Chapter 2

Rook versus Bishop Endgames

The rook is much better than the color-blind bishop. Often it starts a powerplay on the color complex the bishop cannot control. But the pawnless ending usually is drawn nevertheless.

(a) The pawnless ending

This is generally a draw. The rook only has chances if the defending king is very badly placed. The main exception is when the defending king is cut off in the dangerous corner, the one which the bishop can control. If the defending king is in a safe corner it is usually drawn, but the following trick is worth knowing:

02.01 Sachdev – Schut

Wijk aan Zee 2012

56.Rc7!? Be6? Black falls into the trap. 56...Bb3 draws, e.g., 57.Kg6 Kh8 58.Rc8+ Bg8

Now Black has taken the typical drawing defensive set up. 59.Rc1 Bh7+ 60.Kf6 Bg8 61.Rh1+ Bh7 62.Rh2 Kg8 63.Rb2 Kh8 64.Kf7 Bg8+ 65.Kf8 Bh7=; 56...Bd3=

With secure control over the g6-square, there is an alternative drawing formation.

57.Kg6! Kh8 57...Bh3!? is refuted by the surprising 58.Re7!! when the rook wins the dominance duel: (58.Rf7? Bg2 59.Re7 Bc6 60.Re6 Ba4=) 58...Kf8 59.Re5 Now the bishop cannot come back to a good diagonal, e.g., 59...Bg2 60.Kf6 Bf3 61.Rf5 Bc6 62.Rc5 Bd7 63.Rh5 Kg8 64.Rg5+ Kf8 (64...Kh7 65.Rg7++–; 64...Kh8 65.Kf7+–) 65.Rg1 Bc8 66.Rc1 Bd7 67.Rb1 Ke8 68.Rb8+ Bc8 69.Rxc8++– 58.Rh7+! 58.Re7? Bg8= 58...Kg8 59.Re7 1-0

02.01A Instructive Example

So one of the best tries against a defense in the safe corner is the following:

1.Re7!? This sets a trap, which is especially good if the clock is on the queenside and Black is short of time. 1...Bd6? 1...Bf4, 1...Bg3 and 1...Bh2 draw. 2.Ra7+ Kb8 3.Rd7+–

The following set up is the main exception:

02.02 Breyer – Tarrasch

Berlin 1920

The attacker always wins, if the defending king is securely imprisoned in the dangerous corner: 1...Bg1 2.Rf1 Bh2 3.Rh1 Bg3 4.Rh3

The rook forces the bishop to leave the shadow of the kings. 4...Bd6 4...Bf4 5.Rc3 Kf8 6.Rf3+– 5.Rd3 Be7 5...Bc7 6.Rc3 Bd8 7.Rc8+– 6.Rc3 and Dr Tarrasch resigned because of 6...Kf8 7.Rc8+ Bd8 8.Rxd8++– This winning position was discovered by Kling and Horwitz in 1851.

Exercises

E02.01 V.Platov 1925

White to move and win

E02.02 V.Platov 1925

Find the right square for White’s rook!

E02.03 Yang Kaiqi – Motylev

Shanghai 2010

How to defend?

(b) R+P vs. B

This is usually won, but a few exceptions are worth knowing. We start with a principled case:

02.03 Instructive Example

1.e5+?! This premature advance makes it quite difficult as it blocks the king’s road through the center. 1.Rh6+ Be6 2.Rg6 Kd7 3.Ke5 Bc4 4.Rg7+ Kc6 5.Kf6+– wins much easier. 1...Ke7 2.Rb1 Bf7 3.Rb7+ Ke6 4.Rb6+ Ke7 5.Ke4 Bc4 6.Rb2 Bg8 7.Rb7+ Ke6 8.Kf4 Bf7 9.Rb6+ Kd7 10.Kf5+–

Now important exceptions follow:

02.04 Del Rio 1750

White’s c-pawn has advanced too far and blocks the king’s road and so surprisingly White cannot win. 1.Kb6 1.c7 is met by 1...Kb7!= 1...Bd4+! 2.Kb5 Be5! However, not 2...Kb8? 3.Rh5 Bf2 (3...Kc7 4.Rg5 Be3 5.Rg4 Kb8 6.Kc4 Kc7 7.Kd5 Bh6 8.Rb4 Be3 9.Rh4 Bg5 10.Rh7+ Kc8 11.Rf7 Bd2 12.c7 Kb7 13.Kd6 Ba5 14.Rg7 Bb6 15.c8Q+ Kxc8 16.Kc6+–) 4.Rg5 Be3 5.Rg8+ Kc7 6.Rg4

The bishop cannot return to the diagonal h2-b8. 6...Kc8 7.Kc4 Kc7 8.Kd5 Bh6 9.Rb4 Be3 10.Rh4 Bf2 11.Rh3 Be1 12.Rf3 Bb4 13.Rf7+ Kc8

14.c7 Kb7 15.Ke6! Kc8 16.Rh7 Ba3 (16...Ba5 17.Kd6 Kb7 18.Rf7 Bb6 19.c8Q+ Kxc8 20.Kc6!+–) 17.Kd5 Kb7 18.Rh3 Be7 19.c8Q+ Kxc8 20.Kc6+– 3.Kc5 Bf4 4.c7!? 4.Kd5 Bg3 5.Rf7 Bh2! 6.Kc5 Bg1+ 7.Kb5 Bh2!= 4...Kb7!

The point of the defense. 5.c8Q+ 5.Kb5 Bg3= 5...Kxc8 6.Kc6 Kb8 7.Kb6 Ka8=

02.05 Instructive Example Pawn on h6

With a rook’s pawn, the rule is as follows: When the bishop can control the promotion corner square, then the rook wins easily as the rook’s pawn can later even be given up to reach winning position 02.02. When the bishop cannot control the corner, it is much more difficult. When the rook’s pawn has crossed the middle of the board it is usually drawn because of the following fortress set-ups:

Black’s king stays on g8,h8 and h7 and the bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal: 1.Kf6 1.Ra8+ Kh7= 1...Kh8 Even 1...Bd3 2.h7+ Kh8 draws. 2.h7 Bxh7=

Even with the pawn on h5 it is drawn:

02.06 Instructive Example Pawn on h5

Black’s bishop stays on the b1-h7 diagonal and the king on f7,f8 and g8: 1.Rg7+ Kf8! 1...Kh8? 2.Rd7 Bc4 3.Rd8+ Bg8 4.Kg5 Kg7 5.Rd7+ Kh8 6.Kg6 Bb3 7.Rh7+ Kg8 8.Rc7 Kh8 9.h6 Bd5 10.h7 Be4+ 11.Kh6 Bf5 12.Re7 Bg6

13.Rd7 (13.Rg7? Bf7!=) 13...Be8 14.Rb7 Bf7 15.Rb8+ Be8 16.Rxe8# 2.Rg6 Kf7 3.Kh7!? A last trap. 3.Kg5 Bxg6 4.hxg6+ Kg7= 3...Be4 However, not 3...Kf8? 4.Kh8 Kf7 5.Rg3 Be2 6.h6 Bc4 7.Kh7 Bd5 8.Rg4+– 4.Kh6 Bd3 5.Kg5 Bxg6 6.hxg6+ Kg7=

But with the pawn on h4 it is completely different as the king still has the h5-square for escape:

02.07 Guretzki-Cornitz 1863

1.Kh6 Of course not 1.h5? Bd3 2.Kh6 Kg8!= 1...Kg8 2.Rg7+ Kf8 2...Kh8 3.Re7 Bd5 (3...Bc6 4.h5 Bb5 5.Rc7 Kg8 6.Rc3 Ba4 7.Kg5 Bb5 8.h6 Kh8 9.Rc8+ Kh7 10.Rc7+ Kh8 11.h7+–) 4.Kg6 Bc4

Now a typical winning technique follows. The rook gives check on h7, then dominates the bishop, then the pawn advances until the it has reached h7: 5.Rh7+ Kg8 6.Rd7 Kh8 7.h5 Ba2 8.Rb7 Bd5 9.Rh7+ Kg8 10.Re7! Kh8 11.h6 Bc4 12.h7 Bd3+ 13.Kh6! Bg6 14.Rd7 Be8 15.Rb7+– 3.Rg5 Kf7 4.Rg3 Bc2 After 4...Bb1, the zwischenschach 5.Rg7+ is important: 5...Kf8 6.Rg5 Bc2 7.Kh5 Bd1+ 8.Kg6 Kg8 9.Rc5+– 5.Kh5!

The king uses the all-important h5-square. This is an important position to remember. Black is in zugzwang. 5...Bb1 5...Kf6 6.Rc3 Bb1 (6...Bd1+ 7.Kh6! Kf7 8.Kg5 Kg7 9.h5+–) 7.Rc7

This cut off is important to remember. 7...Bd3 8.Kh6 Bb1 9.h5 Bd3 10.Rc3 Be4 11.Rc4 Bd3 12.Rf4++–; 5...Bd1+ 6.Kg5 Kg7 7.Rc3

The rook dominates the bishop and prevents it from coming back to the important defensive diagonal b1-h7. 7...Be2 8.h5 Kh7 9.h6 Bf1 10.Rc7+ Kh8 11.h7+– 6.Rg5 Bc2 7.Kg4! Bb1 8.Kf4 Kf6 8...Bc2 9.Ke5 Bd3 10.h5 Bc2 11.h6 Bg6 12.Rg3 Bc2 13.Rg7+ Kf8 14.Kf6+– 9.h5 Bc2 10.h6 Bb1 11.Rg7 Bc2 12.Rc7 Bd3 13.h7+–

The following mutual zugzwang is worth knowing:

02.08 Aurel – Roux

Montigny le Bretonneux 2001

56.Ka6? This rushes things, as the rook is unfortunately placed. 56.Kb6? is also wrong because of 56...Bd4+ 57.Ka6 Bg7= One way to win is 56.Rd7 Bc7 57.Ka6 Bb6 58.Re7 Bd8 59.Rg7+– 56...Bg7! mutual zugzwang 57.Rh4 Bd4! 58.Rh7 Bg7 59.Kb5 Bd4 60.Kc6 Bxa7 61.Rb7 Bb8 62.Rb4 Ba7 63.Kc7 Bg1 64.Ra4+ Ba7 65.Kc6 Kb8 66.Rb4+ Ka8 67.Rg4 Bb8 68.Kd7 Kb7 69.Rb4+ Ka8 70.Kc8 Ba7 71.Rg4 Bb8 72.Rg7 Ba7 73.Rb7 Bg1 74.Rb1 Bd4 75.Rb4 Bc5 76.Ra4+ Ba7 ½-½

02.09 Longest win: R+P vs. B

1...Ke2 2.Re7!! Kd2 3.Kb1!! Bb3 4.Rg7! Bc2+ 5.Kb2!! Be4 6.Rg3!! Bd5 7.Rh3! Be6 8.Rh5! Bf7 9.Rh7! Bg6 10.Rh3! Bf5 11.Rg3! Bh7 12.Kb3! Kd3 13.Kb4! Be4 14.Kc5! Bh1 15.Kd6! Ke4 16.Rg1! Bf3 17.Re1!! Bg2 18.Ke6! Bh3+ 19.Kf6! Bg4 20.Kg5! Bd7 21.Kh4! Kf3 22.e4! Kf4 23.e5!! Be6 24.Kh5! Kf5 25.Kh6! Bd5 26.Kg7! Bc4 27.Kf8! Ke6 28.Ke8! Bd3 29.Kd8! Bf5 30.Re3! Bg4 31.Ke8! Bh5+ 32.Kf8! Bg6 33.Kg7! Bf7 34.Kh6! Bg8 35.Kg5! Bh7 36.Kf4! Bg6 37.Rh3 Bb1 38.Rh6+ Ke7 39.Rh1 Bc2 40.Ke3! Bf5 41.Kd4! Bg4 42.Ke4! Ke6 43.Rh6+! Ke7 44.Ra6! Bd1 45.Ra1! Bc2+ 46.Kd4! Bb3 47.Rb1! Bf7 48.Rb7+! Ke6 49.Rb6+! Ke7 50.Ke4! Bc4 51.Rb2! Ke6 52.Kd4! Bf1 53.Rh2! Bb5 54.Rh6+! Ke7 55.Kd5! Bd3 56.e6 Bf5 57.Ke5!! Bd3 58.Rf6! Bc4 59.Rf7+! Ke8 60.Kd6! Bb5 61.Rb7 Ba6 62.Rb8+! Bc8 63.Rxc8#! 1-0

Exercises

E02.04 Bednarski – Hecht

Wijk aan Zee 1973

How to break White’s line of defense?

E02.05 Serper – Bern

Baguio City 1987

White has two winning moves. Find one of them!

(c) R+P vs. B+P

Here no general statement can be made. Some configurations are often drawn, while in others, the rook usually wins.

(c1) Blocked Pawns

Here are two important cases. When the bishop can attack the enemy pawn, then it is usually a draw, otherwise the rook often wins.

(c11) The bishop can attack the enemy pawn

Then one of the attackers must protect the pawn, which usually does not allow a successful attack:

02.09 Rubinstein – Tartakower

Vienna 1922

Rubinstein drew easily: 1...Rg7 After 1...Kd4 2.Bd2 Ke5 3.Be3 Kf6 4.Bd4+ Kg6 5.Be3 Rb8 6.Bd2 Rb5 7.Ke4 Kf6 8.Bc3+ Ke6 9.Bd2 Kd6 10.Be3 Kc6 11.Bd2 Kb6 12.Be3+ Ka5 13.Bd2+ Ka4 14.Be3 Kb3 15.Bc1 Kc2

Black’s king is just too far away from the kingside: 16.Bxg5 Rxg5 17.Kf4= (Averbakh) 2.Kf2 Kc2 3.Be3 Rg8 4.Kf3 Kd3 5.Bc1 ½-½

Matters can of course be quite tricky:

02.10 Rodshtein – Caruana

Plovdiv 2012

71.Bg2! This is a draw, but with a dark-square bishop White would be lost. 71...Re7+ 72.Kf4 Kd6 73.Bf3 Re1 74.Bg2 Ra1 75.Bf3 Ra3 76.Be2 Not, however 76.Bg2? Rd3–+ 76...Kc6 77.Bf1 Ra2

Now White must be very careful. 78.Ke5? This is the wrong direction. 78.Ke3 defends, e.g., 78...Ra3+ (78...Kd6 79.Be2 Ke6 80.Bf3=) 79.Kf4 Kb6 (79...Ra1 80.Bg2 Rg1 81.Bf3 Rf1 82.Ke3=) 80.Be2

and the doors remain closed as 80...Ka5 can be met by 81.Bf3= 78...Rd2!?

