks after which he returns on the a- file and the position cannot progress. Of course, 1…Kf7? is a mistake because of 2.Rh8! threatening 3.a8Q 2…Rxa7 3.Rh7+ and White wins.
As a first conclusion, we can notice that the rook is very badly placed on a8!
Now, let’s see some positions with the king in front of the pawn.
Cheron 1923
This is a classic position and it ends in a draw. The white king can escape only if he moves his rook on the b-file (on b6 or b8), but the black king has enough time to reach the c7-square and the game is drawn.
1.Rh2 Kd7 2.Rh8 Kc7 3.Rb8 Rc1 To draw leads also 3...Rd1 4.Rb7+ Kc6 5.Rb2 Rd8+ 6.Rb8 Rd1 7.Rc8+ Kd7 8.Rc2 Rb1
4.Rb2 Kc8 White cannot make any progress and the game is drawn. Black moves the king on c7 and c8 and the rook on the c-file. If the rook leaves this file, Black is likely to lose: 5.Rb4 Rh1? 6.Rc4+ Kd7 7.Kb7 Rb1+ 8.Ka6 Ra1+ 9.Kb6 Rb1+ 10.Ka5 Ra1+ 11.Ra4+- Karstedt 1909
In this example, there are four files between the black king and the pawn, and this is enough for the victory, because the white rook reaches the b8-square, but the black king cannot reach the critical c7-square at the same time.
1.Rc2 Ke7 2.Rc8 2.Rc7+? Kd8 3.Rb7 Rc1! and the game is draw. 4.Kb8?? Rc8#
2...Kd6 After 2...Kd7 White has an easy task 3.Rb8 Ra1 4.Kb7 Rb1+ 5.Ka6 Ra1+ 6.Kb6 Rb1+ 7.Kc5 Rc1+ 8.Kd4+-
3.Rb8 Ra1 4.Kb7 Rb1+ 5.Kc8 5.Ka6 is useless because of 5...Ra1+ 6.Kb6 Rb1+ 7.Ka5 Ra1+
5...Rc1+ 6.Kd8 Rh1 7.Rb6+ Kc5 8.Rc6+! Kd5 8...Kxc6 9.a8Q+ Kd6 10.Qxh1
9.Ra6 Rh8+ 10.Kc7 Ra8 11.Kb7+-
Comparing the last two examples, we can easily notice that if White wants to win, he must “cut” the black king on the f-file. If the black king is closer, he can obtain the draw.
For the last part of the lesson, we would like to concern about the positions with marginal pawn on the 6th rank or lower. This position was studied in 1924 by Vancura and it is drawn. Again, the rook is inadequately placed in front of the pawn, and he cannot make any progress as you will see. Black keeps his king on g7 or h7 and attacks the pawn with the rook from lateral. White is forced to accept the draw.
1.Kb5 Rf5+ Because White was threatening 2.Rc8, Black has to deliver check until the king is estranged from the pawn.
2.Kc6 Rf6+ 3.Kd5 Rb6 As the king was estranged, it is enough for the rook to remain on the 6th rook and to attack the pawn.
4.Ke5 Rc6 5.Ra7+ Kg6 = Black can also play 5…Kg8. Against this simple defensive method, White cannot strengthen his position. If he tries a6-a7, Black plays Ra6 and draws as in the first example of the lesson.
Related to the previous example, the next position is very simple:
Tarrasch 1908
In 1908, this position was known to be won for White. Vancura’s position (see the previous example) has chanced the verdict in 1924. We can notice that the black king cannot move toward the queenside. If the king leaves the squares g7 and h7, White can move at the proper moment a6-a7 and he is able to move the rook with check, or if the black king is on the 7th rank (but not on g7 or h7), White moves Rh8! as shown in the third example of our lesson. For example 1...Kf7 2.Kf2 Ke7 3.a7! Kd7 (3…Kd6 4.Rd8+) 4.Rh8! +- Secondly, a passive defense doesn’t help Black: 1.Kf2 Kh7? 2.Ke2 Kg7? 3.Kd3 Ra4 4.Kc3 Kf7 5.Kb3 Ra1 6.Kb4 Rb1+ 7.Kc5 Rc1+ 8.Kb6 Rb1+ 9.Ka7 Ke7 10.Rb8 Rc1 11.Kb7 Rb1+ 12.Ka8 Ra1 13.a7 and further as in Karstedt’s study.
The solution is Vancura’s position. Black aims to reach it in order to draw.
1.Kf2 Ra5 2.Ke3 Re5+ 3.Kd4 Re6 = We already know that this position cannot make any progress.
The last position of the lesson is with the king in front of the pawn.
1.Rb8 Rd1 If 1...Ra1 then 2.Kb7 with the same play as in the main variation.
2.Kb7 Rb1+ 2...Rd7+ is not enough 3.Kb6 Rd6+ 4.Ka5 Rd5+ 5.Rb5 Rd1 6.a7+-
3.Ka8 Ra1 4.a7+- We already know this position. The black king cannot reach the c7-square in time and White wins. If Black is to move, after 1...Kd7 2.Rb8 Rc1 3.Kb7 Rb1+ 4.Ka8 Rc1 5.a7 Kc7, Black is able to reach the c7-square and the position is drawn. INDIVIDUAL STUDY
Black moves, White wins