Part 1: How to play Rook Endings: Some basics
Part 1 of Module 1 is a short part, and can be covered in a total time of 1 hour. After this, the reader will do well to analyse the positions thoroughly for himself as per his own schedule.
Rook endings are amongst the most important endings as they occur very frequently in practice. This introductory module gives basic ideas of how to play rook endings. The sources used in preparation of this module are the classis works of Averbakh and Dvoretsky, and also the works of Gufeld. Other sources are used as and when appropriate.
We begin with the very basic Philidor draw. Position 1-1 occurs in Philidor (1977)
(Position 1-1, Black to play, draw)
Black
Before proceeding further, you are advised to look at this position and think about it for 5 minutes and find the best possible continuation for Black.
Philidor found that Black has a simple path to holding the draw. The black rook stays on the 6th rank until white advances the pawn to e6. Once white advances the pawn to e6, black takes his rook to the first rank and keeps checking the white king from behind. For example, 1…Ra6. 2. e4 Rb6. 3. e5 Ra6. 4. Rb7 Rc6. 5. e6 Rc1. 6. Kf6 Rf1+ with a draw.
White may try to dislodge the black rook from the 6th rank by playing Rg6. Then the correct method is, 1…Ra6. Now if 2. Rg6 Ra5+. 3. Kf4 Ke7 (the white king is now cut off on the fifth rank instead of the sixth rank as in the first line) draws.
Finally, Black must remember that if white plays Rg6 offerring an exchange of rooks when the white pawn is already on e5, the Black will exchange rooks to reach a drawn king and pawn ending. For instance, 1…Ra6. 2. e4 Rb6. 3. e5 Ra6. 4. Rg6 Rxg6. 5. Kxg6 Ke7. 6. Kf5 Kf7 with a drawn ending.
This is a very important position, and the eager student must know this position very very well.
We now move to a more difficult position. Position 1-2 occurred after Black’s 40th move in Gligoric-Fischer, Candidates 1959. The game is discussed as Game number 12 in the classic My 60 Memorable Games.
Black
(Position 1-2, White to play).
White
You are advised to study the position for 15 minutes, and evaluate it. As it stands, white is a pawn up, but the h2 pawn is threatened. How should white continue?
The game continued, 41. Kd4 e1=Q!. [If 41…Rxh2, 42. Kd3 and Black loses.] 42. Rxe1 Rxc2 [This is the point- the h2 pawn is anyway weak.] 43. Rb1 Kf7. [43…Rxh2 will be met by 44. Kc5 penetrating the position.] 44. a3 Ke6. 45. b3 Rxh2. 46. Kc5 Kd7. 47. Kb6 Ra2. 48. Kxa6 Rxa3. 49. Kb7 [If 49. Kxb5, then 45…Kc7 with a draw. Work this out based on the discussion of position 1-1 above in 5 minutes.] 49…Kd6. [49…b4 draws. The reader is advised to work out the draw in 15 minutes for himself, as I strongly believe that endings are best learnt by hard self-study. If in 15 minutes the reader is unable to work out the draw, then he should proceed without bothering with this line for now.] 50. Kb6 Kd7. 51. b4 Rh3. 52. Rc1 Rh8? [This is the losing move! Fischer throws away a draw. Better is 52…Rh5 drawing. Fischer gives 52…Rh5. 53. Rc5 Rxc5. 54. Kxc5 Kc7. 55. Kxb5 Kb7, and black takes the opposition and draws.] After 52…Rh8? We reach position 1-3.
Black
(Position 1-3, White to play)
White
The reader is advised to work out the best play for white in 15 minutes. Is 53. Kxb5 correct? Or does white have a better plan?
The game continued 53. Kxb5? [This throws away the win! The correct continuation is 53. Rc7+ winning! The advantage of this move is that the black King cannot get in front of the pawn. For example, Fischer gives 53. Rcl+! Kd6. 54. Rc6+ Kd7. 55. Kxb5 Rb8+. 56. Rb6 Rh8. 57. Rb7+ Kc8. 58. Ka6 Rh6+. 59. Ka7 with a win. The reader is advised to study this continuation for another 15 minutes, to ensure that he understands the nuances and techniques of the win correctly.] The game continued after 53. Kxb5? Rb8+. 54. Ka4 Ra8+. 55. Kb3 Rc8. 56. Rxc8 Kxc8. 57. Kc4 Kb8! With the distant opposition and a draw. Work out the final draw in 2 minutes.
This brings us to the end of Module 1, Part 1. We will cover Module 1, Part 2 tomorrow. This part will deal with rook endings with multiple pawns tomorrow. That will cover our basic discussion of these type of endings. More advanced material for such endings will be discussed in subsequent modules.
Module 2 will move to a different topic – analysis of some previous games to find out weaknesses in play. I hope you enjoyed Module 1, part 1. Please give me your feedback – this is particularly important in the initial modules as it helps me consider and develop the appropriate training scheme.
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