A beautiful domination move! White had probably only calculated 78...Ra1? 79.Bg2 Re1+ 80.Kf4= 79.Ba6 Rd1 0-1

When the attacking pawn is farther advanced, the attacking chances are better as the attacker can more often enter a winning pawn ending. But the following position is nevertheless still drawn:

02.11 Hergott – Lobo

San Francisco 1999

96...Kf7 Black closes the inroad. 96...Kd7 draws as well because of 97.Kg5 Kc6 98.Ra5 Kb6= However, not 96...Bc3? 97.Kg5+– or 96...Ke7? 97.Kg5+– 97.Ke4 97.Rb7+ Kf8= 97...Bc3 After 97...Bf2? 98.Rb2 Bg1 99.Rb1 Bc5 100.Rb7+

White can win as one weapon is to simplify into a pawn ending, e.g., 100...Kg6 (100...Ke8 101.Rb5 Ba3 102.Kd4 Kd7 103.Rb3 Bf8 104.Rf3 Bb4 105.Kc4 Ba5 106.Kb5 Bc7 107.Rf7+ Kd8 108.Rxc7 Kxc7 109.Kc5+–) 101.Rc7 Bb4 102.Rc6 Kf7 103.Kd4 Ba3 104.Rb6 Bf8 105.Kc4 Bg7 106.Rb7+ Kg6 107.Rxg7+ Kxg7 108.Kc5 Kg6 109.Kc6 Kg5 110.Kd7 Kf5 111.Kd6+– 98.Rb6 Ke7 99.Rxe6+ ½-½

Exercises

E02.06 Karjakin – Grischuk

Sochi 2007

Karjakin found the only winning move. Can you do the same?

E02.07 Yu Shaoteng – Xiu Deshun

Hefei 2010

How can the rook outsmart the bishop?

E02.08 Hatanbaatar – Miton

Dresden 2008

White to move and win

(c12) The bishop cannot attack the enemy pawn

This is usually lost if the pawn is not a rook’s pawn, when matters can be very deep and difficult.

(c121) The pawn is not a rook’s pawn

King and rook usually first drive the defending king away and then simplify into a winning pawn ending, when it is important that it is not a rook’s pawn:

02.12 Real de Azua – Coppola

Montevideo 2011

70.Rd1 70.Kg7!? Ke7 71.Re5+ Kd6 72.Re4+– followed by Kg6-f5 and simplification into a won pawn ending is an easier win. 70...Bc5 71.Rc1 Bd4+ 72.Ke6 Kf8 73.Rc7 Be3 73...Kg8 74.Kf5 Be3 75.Kf6 Bd4+ 76.Kg6 Kf8 77.Rf7++– 74.Rf7+ Ke8 75.Rd7 Kf8 76.Rc7

The typical zugzwang. 76...Bd4?! 76...Bd2 77.Kf6 Kg8 (77...Ke8 78.Re7+ Kd8 79.Re4+–) 78.Rg7+ Kf8 (78...Kh8?! 79.Kf7 Bc3 80.Rg5+–) 79.Rd7 Bc3+ 80.Kf5 Ke8 81.Rd3+– 77.Rf7+ 1-0

The next example is similar:

02.13 Todorov – Kaminski

Krynica 1998

65...Rc2 Of course not 65...Ra5?! 66.Kg2 Rxg5? 67.Bxg5 Kxg5 68.Kg3!= 66.Bd8 66.Be7 Kg3 67.Bd6+ Kf3 68.Be7 Rg2+ 69.Kf1 (69.Kh1 Kg3 70.Bd6+ Kh3 71.Bf4 Rf2 72.Be3 Rf1+ 73.Bg1 Kg4 74.Kg2 Rxg1+ 75.Kxg1 Kxg5 76.Kg2 Kg4–+) 69...Rd2 70.Kg1 Kg3 71.Kf1 Rf2+ 72.Kg1 Re2 73.Bd6+ Kg4–+ 66...Kg3 67.Kf1 Rf2+ 68.Kg1 Rd2 69.Bc7+ Kg4 70.Bb6 Rd1+ 71.Kg2 Kxg5 72.Kg3 Rd3+ 73.Kg2 Kg4 74.Bc7 Rd2+ 75.Kg1 Rc2 76.Bb8 Kf3 77.Ba7 g5 0-1

When the pawns are not yet blocked the defender has better chances to draw:

02.14 Walczak – Brzoza

corr 2013

69...Bd7! mutual zugzwang 70.Rg8+ Kh5 71.Rd8 Bh3 72.Rd4 Bc8 73.Kf6 Bh3 ½-½ and a draw was agreed because of 74.Rd5 Kg4 75.Rxg5+ Kf3 76.Ke5 Bg4 77.Kd4 Kxg3 78.Ke3 Kh3! 79.Kf4 Bd1=

With the pawn on g2 it is winning, but very deep:

02.14A Aronian – Dubov

Tbilisi 2017

61.Ke6?! After the direct 61.Rd7+! Kg6 62.g4!, the diagonal b1-f5 is too short and the bishop can be dominated: 62...Bc2 63.Rd2 Bb1 64.Rb2! Bd3 65.Kd4! Bf1 66.Rb6+ Kg7 67.Ke4!+– (Baldauf on the ChessBase website) 61...Be4 62.Re2 Bd3 63.Rd2 Be4 64.Ke5 Bb1 65.Rd4 Kf7 66.Ra4 Bc2 67.Ra5 Bb1 68.Rc5 Kg6 69.Rc1 Bd3 70.Rd1 Bc2 71.Rd2 Bb1 72.Ke6 Be4

73.g3? Now Black’s counterattack is quick enough. 73...Bb1? 73...Kh5 74.Rb2 (74.Ke5 Bf3 75.Kf5 Bg4+=) 74...Bf3 75.Rb4 Bg2 76.Kf6 Bh3 77.Rb5 Kg4 78.Rxg5+ Kf3= (Baldauf) 74.Rb2? 74.g4!?+– 74...Bd3? 74...Bf5+= 75.Ke7? 75.g4+– 75...Be4? 76.Rb6+? Kg7? 76...Kf5!= 77.Rb5 Kg6 78.Rb4? Bc2? 79.Kf8? Kf6? 80.Kg8 Bd3 81.Rd4 Bc2 82.Rd2? Bb1? 82...Be4! 83.Rf2+ Kg6= (Baldauf) 83.Rf2+ Kg6 84.Rb2? Bd3 85.Rb6+ 85.g4 Bc4+ 86.Kf8 Be6 87.Rb6 Kf6 88.Ke8 (88.Ra6 Ke5 89.Ra4 Kf6=) 88...Ke5 89.Rb4 Kf6= (Baldauf) 85...Kf5 86.Rb4 Kf6? 87.Rd4 Bc2 88.Rd2? Bb1? 89.Rf2+ Kg6 (D)

90.g4! Finally! 90...Be4 91.Rd2 Kf6 92.Rb2? 92.Re2 Bd3 93.Rb2+– 92...Bd3? 92...Ke5! 93.Rf2 Kd4! 94.Kg7 Ke3 95.Ra2 Kf4 96.Ra4 Kxg4! 97.Rxe4+ Kf3 98.Re1 g4

99.Kg6 Kf2 100.Ra1 g3 101.Kg5 g2= (Baldauf) 93.Rb6+ Ke5 94.Kg7 Kf4 95.Rb4+ Be4 96.Rxe4+! Kxe4 97.Kg6 1-0

(c122) The pawn is a rook’s pawn

This can be very deep and difficult. In some cases the rook always win in others there are drawing zones for the defending king. We start with the defender’s pawn on its initial square and move upwards:

02.15 Aronian – Kramnik

Shanghai 2010

This case is usually won for the rook, but matters can be complex: 53.Kb3 Passive defense 53.Kc3 Rh6 54.Kd2?! loses easily: 54...Kd4 55.Bb3 Rh2+ 56.Kc1?! Kd3–+ 53...Kd4 54.Bg6 Rh3+ 55.Kb4 Rh6 56.Bf7 Ra6 57.Bg8 57.Be8 Ra7 58.Bg6 Ke3 59.Kc3 Rg7 60.Bf5 Rc7+ 61.Kb3 Ra7 62.Kc3 Ra6 63.Bd7 Rd6 64.Bf5 Rc6+ 65.Kb4 Ra6 66.Kc3 Rd6 67.Bh7 (67.Kb4 Kd2 68.Kxa3 Kc3 69.Ka4 Rd4+ 70.Ka3 (70.Kb5 Rd5+ 71.Kb6 Rxf5 72.a4 Kb4–+) 70...Rd5–+) 67...Ke2 68.Kb3 Ra6 69.Kc2 Rb6 70.Bg8 Rb2+ 71.Kc3 Rb8 72.Bb3 Rc8+ 73.Kb4 Ra8 74.Kc3 Ra7 75.Bc4+ Kd1 76.Bd5 Kc1 77.Kb3 Kd2 78.Be6 Re7 79.Bg8 Re3+ 80.Kc4 Rc3+ 81.Kd4 Rg3 82.Be6 Rg6 83.Bf5 Rf6 84.Bh7 Rf4+ 85.Ke5 Rb4–+ 57...Ra7 58.Be6 Kd3 59.Bb3 59.Kb3 Kd2 60.Bd5 Rd7 61.Be6 Rd3+ 62.Kc4 Rg3–+ 59...Kd2 60.Ba4

60...Rb7+ This is the point. Black can give up the pawn when the time is right. 61.Kc4 61.Kxa3 Kc3 62.Bc6 Ra7+ 63.Ba4 Kc4 64.Kb2 Rxa4–+ 61...Kc1 62.Kc3 Kb1 63.Bb3 Rc7+ 64.Kd3 Kb2 65.Kd2 Rd7+ 66.Ke3 Kc3 67.Bg8 Re7+ 68.Kf2 Kd2 69.Kf3 Kd3 70.Kf2 Re2+ 71.Kf3 Re8 0-1 in view of 72.Bb3 Rf8+ 73.Kg2 Kc3 74.Kg1 Kb2 75.Kg2 Rb8 76.Bd5 Kb1 77.Kf3 Rb2 78.Ke3 Rxa2 79.Bxa2+ Kxa2 80.Kd2 Kb2–+

The next case also is usually won:

02.16 Emodi – Domany

Budapest 2011

50.Rg7+ Kc8 51.Kc5 Kb8 52.Kb6 Kc8 53.Ra7 Be2 54.Rc7+ Kd8 If the king stays in the corner, then zugzwang decides sooner rather than later: 54...Kb8 55.Rc1 Bb5 56.Rc2 zugzwang 56...Ba4 57.Rh2 Kc8 58.Kxa6+– 55.Rc2 Bb5 56.Kb7 Kd7 57.Rd2+ Ke6 58.Rb2 Bc4 59.Rh2 Kd7 60.Rh4 Bb5 61.Rd4+ Ke7 62.Kc7 Ke6 63.Rd6+ Ke7 63...Ke5 64.Rb6 Be2 65.Kc6 Kd4 66.Rb4+ Ke5 67.Kc5 Bf1 68.Rb1 Bd3 69.Re1++– 64.Rb6 Bf1 65.Rb1! Bc4 66.Re1+ Kf7 67.Kb7 Bb5 67...Kf6 68.Rc1 Bb5 69.Rc5 Bf1 70.Rc6+ Ke7 71.Rxa6+– 68.Rb1 Bd3 68...Ke7 69.Rxb5 axb5 70.a6 b4 71.a7 b3 72.a8Q b2 73.Qa3++– 69.Rb6 Ke7 70.Rxa6 Bxa6+ 71.Kxa6 1-0

One square further down the board it is different. Now there is a losing zone for the defending king:

02.17 Gallagher – Lehner

Baden 1999 (D)

White wins by zugzwang if Black’s king can be imprisoned near the a8-corner and by entering a pawn ending, if the king can be cut off along the f-file. Otherwise Black can defend: 1.Rc4+?

This careless check lets the king escape. 1.Kb5! wins in the following typical way: 1...Be1 (1...Kb7 2.Rd7+ Kc8 3.Kc6 Bc3 (3...Kb8 4.Kb6 Kc8 5.Rd1+–) 4.Rd5 Bb4 5.Kb6 Be1 6.Rd3 Bb4 7.Rd1+–) 2.Rd3 Bb4 3.Rd1 Kb7 (3...Bc3 4.Rc1+–) 4.Rd7+ Kc8 5.Kc6 Bc3 6.Rd5 Bb4 7.Kb6 Be1 8.Rd3 Bb4 9.Rd1+– (Maizelis)

and Black is in deadly zugzwang. 1...Kd6 2.Kb6 Kd5 3.Rc6 Be1 4.Kb5 Bb4 5.Rg6 Bd2 6.Rg8 Bb4 7.Rd8+ Ke6 8.Kc6 Ke7 9.Rd3 Ke8 10.Kc7 Ke7 11.Re3+ Kf7 12.Kc6 12.Kd7 Kf6! 13.Re6+ Kf5!= (Baranov) 12...Kf6 13.Kd7 Kf5 14.Re6 (D)

14...Bc3? It is very important that White’s king cannot get to d5, when Black’s has to stay on f5. So 14...Bf8 was called for, e.g., 15.Re2 Bb4

16.Kc6 Kf6 17.Kd5 Kf7= (Baranov) 15.Kd6! Bb4+ 16.Kd5 Bc3 17.Re3 Bb4 18.Rf3+ The resulting cut-off along the f-file always wins. 18...Kg6 19.Kc6 Kg7 20.Kb6 Kg6 21.Kb5 Kg7 22.Ka6 Kg6 23.Kb6 Kg5 24.Rf7 Bc3 25.Kb5 (of course not 25.Ra7?? Bd4+=) 1-0 in view of 25...Kg6 26.Ra7 Kf6 27.Rxa5 Bxa5 28.Kxa5 Ke7 29.Kb6 Kd7 30.Kb7!+–

If the defending white king is cut off along the fourth rank, it depends on the placement of the attacking king:

02.18 Meissner – Matevzic

Germany 1996

Black’s king must choose the right direction: 103...Kf3? Now White’s king gets too close. 103...Kf5 104.Kd5 Rg4 wins as the bishop can be hunted and dominated, e.g., 105.Bd8 Rg8 106.Be7 (106.Bg5 Rxg5 107.hxg5 Kxg5–+) 106...Rg7 107.Bb4 Kg4 108.Be1 Re7 109.Bf2 Re2–+ 104.Ke5! Kg3 105.Kf5 Kf3 106.Ke5 Re4+ 107.Kd5 mutual zugzwang 107...Ra4 108.Ke5! Kg4 109.Bd8 Kf3 110.Bg5 Kg3 111.Kf5 Ra5+ 112.Ke4! Kg4 113.Ke3 Re5+ 114.Kd4 Re6 115.Kd3 Kf3 ½-½

The next case is similar, but this time the king must be cut off one file further along the b-file. We start with the win if the king is imprisoned near the corner:

02.19 Kramnik – Ponomariov

Moscow 2009

65.Re4 Bf2 66.Kg5 Bg3 67.Re2 Kg7 68.Re7+ Kf8 69.Kf6 Bf2 70.Re6 Bg3 71.Kg6 Bh2 72.Re4 Bg3 73.Kf6 Bf2 74.Kg6 Bg3 75.Re2 Bd6 76.Kg5 Bg3 Changing the diagonal with 76...Be7+ does not help because of 77.Kf5 Kf7 78.Re4 Bf6 79.Rc4 Bd8 80.Rd4 Be7 81.Rd7 Kf8 82.Ke6 Bg5 83.Rc7 (D)

83...Kg8 (83...Be3 84.Rf7+ Kg8 (84...Ke8 85.Rh7+–) 85.Kf6 Bf2 86.Kg6 Bg3 87.Re7 Kf8 88.Re4+–) 84.Kf5 Be3 85.Kg6 Kf8 86.Rh7+– 77.Kf6 Bf4 78.Re4 Bd6 79.Rd4 Bc7 80.Kg6 Bg3 81.Re4

Deadly zugzwang 1-0

If the king can escape than the defender can draw:

02.20 Kasparov – Yusupov

Linares 1993

102.Re7+? 102.Rd8 wins as seen in the previous example, e.g., 102...Kc7 103.Rd3 Kc8 104.Kc6 Bc2 105.Rd4 Bf5 (105...Bb3?! 106.Kb6+–) 106.Rf4 Bd7+ 107.Kd6 Bb5 108.Rf7 Be2 (108...Bd3 109.Rc7+ Kb8 (109...Kd8 110.Ra7+–) 110.Kc6+–) 109.Kc6 Kd8 110.Rd7+ Kc8 (110...Ke8 111.Rd4+–) 111.Rh7 Bf3+ 112.Kb6 Bd1 113.Rh4 Bb3 114.Rd4+– 102...Kc8 103.Kc6 Kd8! Now the king has run away. 104.Rd7+ Ke8 105.Kc7 Bc2 106.Rd2 Bb3 107.Re2+ Kf7 108.Kd6 Bc4 109.Re7+ Kf8 110.Re4 Bb3 111.Kd7 Kf7 112.Rf4+

Now Black must be careful with his king: 112...Kg6! 112...Kg7? 113.Kc6 Kg6 114.Kb5 Kg5 115.Rxa4+– 113.Kd6 Kg5 114.Ke5 Kg6! 114...Bc2? 115.Rf2+– 115.Rf3 Kg7 116.Rf6 Bc4 117.Kf5 Bb3 118.Kg5 Bc2 ½-½

The following case is much deeper and human analysis in principle was confirmed by the tablebase:

02.21 Timman – Velimirovic

Rio de Janeiro 1979

Black can draw if he keeps his king near f6 and does not allow a cut-off along the edge: 1...Bf6 2.Rc6+ Ke7 3.Ke4 Bb2 4.Kd5 Kf7 5.Re6 Kg7? Now White’s king can come to f5 and then Black’s king will be cut off on the edge. 5...Ba1 (Timman) defends, e.g., 6.Re3 Bb2 7.Kd6 Kf6 8.Rf3+ Kg5 9.Kd5 Kg4 10.Ke4 Kg5!= 6.Ke4 Kf7 7.Kf5 Kf8 7...Bc1 8.Rc6 Bb2 9.Rc7++– 8.Kg6 Bc3 9.Ra6 Bb2 10.Ra7

Chéron had proved that White can win this position, but he needed more than 50 moves. Andersson and Timman were able to refine the process so that Timman indeed managed to win the game within the 50-move rule.

10...Ke8 11.Kf5 Kf8 11...Kd8?! 12.Ke6 Kc8 13.Kd6 Kb8 14.Rd7 Kc8 15.Kc6 Bc1 16.Rd3 Bb2 17.Kb6+– 12.Ke6 Kg8 13.Rf7 Bc3 14.Rf3 Bb2 14...Bb4 15.Rg3+ Kf8 (15...Kh7 16.Kf6 Bc5 17.Rg6 Bd4+ 18.Kf7 Bb2 19.Rc6 Bd4 20.Rc4 Bf2 21.Rc2 Bg1 22.Rc1+–) 16.Rb3 Bc5 17.Rc3 Bb4 18.Rc7 Bd2 19.Rf7+ Kg8 (19...Ke8 20.Ra7+–) 20.Kf6 Bc3+ 21.Kg6 Bb2 22.Rf3 Bc1 23.Rc3+– 15.Ke7 Kh7 16.Rg3 Kh6 17.Kd6 Kh5 18.Kc5 Kh4 19.Rg8 Be5 19...Kh3 20.Kb4 Kh4 21.Kb3 Kh3 (21...Kh5 22.Rg2 Bc1 23.Rc2 Bb2 24.Rxb2 axb2 25.Kxb2 Kg6 26.a4+–) 22.Rg6 Bc1 23.Rc6 Bb2 24.Rc4 Kg3 25.Ra4 Kf3 26.Rxa3 Bxa3 27.Kxa3 Ke4 28.Kb4+– 20.Kd5 Bb2 21.Kc4 Bf6 21...Be5 22.Kb3 Bd6 23.Rg6 Bf8 24.Kc4 Kh5 25.Rg8 Be7 26.Rg2 Bd6 (26...Kh6 27.Kd5 Bf6 28.Rg3 Bb2 29.Kc4 Kh5 30.Kb4 Kh4 31.Rxa3+–) 27.Kd5 Bb4 28.Rg3 Kh4 29.Rb3 Bf8 30.Rf3 Be7 31.Ke6 Bc5 (31...Kg4 32.Rc3 Bf8 33.Rc8 Bh6 34.Rc4+ Kh5 35.Kf5+–) 32.Rd3! Bf8 (32...Kg4 33.Rc3 Bf8 34.Rc8 Bh6 35.Rc4+ Kg5 36.Kf7 Kf5 37.Rc3+–) 33.Kf6 Bc5 34.Kf7 Kg4 35.Rc3 Bd6 36.Ke6 Bf8 37.Rc8 Bh6 38.Rc4+ Kg5 (38...Kh5 39.Kf5 Bf8 40.Rc8 Bg7 41.Rc1+–) 39.Kf7 Kf5 40.Rc3+–

22.Rg6 Bg5 23.Kd5 Bc1 23...Kh5 24.Rc6 Bd2 25.Ke6 Kg5 26.Rc4 Kh6 27.Rc2 Be1 28.Rh2+ Kg5 29.Rh3 Bb4 30.Rf3 Kh5 (30...Kg4 31.Rb3 Bf8 32.Rb8 Bh6 33.Rb4+ Kg5 34.Ra4 Bf8 35.Ra5+ Kg6 36.Ra8 Kg7 37.Ra4 Kg6 38.Rg4+ Kh5 39.Kf5 Bc5 40.Ra4 Kh6 41.Kf6+–) 31.Kf5 Kh6 32.Rg3 Bc5 33.Rg4! Kh5 34.Rc4 Bd6 35.Rc8 Kh4 36.Ke6+– 24.Ke4 Bb2 25.Kf5 Kh5 26.Rd6 Kh4 27.Rd3 Bc1 28.Rc3 Bb2 29.Re3 Bc1 30.Re1 Bd2 30...Bb2 31.Rg1 Kh3 32.Kf4 Kh2 33.Rg4 Kh3 34.Kf3 Kh2 35.Kf2 Bf6 (35...Kh3 36.Ra4 Bc1 37.Ke2+–) 36.Re4 Bd8 (36...Kh1 37.Kg3 Bc3 38.Ra4 Bb2 39.Kf2+–) 37.Re6 Bh4+ 38.Kf3 Bg5 39.Kg4 Bd8 (39...Bc1 40.Re2+ Kg1 41.Re1++–) 40.Re3+–

31.Rh1+ Kg3 32.Rd1 Bb4 33.Rd3+ Kf2 34.Ke4 Ke2 35.Kd4 Bc5+ 36.Kc4 Be7 37.Rh3 Bd6 38.Kb3 Bf8 39.Rh8 Bd6 39...Bc5 40.Rc8 Bd6 41.Ra8 Kd3 42.Rd8+– 40.Ra8 1-0

When the pawn are not yet blocked it depends, if the bishop can control the attacker’s queening square or not. If not then it is usually drawn:

02.22 Kindermann – Inkiov

Plovdiv 1983 (D)

This is mutual zugzwang with White to move: 66.Ke5 66.Kc5 Ba3+!= 66...Bb2+ 67.Kf5 Bd4 68.Kg6 Bc5 69.Kf7 Bd4 70.Ke7 Bc5+ 71.Kd7 Bd4 72.Rc6 Be3 73.Rc3 Bd4 74.Rb3+ Ka7 75.Kc6 Bf2 76.Rb7+ Ka8 77.Rf7 Be3 78.Rf3 Bd4 79.Rf4 Be3 ½-½

If the bishop can control the queening square, matters are different and can be very complicated:

02.23 Lerner – Chernin

Lvov 1984

White wins in 82 moves DTM: 78.Ke5? One optimal win starts with 78.Rb5 Bg3 79.Rb3 Bc7 80.Rc3 Bf4 81.Rc2 Kg5 82.Rc5+ Kg6 (82...Kh4?! 83.Rc4 Kg3 84.h4+–) 83.Kd5 Bd2 84.Ke4+– 78...Bg3+? Black misses the active defense: 78...Bf2 79.Rb5 (79.Rc2 Bg3+ 80.Ke4 h4 81.Rc5 Kf6 82.Rf5+ Ke6=) 79...Kg5 80.Ke4+ Kh4 81.Kf3 Ba7 82.Kg2 Bc5!= 79.Ke4 Be1 80.Rc1 Bd2 81.Rg1+ Kf6 82.h4 Bb4 83.Rg5 Be7 84.Kf3 84.Rxh5? Kg6= 1-0

Exercises

E02.09 Hirschberg – Haubold

Nuremberg 2009

Black to move and win

E02.10 Karjakin – Topalov

Wijk aan Zee 2012

Karjakin found the quickest way to win Black’s pawn. Can you do the same?

(c2) Pawns on neighboring files

(c21) Pawns very close

(c211) The bishop cannot defend the pawn

This configuration is usually drawn, if the defender can place the pawn on the color which the bishop cannot control and if the attacker’s pawn is not on the fifth rank:

02.24 Moser – Guenes

Bayern 2014

This is a typical draw: 80...Bb3 Even 80...h5 draws. 81.Kh4 81.Kf4 Bc2= 81...Bc4 82.Rc6 82.Kh5 Bf7+= 82...Bd5 83.Rb6 Bc4 84.g5 hxg5+ 85.Kxg5 Kf7 and the game was later drawn. ½-½

If the attacker’s pawn is on the fifth rank it is deep and different:

02.25 Elkies 1993

This set-up had been thought also to be drawn, but Noam Elkies found the win without the help of tablebases. The rook wins by using the method of dominating the bishop and a combination of the following plans: (a) White’s king penetrates via h6; (b) White’s king penetrates via f6; and (c) White plays g6 to reach the configuration White Kg6, Rf7 vs. Black Kg8, which wins regardless of the position of Black’s dark-square bishop. So let’s see a few sample lines:

1.Rb3 Bd6 2.Kg4 The king goes backwards to be able to employ plan (a) and (b) quickly. 2...Bf8 2...Bc5 3.Rb5 The domination phase begins. 3...Bd4 (after 3...Ba3, White can use plan (b), as the bishop has no access to b2. 4.Kf5 Be7 5.Rb8+ Kf7 6.Rb7+– Black cannot break this eternal pin, so White’s king will now switch to plan (a) and invade decisively via h6. 4.Kh5 Now plan (a) is right, as after 4...Bc3 (4...Bg7 5.g6 h6 6.Rb8+ Bf8 7.Rxf8+ Kxf8 8.Kxh6+–) 5.Rb8+ Kg7 6.Rb7+ Kh8, White can switch to plan (c) with 7.g6 h6 8.Kxh6 Bg7+ 9.Kg5 Bd4 10.g7+ Kh7 11.Rf7 Be5 12.g8Q+ Kxg8 13.Kg6+– 3.Kf5 Bc5 4.Rd3 Bb4 5.Kf6 Ba5 6.Rb3 Bd8+ 7.Kf5 Ba5

8.Kg4 White again threatens to realize plan (a) so 8...Bc7 is called for. 9.Rb5 9.Kh5?! is met by 9...Bd6 9...Bd6 and finally plan (b) decides the day, as the bishop is dominated: 10.Kf5 Bc7 11.Rd5 Bb6 12.Kf6 Bc7 13.Rd7 Ba5 14.Rg7+ Kh8 15.Kf7+–

Even the next case is usually won, but I had thought that it was drawn until Gabriele Mileto from Italy discovered that it is always won for White:

02.26 Muir – Erdogdu

Gothenburg 2005

I thought that Black can draw by 93...Bb6 or 93...Bd4 but I was wrong. But to understand the winning procedure is not so easy. Other tries like 93...Ba7?! 94.Rb2 Bd4 95.Rb7+ Ke8 96.Kf6 Bc3 97.Re7++– and; 93...Bh4?! 94.Kg4+– are obviously lost. The game finished 93...Bg3?! 94.Kg4 1-0

Although this position looks similar and White still has plan (a) to penetrate with the king via f6 and (b) to invade via d6, it also has differences. Plan (c) usually leads to a draw here, but there are important exceptions especially with Black’s bishop on e7 or h6. Black’s bishop can operate from both wings, but nevertheless White is surprisingly always winning like in Elkies’ position:

93...Bb6 94.Rb2 Ba5 95.Rb7+ Kf8 95...Ke8 allows the direct realization of plan (a): 96.Kf6 Bd8+ 97.Kg7 Be7 98.Rb8+ Bd8 99.Rxd8+ Kxd8 100.Kxf7+– 96.Ke4 Again White’s king goes back to be able to realize plan (a) and (b) quickly. 96...Bd2 97.Kd5 Bf4 98.Rb4 again the domination game begins 98...Bd2 99.Rb2 Bc1 100.Rc2 Be3 this allows plan (b). But Black only had a choice between two evils. He can also try 100...Ba3 when White will realize a combination of plan (a) and (c): 101.Rc3 Bb2 (101...Be7 102.Rf3 Ke8

and now comes an important moment when White can use plan (c): 103.e6 f6 104.Rc3 Kd8 105.Rc4 Bf8 (105...Ba3 106.Ra4 Be7 107.Kc6 Bf8 108.Ra8+ Ke7 109.Rxf8 Kxf8 110.Kd7+–) 106.Ra4 Ke7 107.Ra7+ Kd8 108.Ra8+ Ke7 109.Rb8 Bh6 110.Rb7+ Ke8 111.e7 Kf7 112.Kd6+–) 102.Rb3 Ba1 103.Rf3 Ke7 (103...Kg7 104.Ke4 Kf8 105.Ra3 Bb2 106.Rb3 Bc1 107.Kf5 Bh6 108.Rb7 transposes) 104.Ke4 Bb2 105.Rb3 Bc1 106.Rb7+ Kf8 107.Kf5 Bh6 108.Rc7 Bg7 (108...Kg8 109.e6 fxe6+ 110.Kg6 Bf8 111.Rc8 e5 112.Re8 e4 113.Rxe4+–) 109.Rd7 Bh6

and now because of Black’s badly placed bishop, White can use plan (c) with 110.e6 fxe6+ 111.Kf6! Ke8 112.Kxe6 Kf8 113.Rf7+ Kg8 114.Kf6+– 101.Kd6 Bd4 102.Rc8+ Kg7 103.Kd5 Bb2 104.Ke4 Ba3 105.Rc3 Bb4 105...Bb2 106.Rb3 Bc1 (106...Ba1 107.Kf5 Bd4 108.Rb7 Kf8 109.Kf6 Kg8 110.Rxf7 Bxe5+ 111.Kg6+–) 107.Kf5 Bh6 108.Rb8 Bd2 109.Rb7 Kf8 110.Kf6+– 106.Rb3 Bd2 106...Bf8 107.Rg3+ Kh7 108.Rf3 Kg7 109.Kd5 Kg6 110.Rf6+ Kg7 111.Kc6 Be7 112.Rf3 Kg6 113.Kd7 Bh4 114.Ke8 transposes to the main line 107.Rd3 Bb4 108.Kd5 Kf8 109.Rb3 Bd2 after 109...Be7 110.Kc6 (it is also possible to use plan (c) with 110.Rf3 Ke8 111.e6+–) 110...Bg5 111.Kd6 Bh6 112.Rh3 Kg7 113.Rf3 Kg6 114.Ke7 Bg5+ 115.Ke8+– and White wins similar to the main line 110.Kd6 Bh6 111.Rc3 Bg5 112.Rh3 Kg7 after 112...Bd2 113.Kd7 Bf4 114.Rh5 Kg7 115.Rf5 Bd2, White even has the shot 116.Rxf7+ Kxf7 117.e6++– 113.Rf3

Plan (b) is realized. Now the next aim is to march with the king to e8 to force Black’s f-pawn forward. So Black has to start counterplay, which will prove to be one tempo too slow. 113...Kg6 114.Kd7 Bh4 115.Ke8 f5 116.e6 Kf6 117.Kd7 Ke5 118.e7 Bxe7 119.Kxe7 f4

and now White wins like in one famous Réti study: 120.Rf1 Kf5 121.Kf7! Opposition 121...Ke4 122.Kf6 f3 123.Kg5 Outflanking and winning 123...Ke3 124.Kg4 f2 125.Kg3+– 1-0

(c212) The bishop defends the pawn

This configuration often depends on the placement of the defending king. If it is ready for a counterattack, then it is usually drawn; otherwise the attacker wins:

02.27 Palac – Lisenko

Vinkovci 1993

White wins as Black’s king is misplaced: 55.Rb2 55.Rb8!? Ba2 (55...Bc4 56.Rf8+ Ke7 57.Rc8 Bd5 58.Ke5+–) 56.Rh8 Bd5 57.Rh6+ Kg7 58.Kg5 Bc4 59.Rh1 Bd5 60.Ra1 Bc4 61.Ra7+ Kf8 62.Kf6 Ke8 63.Re7+ Kd8 64.Rxe6+– 55...Bc4 56.Rh2 Bd3 57.Rh6+ Bg6 58.Kg4 Kf7 59.Kg5 Bf5 60.Rh8? Now Black’s king can regroup. 60.Kf4 Kg7 61.Rh1 Kf6 62.Ra1 wins DTM in 42 moves. 60...Ke7! 61.Rb8 Kd6!

This is a typical draw as Black’s king must be controlled: 62.Rb5 Bd3 63.Ra5 Bc4 64.Kf6 Bb3 65.Ra3 Bc4 66.Ra5 Bb3 67.Kg7 Bc4 68.Kf8 Bb3 69.Ke8 Bc4 70.Kd8 Bb3 71.Kc8 Bc4 72.Kb7 Bd5+ 73.Ka7 Kc6 74.Ra3 Be4 75.Ra5 Bd5 76.Kb8 Bf3 77.Kc8 Kd6 78.Kd8 Be4 79.Ke8 Bd3 80.Kf7 Bc2 81.Kf6 ½-½

With a defending rook’s pawn, it is similar:

02.28 Banikas – Blehm E76

Calicut 1998

This is mutual zugzwang and White to move cannot win: 79.Kf2 Kh6 80.Kg1 Kg6 81.Kf1 Kh6 82.Rg2 Kh5 83.Rf2

83...Bd6? Now White can activate his rook 83...Kh4 draws: 84.Kg2 Kh5 85.Kf3 (85.Re2 g4=) 85...Kh4= 84.Rd2 Bf4 85.Rd4 Be3 86.Re4 Bc1 87.Kg2 Bf4 88.Re8 Bd2 89.Rh8+ Kg6 90.Kf3 Bc1 91.Kg4 Kf6 92.Rh6+ Kf7 93.Kf5 Ke7?! 93...Kg7 94.Rc6 Bd2 95.Ke4 Be1 96.Kf3 Ba5 97.Rc5 Bd2 98.Rc2 Be1 99.Kg4 Bh4 100.Rc6 Kf7 101.Kf5 Kg7 102.Ra6 Kh7 (102...Kf7 103.Ra7+ Ke8 104.Ke6 Kf8 105.Rb7 Kg8 106.Kf6+–) 103.Rg6 Kh8 104.Kg4 Kh7 105.Kh5 Kh8?! 106.Kh6+– 94.Re6+ Kd7 95.Kf6 Bb2+ 96.Kf7 Bc1 97.Re1 Bf4 98.Rd1+ Kc6 99.Ke6 1-0

(c22) Pawns far away

Here the defender should try to set up a barrier with bishop and pawn next to each other:

02.29 Nisipeanu – Lputian

Batumi 1999 (D)

White’s f-pawn should be put to f3 and the bishop to e3: 87.Bf4? 87.Be3 g5 (87...Re1 88.Kg3 Ke4 89.Kg2! Re2

90.Kg3 Kf5 91.Bb6 Ra2 92.f3=) 88.Ke2 Rb1 (88...g4 89.f3 Rg2+ 90.Kf1 gxf3 91.Bb6=) 89.f3 draws.

For example, 89...Rb2+ 90.Kf1 Kg6 91.Kg1 Kh5 92.Bf2 Rb3 93.Kg2 Kg6 94.Kg3 Kf5 95.Kg2 Kf4 96.Bg3+ Ke3 97.Bc7= 87...g5! 88.Bh2 88.Be3 g4+ 89.Ke2 Ke4–+ 88...g4+! 89.Ke3 Rb1 90.Bc7 Rb3+ 91.Kd4 Rb1 92.Ke3 Rb7 93.Bh2 Re7+ 94.Kd3 Re1 95.Kd4 Rb1 96.Bc7 Rb4+ 97.Ke3 Rb3+ 98.Kd4 Rf3 99.Bg3

Zugzwang in a weak sense. White to move loses very quickly, while Black still has a long way to go to win. 99...Ke6 100.Ke4 Kd7 101.Kd5 Kc8 102.Kc6 Rf6+ 103.Kc5 Kb7 104.Kc4 Rf3 105.Kb5 105.Kd5 Kb6 106.Ke4 Kb5 (106...Kc5? 107.Bf4!=) 107.Kd4 Kb4 108.Bd6+ Kb3 109.Bg3 Kc2–+ 105...Rc3 106.Kb4 Rc1 107.Kb3 Kc6 0-1

(c3) Both sides have a passed pawn

The rook usually has good chances to win this fight, but matters can be very complicate. The bishop can often draw when the king supports the passed pawn or when the configuration is a fortress. In the first case the defending king is just too far away:

02.30 Ding – Naiditsch

Danzhou 2014

83...Rh1? But after this move White’s counterplay is always in good time. The rook should have taken the route via 83...Ra8 : 84.Ke3 (84.Be4 Rf8 85.Ke3 Kh2–+; 84.Bf5 Re8+ 85.Kf1 Kf3 86.Bg6 Ra8 87.Ke1 g3 88.Bh5+ Kg2 89.Ke2 Kh2 90.Bf3 Rh8–+; 84.Bf7 Rh8 85.Bg8 Kh2–+) 84...Kh2 85.Kf4 g3 86.Be4 Rh8 87.Kg5 Rxh7 88.Bxh7 g2–+

84.Ke3! Rh6 85.Bf5 Rh2 86.Be4 Rh5 87.Bg6 Rh6 87...Re5+? 88.Kd4+– 88.Bf5! Kh4 89.Kf4! g3 90.Kf3

This is mutual zugzwang. 90...Rh5 91.Bg6 Rxh7 91...Rh6 92.Bf5! Kg5 93.Be4= 92.Bxh7 Kh3 93.Be4! Necessary precision, since 93.Ke2? fails to 93...g2 94.Kf2 Kh2–+, and 93.Bf5+? runs into 93...Kh2–+ 93...Kh2 93...g2 94.Kf2= 94.Kg4 g2 ½-½

When attack and defense can be combined, the rook often can win by using the superior mobility:

02.31 Goganov – Jakovenko

Khanty-Mansiysk 2014

65...Rc8!! 65...f3? 66.Bc5! Kg3 (66...Kg5 67.Ke4 Rxe6+ 68.Kxf3=) 67.Kf6 f2 68.Bxf2+ Kxf2 69.e7=; 65...Kg5? 66.e7 f3 67.Bc5 Rxe7+ 68.Bxe7+ Kg4 69.Bc5= 66.Kd5 f3 67.Bc5

Now Black must first deal with White’s pawn: 67...Kf5! 67...Rxc5+? 68.Kxc5 f2 69.e7 f1Q 70.e8Q=; 67...Kg3? 68.e7 Kf4 69.Kd6 Kf5 70.Kd7= 68.e7 Re8 69.Kd6 Kf6 70.Bd4+ 70.Kd7 Kf7–+ 70...Kf7 71.Ke5 Ra8! Again the rook must be used actively. 71...Rxe7+? 72.Kf4 Rd7 73.Be3=; 71...Kxe7? 72.Kf4 Rf8+ 73.Kg3 Ke6 74.Kf2 Kd5 75.Bb6 Ke4 76.Bc5= 72.e8Q+ 72.Kd6 Ke8–+ 72...Kxe8! 72...Rxe8+? 73.Kf4 Rd8 74.Be3= 73.Ke4 73.Bf2 Ra2 74.Bg3 f2–+ 73...Ra4 0-1 in view of 74.Ke3 Rxd4 75.Kxd4 f2–+

The next case is very complicated:

02.32 Van der Wiel – Suba

Reggio Emilia 1986

White is winning, but things proceed much quicker if Black were on move: 64.Rf6+?! 64.Rf2 wins DTM in 49 moves, e.g., 64...Bb3 65.Rf1 Kg7 (65...Bc4?! 66.Rf3 leads to the starting position with Black to move and White can advance on the kingside: 66...Kg7 67.Rc3 Bb5 68.Re3 Bd7 [68...Bc4 69.Kh5+–] 69.Re1 Kh7 70.Rf1 Kg6 71.Rf6+ Kg7 72.Rh6 e5 73.Rd6 Be8 74.Re6+–) 66.Kh5 Bc2 67.Re1 Bg6+ 68.Kg4 Bf5+ 69.Kh4 Kg6 70.Rc1 Be4 71.Rf1 Bf5 72.Rf4 Kg7 73.Rd4 Bg6 (73...Kg6?! 74.Rd6 Kg7 75.Rd7+ Kg6 76.Re7+–

This zugzwang is one of White’s aims. 74.Rd7+ Bf7 75.Kg4 Kf8 76.Kf4 Kg7 77.Rc7 Kf8 78.Rc1 Kg7 79.Re1 Bg8 80.Kg4 Bf7 81.Kh4 Bg8 82.Rf1 Bf7 83.Rf6 Bg8 84.Kg4 Bf7 85.Kf3 Bh5+ 86.Kf4 Bf7 87.Ke5+–

This zugzwang is another important target position. 64...Kg7 65.Rf4 Bb3 66.Rf3 Bd5 67.Re3 Kg6 68.Rc3 Be4 69.Rc8 Kg7 70.Rc1 Bd5 71.Rf1 Bc4 72.Rc1 Bd5 73.Rc7+ Kg6 74.Re7 Bc4 75.Re8 Kg7 76.Rb8 Bd5 77.Rc8 Be4 78.Kg3 Bd5 79.Kg4 Kg6 ½-½ The position is still won, but a draw was agreed.

The following position on the other hand is a fortress, but it is not easy to hold:

02.33 Ding Liren – Bu Xiangzhi

JinZhou 2009

At first Bu plays faultlessly: 79...Ba3! 80.Kf5 Kg7 81.Rg4+ Kh6 82.Rg3 Bc1 83.Rh3 Bb2 84.Rb3 Bd4 85.Ke4 Bc5 86.Rf3 Bb4 87.Rf5 Bd2 88.Kf3 Kg7 89.Kg4 Bc1 90.Rf3 Bd2 91.Kf5 Bc1 92.Ke5 Bd2 93.Kd6 Bc1 94.Ke7

The critical moment has arisen. 94...Kh6? allows White’s king to stay very well placed. 94...f6? is also wrong: 95.Rh3 Bg5 96.Ke6 Bd2 97.Kf5 Bc1 98.Rg3+ Bg5 99.Rc3 Kh6 100.Kg4 Bd2 101.Rc6 Kg7 102.Kf5 Bg5 103.Re6 Kh7 104.Kg4 Kh6 105.Rd6 Kg7 106.Rd7+ Kh6 107.Rf7 and Black is in fatal zugzwang. 94...Bg5+! forces White’s king to leave its comfortable chair and draws, e.g., 95.Ke8 Kh6 96.Rh3 f5 (96...Kg7 is playable as well) 97.Kf7 f4 98.Ke6 f3 99.Rxf3 Kxh5 100.Kf5 Kh4=

95.Rh3 Kg7 95...f5 96.Ke6 f4 97.Kf5 Be3 98.Kg4 Kh7 99.Rf3 Kh6 100.Rf1 Kg7 101.Re1 Kh6 102.Re2 Kg7 103.Kg5+– 96.h6+! Kh7 96...Bxh6 runs into 97.Rg3+ Kh7 98.Kxf7+– 97.Kxf7 Bb2 98.Ke6 Bc1 99.Rh1 Bd2 100.Kf5 Be3 101.Kf6 Bd2 102.Rd1 Be3 103.Rd3 Bc1 104.Rb3 Bd2 105.Rg3 Bc1 106.Rg2 Be3 107.Rh2 Bf4 108.Rh1 Be3 109.Kf7 Bd2 110.Rh3 Bg5 111.Rc3 Bd2 112.Rc6 Be3 113.Rg6 Bd4 114.Rd6 114.Rg7+?? Kxh6 spoils it. 114...Be3 115.Rc6 Bd2 116.Rc2 Bf4 117.Rc6 Be3 118.Ra6 Bd2 119.Rb6 Be3 120.Rb3 Bg5 121.Rh3 Bc1 122.Ke6 Bd2 123.Kf5 Bc1 124.Rc3 Bd2 125.Rc6 Be3

126.Rf6 finally Ding Liren realizes the right plan 126...Bd2 127.Kg4! Bxh6 128.Kh5 Be3 129.Rf7+ Kg8 130.Kg6 Bg1 131.Rf3 Bh2 132.Rh3 Bg1 133.Rh1 1-0

When the pawns are further apart, it depends whether the attacker can take control. If so, then he wins. But if the counterplay cannot be controlled:

02.34 Weller – Oyama

Torquay 2013

Zugzwang in the weak sense. White needs a lot of time to win. The game is typical: 51.Ra4 h3 52.Kg3 Bg2 53.Rh4 Kf5 54.Rh8 Ke4 55.Re8+ Kf5 56.Re7 Kf6 57.Ra7 Kf5 58.Ra5+ Ke6 58...Ke4 59.Kf2 Kd3 60.Ra4+– 59.Rh5 Kf6 60.Kf4 Kg6 61.Rh4 Bf1 62.e4 Kf6 63.e5+ Ke6 64.Rh6+ Ke7 65.Ke4

Zugzwang 65.e6? Kd6 66.Kf5 Bc4= 65...Bc4 65...Kf7?! 66.Rf6++–; 65...Bg2+?! 66.Kf5+–; 65...Kd7?! 66.Kf5 Bd3+ 67.Kf6+– 66.Rxh3 Ke6 67.Rh6+ Ke7 68.Kd4 Ba2?! 69.Rb6 Bg8 70.Rb7+ 70.Kc5 Ba2 71.Rb2 Bf7 72.Rb7+ Ke6 73.Rxf7+– 70...Ke6 71.Ke4?! Bh7+ 72.Kf4?! Bd3 73.Rb6+ Ke7 74.Rb3 Bc2 75.Rb7+ Ke6 76.Rc7 Bd3 77.Ke3 Bb1 78.Kd4 Ba2?! 78...Be4 is more tenacious. 79.Rb7 Kf5 80.Rb6 Be6 81.Rd6 1-0

But the attacker usually must be very careful:

02.35 Van den Berg – Laco

Munich 1958

74...h5+? 74...Ke7 75.Kh4 Kf8 76.Kg4 h5+ 77.Kh4 Kf7–+ brings about a mutual zugzwang with White to move. 75.Kh4 Now Black is on move in the mutual zugzwang. 75...Kg6 76.Be8+ Kh6

77.Bd7? Now Black wins with the typical method. 77.Bf7! Rc2 78.c7 Rxc7 79.Bxh5= uses the moment. 77...Rc4+ 78.Kg3 Kg5 79.Kf3 Kf6 80.Kg3 h4+ 81.Kf3 Ke5 82.Kg2 Rc3 83.Kh2 Ke4 84.Kg2 Kf4 85.Kh2 Rc2+ 86.Kh3 Kg5 87.Be8 Rc3+ 88.Kh2 h3 89.Bd7 89.c7 Kh4–+ 89...Kh4 90.Bf5 Rxc6 91.Bxh3 Rc2+ 92.Bg2 Ra2 93.Kh1 Kg3 94.Bf1 Ra1 95.Kg1 Rc1 0-1

02.36 Longest win R+P vs. B+P

1...Kd3 2.Rh1!! Bd6 3.Re1!! Kd4 4.Ke2!! Ke4 5.Kf2+!! Kf4 6.Rc1!! Be7 7.Rc4+!! Kg5 8.Rc6!! Kf4 9.Kg1! Bf6 10.Kh2!! Kg4 11.Rc5!! 11...Be7 12.Rc4+! Kf5 13.Rc6!! Bh4 14.Kh3!! Be1 15.Rc1!! Bd2 16.Rc2! Be3 17.Kh4! Bg5+ 18.Kg3! Bh6 19.Rc6! Kg5 20.Rd6 g6 21.Rc6 Bg7 22.Kf3 Kf5 23.Ke3 Bh8 24.Kd3! Bg7 25.Kc4! Bh8 26.Kb5! Be5 27.Kc5! Bf4 28.Kd5! Bh6 29.Rc3 Kf6 30.Kd6!! Bf4+ 31.Kd7! Be5 32.Re3!! Bd4 33.Re7! Bc5 34.Rh7!! Be3 35.Ke8! Bf4 36.Rd7 Kf5 37.Rd5+ Kg4 38.Rd3!! g5 39.Rf3 Be5 40.Kf7 Bh8 41.Ke6! Bd4 42.Kd5! Bg7 43.Ke4! Bh8 44.Ke3 Bg7 45.Ke2! Bh8 46.Rd3! Kf4 47.Kf2! g4 48.Rd7 Bc3 49.Rf7+! Kg5 50.Re7 Kf4 51.Rd7! Be5 52.Rf7+! Kg5 53.Rb7! Bd6 54.Rb5+! Kh4 55.Rb3! Bc7 56.Ke2! Bd8 57.Kd2! Be7 58.Rd3 Bb4+ 59.Kc2! Bc5 60.Kc3 Bf2 61.Kc4! Kg5 62.Kd5! Kf5 63.Rc3 Bh4 64.Rc4! Bg5 65.Re4! Bh4 66.Kd4! Bg3 67.Ke3 Bf2+ 68.Kd3!! Bh4 69.Rc4 Bf2 70.Ke2! Bh4 71.Rd4! Bf6 72.Rd7! Ke4 73.Rc7 Bh4 74.Rf7! Bg3 75.Kd2! Be5 76.Kc2! Kd4 77.Kb3! Kd5 78.Rf1 Bc7 79.Kb4 Bb8 80.Re1 Be5 81.Kb5! Bd6 82.Rd1+ Ke5 83.Kc6! Bb8 84.Rd8! Ba7 85.Rf8! Be3 86.Rf1 g3 87.Re1 Kf4 88.Kd5! Bb6 89.Re4+ Kg5 90.Re5+! Kg4 91.Ke6! Bc7 92.Rf5 Bd8 93.Rb5 Bg5 94.Rb4+! Kh5 95.Re4! Bh6 96.Kf5! Bd2 97.Re7 Bg5 98.Rg7 Kh4 99.Rh7+! Bh6 100.Rxh6#! 1-0

Exercises

E02.11 Noiroux – Illien

Bethune 2003

White found the quickest way to win. Can you do the same?

E02.12 Melkumyan – Vocaturo

Balaguer 2010

White missed the only winning move. Can you do better?

(d) R+P vs. B+2Ps

Usually this is drawn, though under certain condition the rook wins. Often powerplay on the other color complex is the main hope of the attacker, who then uses the sharp endgame weapon zugzwang to drive the defender back further and further. Another weapon is to simplify into a won pawn ending.

(d1) Blocked pawns and a passed pawn

Here the most interesting case is when the defending bishop can defend the blocked pawn. Then it depends whether the attacker’s powerplay is strong enough:

02.37 Roy Chowdhury – Singh

Visakhapatnam 2006

White wins in typical fashion: 59.Ke4 Ke7 60.Rc6 Bc3 61.Kd5 Kf7 61...Kd7 62.Rc4 Bd2 63.Rg4 Kc7 64.Kc5 Bc3 65.Rg7+ Kd8 66.Kd6 Be5+ 67.Ke6 Kc8 68.Rd7 Bc3 69.Kd6 Be5+ 70.Kc6 Bc3 71.Re7 Kd8 72.Re4+–

Zugzwang 62.Rc7+ Kg6 63.Ke6 Kg5 64.Rc4

Zugzwang White to move would also be winning by the way, but it would take much longer. 64...Kh5 65.Kf5 Kh6

Next White can sacrifice on f6: 66.Rc7 Be5 67.Rf7 Bd4 68.Rxf6+ Kg7 68...Bxf6 69.Kxf6 Kh7 70.Ke5+– 69.Rg6+ Kf7 70.Rd6 Bc3 71.Rd7+ Kf8 72.Ke6 Ke8 73.Rd1 Kf8 74.Kd7 Kf7 75.Rf1+ Kg6 76.Kc6 1-0

The defender should activate the king, if possible:

02.38 Grischuk – Radjabov

Wijk aan Zee 2003 (D)

80...Kf5 81.Rc8 Kf6 82.Rf8+ Ke7? The wrong direction. 82...Kg5

83.Rg8+ Kh4 draws. 83.Rf5 Bd2 84.Re5+ Kd7 85.Rh5 Be3 86.Rh7+ Kd8 87.Ke6 Bc5 88.Rd7+ Kc8 88...Ke8 89.Ra7 Kd8 90.Ra4 Be3 91.Rc4+– (Grischuk in Informant 86/265) 89.Rf7 Be3 90.Kd6 Kb8 91.Kc6 b5 92.Kxb5 Kc8 93.Kc6 Kd8 94.Kd6 Ke8 95.Ke6 Bd2 96.Rc7 Kf8 97.Kf6 Ke8 98.Re7+ Kd8 99.Re4 1-0

The next example is very typical:

02.39 Speelman – Nataf

Esbjerg 2001

White wins by a powerplay on the light squares: 44.f3 Kf6 45.Rc6 Ke6 46.Ra6 Kf6 47.Kd5 Kf7 48.Ra7+ Kf6 49.Rd7 Kg5 50.Rd8 Kh4 50...Kf6 51.Re8 Kf7 52.Re6 Kf8 53.Ke4 Kf7 54.Kf5 Kf8 55.Kg6* (Hazai in CBM 85)

Zugzwang is one of the target positions, e.g., 55...Bc3 56.Rxd6 Ke7 (56...Be5 57.Rd5 Bc7 58.Rd7 Be5 59.Kf5+–) 57.Rd1 Ke6 58.Kg5 Be5 59.Re1 Kd5 60.Kf5 Bc7 61.Re4+– 51.Rg8 Kh5 52.Rg4 Kh6 53.Ke6 Kh5 54.Kf5 Kh6 55.Rg2 Kh7 56.Rg6 Kh8 57.Ke6 Kh7 58.Kf7

Zugzwang 58...Bd4 59.Rxd6 Be3 60.Rg6 Bf2 61.Kf6 Be3 62.Kg5 Bd2 63.Rd6 Be3 64.Rd7+ Kg8 65.Kf6 Bb6 66.Kg6 1-0

With an attacking rook’s pawn, it can be very complicated:

02.40 Nakamura – Sokolov

Wijk aan Zee 2013 (D)

77...Rd4!! The only winning move as e5-e6 must be prevented. 78.Bd6 78.e6?! is beautifully refuted

by 78...Rh4+ 79.Kg1 Rxb4 80.axb4 a3 81.e7 a2 82.e8Q a1Q+ 83.Kh2 Qb2+ 84.Kh3 Qg2+ 85.Kh4 Qg4# 78...Rg4? This is probably based on a miscalculation as it allows White’s e-pawn to advance. 78...Rd2+ wins, e.g., 79.Kg1 (79.Kh3 Kf4 80.Bb4 Rd3+ 81.Kg2 Kxe5 82.Kf2 Rb3 83.Bf8 Kd5 84.Ke2 Rb8 85.Bb4 Rxb4 86.axb4 a3–+) 79...Rd1+ 80.Kh2 Re1 81.Bb8 Re2+ 82.Kg1 (82.Kh3 Kf4 83.Bd6 Rd2 84.Bc7 Rd3+ 85.Kg2 Rxa3 86.e6+ Kf5 87.e7 Re3 88.Bd6 Kf6 89.Kf2 Rxe7 90.Bxe7+ Kxe7 91.Ke2 a3–+) 82...Rg2+ 83.Kh1 (83.Kf1 Ra2 84.Ke1 (84.Bd6 Ra1#) 84...Rxa3 85.Kd2 Rb3–+) 83...Kf2 84.Bd6 Rg5 85.Bc5+ Kf1 86.Kh2 Rxe5 87.Bd6 Rg5–+

79.e6! Rg2+ 80.Kh1 80.Kh3?? Rg6–+ 80...Re2 80...Rg8 does not help. After 81.e7 Ke4 82.Kh2 Kd5 83.Bb4 Ke6 84.Kh3 Kf7 85.Bd6 Rg6, the situation is similar to the game. White’s bishop can always escape the hunters, e.g., 86.Bb4 Rb6 87.Bc5 Rb5 88.Bd6=; 80...Kf2 81.e7 Rg8 82.Bc5+ Kf1 83.Kh2= 81.e7 Kg4 82.Kg1 Kf5 83.Kf1 Re6 84.Kf2 Kg6 85.Kf3 Kf7 86.Bb4 Ke8 87.Bc5 Kd7 88.Bb4 Rb6 Sokolov hunts the bishop, but the b4-d6 diagonal is just long enough. 89.Bc5 Rc6 90.Bb4 Rc4 ½-½

In the next case, the bishop can draw and Eiko Bleicher’s tablebase-generating program Freezer found the solution before the seven-piece bases were created:

02.41 Mamedov – Manea

Plovdiv 2012

66...Kb6? 66...Kd6! is the only move according to Freezer. 67.Rh5 f6

Now all inroads are controlled and White cannot win. The defender should aim for such a set up. 67.Rh5?! 67.Rc5 wins quicker. 67...Kc6 68.Rh8?! 68.Ke5 wins quicker. 68...Kb7?! 68...Kd7 was more tenacious. The instructive winning line is given below. 69.Re8?! 69.Kc5 wins quicker. 69...Be6?! This retreat allows White to cut off Black’s king in a cage. The body-check 69...Kc6!

is better, but White will win nevertheless as Freezer proves: 70.Ke5 Kd7 (70...Bf1 71.Rd8 Kc7 72.Rd2 Bc4 73.Kf6 Be6 74.Ke7 Kc6 75.Rd4 Bc4 76.Rd6+ Kc7 77.Rf6 Bd5 78.Rh6 Be6 79.Rh5 Bc4 80.Rc5+ Kb6 81.Kd6 Kb7 82.Re5 Kb6 83.Re8 Kb7 84.Kc5 Kc7 85.Re7+ and White wins as in the game. 70...Kc7 71.Re7+ Kc6 72.Ra7 Kb6 73.Rd7+–) 71.Ra8 Ke7

(a) 71...Kc7 72.Ra6 Kd7 73.Rb6 Kc7 (73...Ke7 74.Rb7++–) 74.Rd6 Bb3 75.Rd2 Be6 76.Kf6 Bc4 77.Ke7 Kc6 78.Rd6+ Kc7 79.Rh6 Be6 80.Rh5 Kc6 81.Rc5+ Kb6 82.Kd6+–;

(b) 71...Bb3 72.Rb8 Kc6 73.Rd8+–

72.Ra7+ Kf8 73.Kf6 Ke8 74.Rb7 Kd8 75.Ke5 Ke8 76.Kd6 Kf8 77.Rb6 Kg7 78.Ke7 f5 79.Rf6 Bd3 80.Ke6+–; 69...Kc7?! 70.Kc5 Kd7 71.Re1 f6 (71...f5 72.Re3 Bf1 73.Rf3 Bc4 74.Rxf5+–) 72.Re3 f5 73.Re5 Be6 74.Kd4 f4 75.Re4 f3 76.Rf4+– 70.Kc5! Bc4 71.Re7+ Kc8 72.Kd6 Kd8 73.Rb7 Kc8 74.Ra7

74...f5 74...Kb8 allows White to cut the king off in the dangerous corner: 75.Rc7!?

75...f5 76.Kc6 Bd5+ (76...f4 77.Re7 f3 78.Re8+ Ka7 79.Kc7 f2 80.Re3 f1Q 81.Ra3#) 77.Kb6 Be4 78.Rc5 Bb1 79.Rxb5 Kc8 80.Rd5 Be4 81.Rd6+– 75.Rc7+ Kb8 75...Kd8 76.Rc5 Bd3 77.Rd5+– 76.Rc5

76...Kb7 76...Bd3 is refuted by 77.Rd5 when Black loses a pawn: 77...Be4 78.Rxb5+ Kc8 79.Re5 Kb7 80.Kc5 Kc7 81.Re7+ Kd8 82.Rh7 Kc8 83.b5 Kd8 84.Rf7 Kc8 (84...Ke8 85.Rc7 f4 86.Kd6 f3 87.Re7++–) 85.Kb6 Kd8 86.Ka7 Ke8 87.Rh7 Kf8 (87...f4 88.Rh4+–) 88.b6 Kg8 89.Rc7 Kf8 90.b7 Bxb7 91.Kxb7 f4 92.Rc4 f3 93.Rf4++– 77.Rxf5 Kb6 78.Rf8 Kb7 79.Re8 Bf1 80.Kc5 Bc4 81.Re7+ Kc8 After 81...Ka6?!

Black’s king is even caught in a mating net: 82.Kc6 Bf1 83.Re3 Ka7 84.Kc7+– 82.Kc6 Kd8 83.Rc7 Mamedov prepares to simplify into a won pawn ending. Playing for zugzwang with 83.Re1!? also wins.

83...Bf1 84.Kb6 1-0 and Black resigned in view of 84...Bc4 85.Rc5 Kd7 86.Rxb5 Bxb5 87.Kxb5+–

(e) R+P vs. B+2Ps

This winning line is very instructive. 68...Kd7 69.Rh6 Be6 70.Ke5! Ke7 71.Rf6! Ke8 72.Rf4 Ke7 73.Rf3! Zugzwang by a rook triangle. 73...Bc4 74.Ra3! Kd7 75.Ra5 Kc7 76.Ra6! Kd7 77.Rb6! Zugzwang 77...Kc7 78.Rd6! Be6 79.Rd2! Bc4 80.Kf6! Be6 81.Rd4 Bc4 82.Ke7! Be6 83.Re4 Bd5 84.Rg4 Be6 85.Rg5! Bc4 86.Rc5+! Kb7 87.Kd6! Kb6 88.Re5 Be6 89.Re4 Bc4 90.Re8! Kb7 91.Kc5! Kc7 92.Re7+! Kd8 93.Kd6! Kc8 94.Kc6! Kd8 95.Re1! Zugzwang 95...f6 96.Re3 Bf1 97.Kd6! f5 98.Rf3 Bc4 99.Rxf5!+– 1-0

Another drawing set up is as follows:

02.42 Maslak – Nechepurenko

Dagomys 2010

73.Ke3? Now White can no longer take advantage of the fact that his bishop can control the f5-square, because the struggle will be taking place in the south and in the southwest corner. After 73.Kg3!, Black cannot win, e.g., 73...Ke4 74.Be6 Rf6 75.Bd7 Rg6+ 76.Kh4 Kf4 77.Kh5 Rd6 78.Be8 Rd8 79.Bd7 Rg8 80.Kh6 (D)

This diagonal face-off is typical for the defensive strategy and will soon be repeated: 80...Ke5 81.Kh5 Kf6 82.Kh4=; 73.Kg2? (DTC -27) 73...Kf6

74.Kg3 Kg5–+ 73...Rf6 74.Be8 There is also no way out of the net on the queenside, e.g., 74.Kd3 Kd5 75.Kc3 (after 75.Ke3 Rf8–+, White is in zugzwang and will be pushed further back) 75...Rf3+ 76.Kb4 Kd4 77.Bg4 Rf8 78.Kb5 Rb8+ 79.Ka5 Kc5–+ 74...Kd5 75.Bd7 Rf8 76.Ke2 Ke4 77.Bg4 Also after 77.Kd2 Rf3 78.Bg4 Rd3+, the white king will sooner or later be driven back to the back rank, which will be followed by a decisive zugzwang, e.g., 79.Kc2 (79.Ke2 Rc3 80.Bd7 Rc2+–+) 79...Kd4 80.Kb2 Rg3 81.Bd7 Kc4 82.Be6+ Kb4 83.Bd7 Rg2+ 84.Kc1 Kc3 85.Kd1 Kd4 86.Bg4 Rf2 87.Bd7 Kd3 88.Ke1 Rf6–+

77...Rf6 78.Bc8 Kd5 79.Bd7 Kd4 80.Kd2 Rf2+ 81.Ke1 Ke3 82.Kd1 Kd3 83.Kc1 Rd2 84.Bf5+ Kc3 85.Bd7 After 85.Bg4, 85...Rf2 86.Kd1 Kd3 87.Ke1 Rf8 takes the door to the white fortress off its hinges: 88.Be2+ Ke3 89.Bh5 Rf4 90.Kd1 Rd4+ 91.Ke1 Rc4–+ 85...Rd6 86.Kb1 Rd1+ 87.Ka2 Re1 88.Bg4 Re5 89.Bd7 89.Kb1 Kb3 90.Bd1+ Ka3 91.Bf3 Rc5 92.h4 Rc3 93.Bg2 Rb3+ 94.Kc1 Rg3 95.Bd5 Rh3–+ 89...Rb5 90.Be6 Rb2+ 91.Ka1 Kc2 92.Bf5+ Kb3 93.Be6+ Ka3 94.Bd7 Rb4 95.Be6 Re4 96.Bf5 Re1+ 97.Bb1 Rh1 98.h4 Rxh4 99.Bd3 Rh3 100.Bf5 Rc3 101.Be4 Rc1+ 0-1

Exercises

E02.13 Mammadov – Firat

Olomouc 2014

Find Black’s only defense!

E02.14 Ruck – Olarasu

Agneaux 1998

Find Black’s only defense!

E02.15 Gustafsson – Shimanov

Rijeka 2010

Where shall White’s king hide?

(d2) Neighboring pawns and a passed pawn

Here again the rook needs specific conditions for the configuration to be won.

(d21) The passed pawn is close and the bishop can protect all pawns

Then it depends whether the rook can use zugzwang or not:

02.43 Dragun – Leniart

Warsaw 2010

Black’s king must run away directly: 68...Bc5? Now White can imprison Black in the corner and win the a-pawn in typical fashion. The king had to run away immediately: 68...Kc8! 69.Kc6 Kd8 70.Rf1 (70.Rd7+ Ke8=) 70...Bc5 71.Rd1+ Ke7

White cannot win as he cannot reach a decisive zugzwang as Black’s king breathes freely. 68...a2? loses, but it is very close: 69.Rf1 Bd2 70.Kb4 Kc7 71.Ra1 Kc6 72.Rxa2 Bf4 73.Ra8 Bd6+ 74.Ka4 Bc7 75.Rc8 Kb7 76.Rf8 Kc6 77.Rf5 Bd6 78.Rh5

White mates in 49 moves according to the tablebase. 68...Bh6?

This is refuted by 69.Rf6! (The greedy 69.Kxb6? falls into Black’s trap: 69...a2 70.Rf1 Bg7=) 69...Be3 70.Rf3 Bc5 71.Kc6 Kc8 72.Rd3+– 69.Kc6 Ka8 After 69...Kc8, 70.Rd7! stops the escape of Black’s king: 70...Kb8 71.Rd8+ Ka7

72.Re8! puts Black into fatal zugzwang, e.g., 72...Bg1 73.Re4 Bc5 74.Ra4+ Kb8 75.Ra6+– (Baburin in Chess Today 3356); After 69...Be3 70.Rf1 Ka7

the rook wins the domination game as follows: 71.Ra1 Bc5 72.Re1 Ka6 73.Re8 Ka7 74.Re4+– 70.Rh7 Kb8 71.Rf7 Ka8 71...a2 is refuted by 72.Rf1 Be7 73.Kxb6 (73.Ra1? throws the win away: 73...Bf6 74.Rxa2 Bxc3 75.Kxb6 Bd4+=) 73...Bf6 74.Rxf6 a1Q 75.Rf8# 72.Rf4 Ka7 73.Ra4+ Kb8 74.Ra6

Finally the decisive zugzwang is reached. First Black loses a pawn, then the game: 74...Bf2 75.Rxa3 Bc5 76.Ra6 Be3 77.c4 Bf2 78.Rxb6+ Kc8 78...Bxb6 79.Kxb6 Kc8 80.Kc6 Kb8 81.Kd7 Kb7 82.c5+– 79.c5 Bg3 80.Rb3 1-0

Of course the rook can also win if the defending king is cut off very far away:

02.44 Tereladze – Khurtsilava

Tbilisi 2008

93.Kg2? 93.Ba5! Ke3 94.Kg4= 93...Kd5? 93...Ke3 94.Ba5 Rd7 95.Bb4 Rg7+ 96.Kf1 (96.Kh3 Ke4 97.Kh4 Kd5 98.Kh5 Kc6 (D)

Zugzwang 99.Kh4 (99.Ba3 Ra7 100.Bb4 Ra4 101.Kg5 Rxb4 102.cxb4 Kxd6–+) 99...Rg6–+) 96...Rg5

97.Ba5 Rd5 98.Bb4 Kf3 99.Ke1 Rd3–+

Zugzwang 94.Kg3 ½-½

(d22) The passed pawn is far away

Again the defender often tries to protect all pawns. Then it depends whether the attacker can invade with the help of zugzwang or not:

02.45 Eingorn – Zaichik

Riga 1980

This is mutual zugzwang: 57.Kf4 c2? Black rushes. Only after 57...h5! 58.g3 can 58...c2 be played: 59.Rxc2 Bg5+ 60.Kf3 Kf5= 58.Rxc2 Bg5+ 59.Ke4 Be7 60.Rc7 Bb4 61.Rb7 Bd2 62.Rb5 Bc1 63.Rd5 Ba3?! 64.Kf4 Bc1+ 65.Kg4 Kf6 66.Kh5 Bg5 67.Ra5 Bd2 68.Ra6+ 1-0 in view of 68...Kg7 69.Ra7+ Kf6 70.g4 Be3 71.Rh7+–

Of course the attacker can also win by a direct attack:

02.46 Loberg – Johannessen

Fagernes 2013

63...Re2+ 64.Kc1 and the bishop is overloaded: 64...Kd5 65.Bg3 Ra2 66.Kd1 Rxa3 67.Ke2 Ke4 68.Kd2 Rxg3 69.hxg3 Kf3 70.Ke1 Kxg3 71.Kf1 g5 72.Kg1 g4 73.Kh1 Kf2 0-1

Exercises

E02.16 Poghosyan – Krapivin

Moscow 2011

White to move and win

E02.17 Shukuraliev – Markov

Bishkek 2010

Find Black’s only defense!

E02.18 Claus Dieter Meyer

How to outfox the bishop?

E02.19 Gurgenidze – Psakhis

Kharkov 1985

What is White’s highest priority?

E02.20 Timofeev – Inarkiev

Moscow 2008

How to defend?

(d3) All pawns are passed

Usually the rook wants to take control first and then advance the passed pawn:

02.47 Kirianov – Vaulin

corr 1974

40...Re5+! 40...Rf5? 41.Bh4= 41.Kf2 Re4 42.Kf1 42.Bd2 Rg4! 43.Kf3 Kc6 44.Be1 Kb5 45.Bd2 Kc4

Black controls everything and can achieve ...h5-h4 in the long run, e.g., 46.Be1 Rg6 47.Kf4 (47.Bd2 h4–+) 47...Rg1 48.Bd2 Kd3–+ 42...Rg4 43.Bf2 h4 44.Ba7 h3 45.Bb8 Rg8 46.Bh2 Rg2 0-1

The attacker does not always win of course:

02.48 Antoniewski – Smirnov

Aviles 2000

This is mutual zugzwang and Black cannot lose a tempo: 58...Kd6 59.Be6 Rg7 60.Kf3! 60.Bf5? allows Black to bring White into zugzwang with 60...Rg5 61.Kf3 Rg3+ 62.Kf2 Ke5 and White has to make a concession, e.g., 63.Bh7 Kf4 64.d6 h3 65.d7 Rg2+ 66.Kf1 Rd2 67.Kg1 Kg3–+ 60...Ke5 61.Bg4 Rg6 62.Bf5 Rg3+ 63.Kf2 We have reached the starting position again. 63...Rd3 64.Kg2! Kf4 65.Kh2 Rg3 66.d6 Rd3 67.d7 h3 68.Bxh3 Rd2+ 69.Bg2 Rxd7 70.e5 Re7 71.Bc6 Rc7 72.Ba4 Ra7 73.Bb5 Ra5 74.Bc6 Rxe5 75.Kg2 Re2+ 76.Kf1 Ke3 77.Bb7 Rf2+ 78.Kg1 Ke2 79.Bc6 Rf6 80.Bb7 Rg6+ 81.Kh2 Ke3 82.Kh3 Kf4 83.Kh2 Kg4 84.Kg2 Rb6 85.Bd5 Rb2+ 86.Kf1 Kf4 87.Bc6 Ke3 88.Kg1 Rf2 89.Bb7 ½-½

With isolated pawns it is similar:

02.49 Bobotsov – Gligoric

Moscow 1967

First White stops Black’s play and then the b-pawn can be advanced: 55.Rh2! Kg5 56.Ke3 Kg4 57.b4 Kg3

58.Rc2 White has time. The direct 58.b5? runs into the amazing 58...Kxh2 59.b6 h3 60.b7 Kg2 61.b8Q h2 62.Qg8+ Kh3 63.Kf4 h1N!= (Dolmatov in ChessBase MEGABASE) 58...Bd1 59.Rc1 Ba4 60.Rg1+ Kh2 61.Rg4 Kh3 61...h3 62.Kxe4+– 62.Rg5 Bc6 63.b5 Bb7 64.Rg7 Ba8 65.Kd4 e3 66.Kxe3 Kh2 67.Kf2 1-0

The next case is more complex:

02.50 Goldsztejn – Nanu

La Fere 2009

Black can take control and win by precise play: 71...Rc7? 71...Re4! 72.Kg2 Ke2 73.Kg3 Ke3

and Black is always just in time, e.g., 74.h4 (74.Be6 Kd4 (74...Rf4? 75.h4=) 75.h4 Ke5 76.h5 Kf6 77.h6 Kg5 78.h7 Rg4+ 79.Kf3 Rh4 80.Bg8 b5 81.Ke3 Kxf5 82.Kd3 Ke5 83.Kc3 Kd6–+) 74...Re7 75.Be6 Rg7+ 76.Kh3 Kf4 77.f6 Rg3+ 78.Kh2 Rg6 79.f7 Rf6 80.Kh3 (80.Bc4 Kg4–+) 80...b5 81.Ba2 b4 82.Bb3 Kf5 83.Kg3 Kg6 84.Kg4 Rxf7–+ 72.Be6 Rg7+ 73.Kh2 Kf2 74.h4 Kf3 75.f6 Rg6 76.f7 Rf6 77.Kh3 Kf4 77...b5 78.h5 Kf4 79.Kh4 b4 80.Bb3 Kf5 81.Bc4 (81.Bc2+? Ke6–+) 81...Kf4= 78.Bc4

Mutual zugzwang 78...Kf5 79.Kg3 Kg6 80.Kg4 Kg7 81.h5 Rc6 82.Bd5 Rd6 83.Bb3 Kf8 84.Kg5 Rd3 85.Be6 Rg3+ 86.Kf6 Rf3+ 87.Kg6 Ke7 88.Bd5 Rg3+ 89.Kf5 Rd3 90.Bc4 Rc3 91.Ba2 Ra3 92.Bd5 Ra5 93.Ke5 b5 94.Kd4 b4 95.h6 Ra6 96.h7 Rh6 97.Kc4 Rh4+ 98.Kb3 Rxh7 99.Kxb4 Rxf7 100.Bxf7 Kxf7 ½-½

The next case is also won for the rook:

02.51 Ruefenacht – Read

1998

55.Rb2? Now Black’s bishop can stop the a-pawn on a4.

The direct 55.a4 wins, e.g., 55...Kg3 (55...Kg2 56.Rg7+ Kf1 57.Rf7 Be4 58.Rf4 Bc6 59.Kxd3 f2 60.Ke3 Kg1 61.Rxf2 Bxa4 62.Kf3+–) 56.Rf7 Kf4 (56...Be6 57.Rg7+ Bg4 58.Ke3 d2 59.Kxd2 f2 60.Rxg4+ Kxg4 61.Ke2 Kg3 62.Kf1+–) 57.Ke1 Ke4 58.a5 Bc8 59.Kd2 Ba6 60.Rf6 Bc8 61.a6 Ke5 62.a7 Bb7 63.Rf8+–

55...Kg3 56.Ke3 Bd7 57.Rf2 Bc6

Mutual zugzwang 58.Rf1 Kg2 59.Rb1 Ba4 60.Rb2+ Kg3 61.Rd2 61.Kxd3 f2 62.Ke2 Bd7 63.Rb1 Bg4+ 64.Kf1 Bh3+ 65.Ke2 Bg4+= 61...Bd7 62.Ra2 62.Rxd3 f2 63.Rd1 (63.Ke2+? Kg2–+) 63...Bh3= 62...Ba4 63.Rb2 Bd7 64.Rf2 Bc6 mutual zugzwang 65.Rf1 Kg2 66.Rd1 Bb5 mutual zugzwang 67.Rb1 ½-½

The bishop can also try to win if its passed pawns are dangerous:

02.52 Foltys – Keres

Munich 1936

White can stop the connectors with precise play: 2.Ra7! Kd6 2...d3 3.Ke3 d2 4.Rd7 Bd5 5.Ke2 Bf3+ 6.Ke3 d1Q 7.Rxd1 Bxd1 8.a6 Bc2 9.a7 Be4 10.a8Q Bxa8 11.Kd3= 3.Rg7! Kc5 3...d3 4.Ke3 d2 5.Rg1 Bc2 6.Kd4= 4.a6? White rushes.

The zwischenschach 4.Rc7+ saves the day, e.g., 4...Kb4 (4...Kb5 5.Ke1 Kxa5 6.Rc4 c2 7.Kd2=) 5.a6 d3 6.Ke3 d2 7.Rd7= 4...d3? The wrong way to start the pawn race. After 4...c2! 5.Rg1 (5.a7 d3 6.Rc7+ Kb6 7.Rc4 d2 8.Rxe4 Kxa7–+; now 5.Rc7+ can be met by 5...Kb6 6.Rc8 Bc6–+) 5...Kc4, Black’s king can help: 6.a7 Kc3 7.Ke2 d3+ 8.Ke3 Ba8 9.Ra1 d2 10.Ra3+ Kb2 11.Kxd2 c1Q+– + 5.Ke3 5.a7? c2 6.Rc7+ Kb6 7.Rc8 d2–+ 5...d2 6.Rd7 Bd5 7.Ke2 Bf3+ 8.Ke3! 8.Kxf3? c2–+ 8...Bd5 9.Ke2 Bf3+ 9...Kc6? 10.Rxd5 Kxd5 11.a7+– 10.Ke3 Kc6 11.Rxd2 ½-½

Exercises

E02.21 Ornstein – Lechtynsky

Pamporovo 1981

What is Black’s highest priority?

(d4) All pawns close

The usual winning strategy of the rook is to start a powerplay on the color complex the bishop cannot control. So the defender should seek counterplay:

02.53 Kazhgaleyev – Pelletier

Lucerne 1997

72...Bf4? Passive defense does not hold as White can push Black’s king away and then win by zugzwang or simplification into a pawn ending. Amazingly 72...Kc4!! defends: 73.Kxe5 (73.Rd7 Bf4 74.Ke4 Kc5=) 73...Kd3 74.Kf5 Ke2 75.Ke4 Bf4 76.Rb2+ Kf1=; 72...Kd4? 73.Rd7+ Kc4 74.Kxe5+– 73.Rb4! Kd6 73...Kc5 74.Rxf4 exf4 75.Kxg5 Kd5 76.Kxf4 Ke6 77.Kg5+– 74.Rb5 Kd7 75.Rd5+ Ke8 76.Kf6 1-0

For the attacker, taking control and stopping counterplay can be more important than material:

02.54 Cherniaev – Kobalia

Khanty-Mansiysk 2013

63.Rxa7? This is too greedy. White must take control first: 63.Rh7 Kd5 64.Rh5+ Be5 (64...Ke6 65.Ke4 Be7 66.Rh6+ Bf6 (66...Kd7 67.Kd5+–) 67.Rxf6+ Kxf6 68.Kd5+–) 65.Rg5 Kd6 66.Kc4 Ke6 67.Rh5 Bd6 68.Rh8 Be5 69.Ra8+– 63...Kd5! 64.Rh7 Kc5 65.Rh5+ Kb4 66.Rg5 ½-½

King safety might also be an issue. Ruslan Ponomariov drew my (KM) attention to the following fascinating endgame after Endgame Magic 43:

02.55 Ding – Naiditsch

Danzhou 2014

75.Kg1? The white king is not safe on the kingside. 75.Ke1! was indicated. Black can of course win the pawn on g4, but not the game, e.g., 75...Rd8 76.Bh7 Kxg4 77.Bg6 Kf3 78.Bh7 Ke3 79.Bg6 Ra8 80.Kd1! The king has to get into the safe zone and exploit the fact that the bishop can control the d3-square permanently. (After 80.Kf1?, that dangerous endgame weapon zugzwang pays dividends sooner or later, e.g., 80...Ra2 81.Be8 Kf3 82.Bc6+ Kg3 83.Be8 Ra5 84.Bg6 Re5–+) 80...Ra1+ 81.Kc2 Rh1 82.Bf7 Rh2+ 83.Kd1 Kd3 84.Bg6+ Ke3 85.Kc1 Rd2 86.Bh7 Rd7 87.Bg6 Ke2 88.Kc2 Rc7+ 89.Kb2 Kd2 90.Kb3! Rb7+ 91.Kc4 Ke3 92.Kc3 Rc7+ 93.Kb3= 75...Rd2 76.Be6 Rf2 77.Bf5 Kg3 78.Bg6 Rf3 79.g5 79.Bf5 Rf4 80.Bc8 Rc4 81.Ba6 Rc1+ 82.Bf1 Rd1 83.g5 hxg5 84.h6 Rd7–+ 79...hxg5 80.h6 Ra3 81.Kf1 Ra1+ 82.Ke2 g4 83.h7

83...Rh1? After this move, White’s counterplay is always in good time. The rook should have taken the route 83...Ra8 84.Ke3 (84.Be4 Rf8 85.Ke3 Kh2–+; 84.Bf5 Re8+ 85.Kf1 Kf3 86.Bg6 Ra8 87.Ke1 g3 88.Bh5+ Kg2 89.Ke2 Kh2 90.Bf3 Rh8–+) 84...Kh2 85.Kf4 g3 86.Be4 Rh8 87.Kg5 Rxh7 88.Bxh7 g2–+ 84.Ke3! Rh6 85.Bf5 Rh2 86.Be4 Rh5 87.Bg6 Rh6 87...Re5+? 88.Kd4+– 88.Bf5! Kh4 89.Kf4! g3 90.Kf3 Rh5 91.Bg6 Rxh7 91...Rh6 92.Bf5! Kg5 93.Be4= 92.Bxh7 Kh3 93.Be4! Necessary precision. Since 93.Ke2? fails to 93...g2 94.Kf2 Kh2–+ and 93.Bf5+? runs into 93...Kh2–+. 93...Kh2 93...g2 94.Kf2= 94.Kg4 g2 ½-½

With doubled pawns it is similar. The defender should not play too passively:

02.56 Yakovich – Kuzmin

Kharkov 1985 (D)

65...Kf7? 65...g4? is also bad as it slows down the counterplay, e.g.,

66.Kf4 g5+ (66...Be6 67.Rb6 Kf7 68.Kg5 Bf5 69.Rb7+ Ke6 70.Ra7 Kd6 71.Kf6 Kd5 72.Ra4 Be4 73.Ra5+ Kd4 74.Kg5 Bf5 75.Rxf5 gxf5 76.Kxf5+–) 67.Ke3 Bg6 68.Kd4 Kf5 69.Kd5 Bf7+ 70.Kd6 Ke4 71.Rf2 Bb3 72.Rf1 Bc4 73.Rc1 Be2 74.Rc3 Kf5 75.Ke7 Bd1 76.Kf7 Bf3 77.Rc5+ Ke4 78.Kf6 Ke3 79.Kxg5 Kf2 80.Kf4+–; 65...Ke5 holds as Black’s counterplay is always in time, e.g., 66.Rb5+ Kf6 67.Kd4 Be6 68.Rb6 Kf5 69.Ke3 Bd7 (69...Kf6? 70.Ke4+–) 70.Kf3 Be6 71.Rb5+ Kf6 72.Ke4 Bf5+ 73.Kd5 Bh3 74.Rb8 Kf5=

66.Kd4 Kf6 67.Kd5 Be6+ 68.Kd6 Bf5 68...Kf5 69.Rf2+ Kg4 70.Kxe6 Kxg3 71.Rf6 g4 72.Ke5 Kh2 73.Kf4 g3 74.Rxg6 g2 75.Rh6+ Kg1 76.Kg3 Kf1 77.Rf6+ Kg1 78.Rg6 Kh1 79.Kf2+– 69.Rf2 Kg7 70.Ke5 Kh6 71.Rh2+ Kg7 72.Rh1 Bd3 73.Rd1 Bf5 74.Rd4 Bc8 74...Kh6 75.g4 Bc8 76.Kf6 Bd7 77.Rc4 Zugzwang 77...Bb5 78.Rc1+– 75.Rb4 Ba6 More tenacious is 75...Bh3 76.Rc4 Zugzwang 76...Bf5 77.g4 Bd7 78.Kd6 Bb5 79.Re4 Bd3 80.Re3! Bc2 81.Re1! Kf6 82.Rf1+ Kg7 83.Ke7 Bb3 84.Rc1 Bd5 85.Rc5 Bb7 86.Ra5 (86.Rxg5 Bc8!= Zugzwang) 86...Kh6 87.Kf6+– 76.Rg4 1-0

The following is winning as Black’s king is too passive:

02.57 Shulman – Sammour Hasbun

St. Louis 2013

White’s king will invade on one of the sides: 46.Rc7 (for DTC optimal play see below) 46...Be1 47.Rc4 Bg3?! 48.Kf3 Bd6 49.Kg4 Bf8 49...Kf8 50.Kh5 Kg7 51.Rg4+ Kh7 (51...Kf8 52.Kh6 Bc5 53.Kh7 Be3 54.Rg8+ Ke7 55.Kg7 Bf4 56.Ra8+–) 52.Kh4 Bc5 53.Kg3 Be3 54.Kf3 Bg5 55.Ke4 Kg7 56.Kd5 Kf8 57.Kd6 Ke8 58.Ra4 Kf8 59.Ra8+ Kg7 60.Ke7 Bd2 61.Ke8+– 50.Rc8+ Ke7 51.Kh5 Bg7 52.Rg8 Bf8 53.Rh8 Bg7 54.Rh7 Kf8 55.Kg4 Kg8 56.Rh1 Bf8 56...Kf8 57.Kf4 Ke8 58.Ke4 Bf8 59.Rh8 Ke7 60.Kd5 Bg7 61.Rh7 Bf8 62.Kc6 Ke8 63.Rh8 Ke7 64.Kc7 Ke8 65.Kc8 Ke7 66.Rh1 Kd6 67.Kd8 Ke5 68.Rh5 Kf4 69.Ke8 Kg4 70.Kxf8 Kxh5 71.Kxf7 Kg5 72.Ke6+– 57.Ra1 Bd6 58.Ra8+ Kg7 59.Kf3 Bb4 60.Ke4 Bd2 61.Kd5 Bc1 62.Kd6 1-0

(f) R+P vs. B+2Ps

W +42

46.Ra6 Bg5 47.Kd5! Ke7 48.Ra7+ Ke8 49.Kc6! Bf4 50.Ra4! Bg3 51.Rg4! Be5 52.Kd5! Bb2 53.Re4+ Kd8 54.Re1! Ba3 55.Ke4! Bf8

56.Rh1! Bb4 57.Rd1+ Ke8 58.Kf4 Bf8 59.Re1+! Kd8 60.Rh1! Bd6+ 61.Kg4! Ke8 62.Rf1 Bb4 63.Rd1! Bc5 64.Kh5! Bf8 65.Rg1! Kd8 66.Rg8! Ke7 67.Rh8! Bg7 68.Rh7! Bf8 69.Kg4! Ke8 70.Rh8! Ke7 71.Kf4 Bg7 72.Rh7! Bf8 73.Ke4! Ke8 74.Rh8! Ke7 75.Kd5! Bg7 76.Rh4 Bf8 77.Kc6! Kd8 78.Rd4+! Ke8 79.Kc7! Bc5 80.Re4+! Be7 81.Re3 Kf8 82.Kd7! Bc5 83.Re8+! Kg7 84.Rb8! Bf8 85.Rb7 Bc5 86.Ke8! Kh6 87.Kxf7! 1-0

(e) Main theoretical positions

The following position is of very high practical importance:

02.58 Gelfand – Ivanchuk

Monte Carlo 2011

It is indeed almost certainly a fortress as human theory had claimed. For a 100% confirmation we of course must wait for the eight-piece tablebases, but as an analysis engine using the six-piece tablebases cannot find a win for White, it indeed seems to be almost certain that there is none. But the drawing margin is not as large as it seems. Black must defend very carefully. It not enough just to keep the bishop on the long diagonal and wait:

54.Rc2 54.h4 Ba1= 54...Bd4? is a typical mistake which often occurs in practical play:

55.Rc4 Bb2 56.g4 hxg4 57.Rxg4 Kh7 58.Kf7 Kh6 59.Rxg6+ Kh5 60.Rg2

and White wins the domination duel in the long run (he mates in 50 moves according to the tablebase, e.g., 60...Bc3 61.Rh2 Be1 62.Kf6 Bg3 63.Rh1 Bf2 64.Kf5 Be3 65.Rh2 Bg1 66.Rg2 Bb6 67.Rb2 Bc5 68.Rc2 Be3 69.Ke4 Bh6 70.Rh2 Bg7 71.Kf4 Bf8 72.Kf3 Ba3 73.Ra2 Be7 74.Re2

74...Bf6 (74...Bxh4 is met by 75.Rh2 Kg5 76.Rh1+–; very beautiful!)

75.Kf4 Bd8 76.Rc2! Be7 77.Rd2 Bb4 78.Rd8 Bc3 79.Kg3+–) 54.h3 Ba1 55.g4 hxg4 56.hxg4 Bb2 57.g5 Ba1 58.Rf7 Bb2 59.Rf6

is just met by the calm 59...Kg7!= 54...Ba1 55.Rg2 Kg7 56.g4 hxg4 57.Rxg4 Bc3 58.Rc4 Ba1 59.Rf4 Bb2 60.Rf1 Bd4 61.Rf7+ Kg8 62.Rf4 Bc3 63.Rg4 Kg7! 63...Kh7? 64.Kf7+– 64.Rg2 Bf6 65.Rc2 Ba1 66.Rc7+ Kg8 67.h4 Bb2 68.Rc2!?

68...Bd4! Now this is the only move. Black must indeed by very careful, when defending this fortress. 69.Rd2 69.Rg2 Kh7 70.Kf7 Kh6 71.Rxg6+ Kh5 72.Rc6 Bf2 73.Kf6 Kxh4!= After 69.Rc4, the only move is the amazing 69...Be3!! with the point 70.Kf6 Kh7 71.Rg4 Kh6 72.Rxg6+ Kh5 73.Rg3 Bb6 74.Rh3 Kg4 75.Rh1 Bd8+= 69...Bc3 70.Rd3

70...Be1! Again Ivanchuk is up to the task and finds the only defense. The bishop must leave the long diagonal now as 70...Bb2? runs into 71.Rg3 Kh7 72.Kf7 Kh6 73.Rxg6+ Kh5 74.Rg2 and wins, as seen in the line 54.h4 Bd4? 71.Kf6 71.Rd4 Kg7 72.Rg4 Kh6 73.Kf6 Kh5 74.Rxg6 Kxh4 75.Kf5 Bd2= 71...Bxh4+ 72.Kxg6 Kf8 73.Rh3 Bd8 74.Rh7 Ke8 75.Kf5 Kf8 76.Ke6 Bg5 77.Rf7+ Kg8 78.Rd7 Kf8 79.Rd5 Bc1 80.Rd1 Bb2 81.Rf1+ Kg7 82.Rf7+ Kg6 83.Rf2 Bc1 84.Rg2+ Kh5 85.Kf5 Kh4! 86.Rc2 Be3! 87.Ke4 Ba7 88.Ra2 Bb6 89.Kf4 Bc7+ ½-½

When the defender cannot reach a safe drawing set-up, it is usually won:

02.58A Grischuk – Vachier-Lagrave

Tbilisi 2017

White’s king can invade: 41...Bc5 42.Kh6! Of course not 42.Ra6? Be3+= 42...Be3+ 43.Kh7 g5

44.Kh6?! Now Black’s pawn can advance to g3. It should be safely blockaded with 44.h3!? Kf6 45.Rf8+ Ke5 46.Kg6 Bc1 47.Re8+ Kd6 (47...Kf4 48.Re1 Bd2 (48...Be3 49.Rxe3+–) 49.Rg1+–) 48.Re1 Bf4 49.Kf5+– 44...Bf4 45.Ra2 g4+ 46.Kh5 g3 47.h3 Be3 48.Kg4 Bf2 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Ra5 Kh6 51.Rb5 Kg6 52.Rd5 Kh6 53.Re5 Kg6 54.Rb5 Kh6 55.Rb4 Kg5 56.Rg4+ Kh6 57.Ke4 Be1 58.Kf5 Bf2 59.Rg6+ Kh7 60.Kf6 Bd4+ 61.Kf7 Bf2 62.Kf6 Bd4+ 63.Kf5 Bf2

63...Be5 64.Rg4 Bc7 65.Rh4+ Kg7 66.Ra4 Bb8 67.Rb4 Bd6 68.Rb7+ Kh8 69.Kg6 g2 70.Rh7+ Kg8 71.Rg7+ Kf8 72.Kh7+– 64.h4? White is impatient. The pawn is more exposed now and blocks the h4-square. First White should lose a move with 64.Rg4 Kh6 65.Rg8 Kh7 66.Rg6 and then advance his king to g6: 66...Kh8 67.Rg4 Kh7 68.Kf6 Be1 69.Rh4+ Kg8 70.Kg6 Bf2 71.Re4 Kf8 (71...Bc5 72.Rg4 Bf2 73.h4+–) 72.Re2 Bd4 73.h4+–

64...Be1 65.h5 Bf2 66.Kf4 Be1 67.Kf3 Bf2 68.Ke2 Kh8 69.Kf3 Kh7 70.Kf4 Be1 71.Kg4 Bf2 72.Kf5 Be1 73.Kf4 Bf2 74.Ke5 Be1 75.Kf6 Bf2 76.Kf5 Be1 77.Kg5 Bf2 78.Kf5 Be1 79.Ke4 Bf2 80.Kf3 Be1 81.Re6 Bf2 82.h6 Bc5 83.Kxg3 Bf8 84.Kg4 Bxh6 85.Kf5 Bd2 86.Kf6 Kh6 87.Rc6 Kh5 88.Kf5 Kh4 89.Rc2 Be3 90.Re2 Bb6 91.Re6 Bc7 92.Rc6 Bb8 93.Rc3 Bg3 94.Rxg3 ½-½

The move ...h7-h5 is very important, as the attacker wins when the next position can be reached; it is analyzed in detail by Mark Dvoretsky in his Endgame Manual:

02.59 Khalifman – Leko

Budapest 2000

White wins by precise play: 45...Bg7!? 46.Kf4 46.Kg4? runs into 46...h5+! 47.Kf4 Bb2= (Dvoretsky); most precise is 46.Rd8+!? Kf7 47.Rb8

as the rook is best placed on the b-file for the following domination duel: 47...Bf8 (47...h5 48.Rb7+ Kg8 49.Rxg7+ Kxg7 50.Ke4 Kf7 51.Kd5+–; 47...h6 48.Rb7+ Kg8 (D)

is met by 49.Ke4! hxg5 50.Rxg7+! Kxg7 51.hxg5 Kf7 52.Kd5+–) 48.Rb7+ Kg8 49.Kg4! h5+ 50.Kf3!

Bc5 (50...Ba3 51.Ke4+– Now it is good that the rook controls b2.) 51.Ke4

The king stops Bd4 itself. 51...Bf2 52.Ke5 Bxh4 53.Kf6+– (Dvoretsky) 46...Bf8 46...Bb2 47.Kg4 Bg7 (47...Bc3 48.h5 gxh5+ 49.Kxh5+– and Elkies win 02.25 is reached) 48.h5 Ba1 (48...gxh5+ 49.Kxh5+–) 49.h6 Bb2 50.Kf3 Bc1 51.Rg7+ Kf8 (51...Kh8 52.Rc7+–) 52.Rxh7 Bxg5 53.Rh8+ Kf7 54.Kg4 Bd2 (54...Bf6 55.Ra8+–) 55.h7 Kg7 56.Rd8+– 47.h5? Khalifman violates the endgame principle that you should not hurry. 47.Ra7!? Bg7 48.Rb7! was still required: 48...Bf8 49.Kg4 h5+ 50.Kf3+– (Dvoretsky) 47...gxh5 48.Kg3 48.Rd8 Kf7 49.Kf5 h6 50.g6+ (50.Rd7+ Kg8 51.gxh6 Bxh6 52.Kg6 Bf8=) 50...Ke7 (50...Kg7? 51.Rd7+ Kg8 52.Kf6 h4 53.Rd8 h3 54.g7 h2 55.gxf8Q+ Kh7 56.Rd7#) 51.Rd2 Bg7 52.Rh2 Bc3 53.Rxh5 Bd2= 48...h6! 49.g6 Ba3 50.Kh4 Bc1 51.Kxh5 Bg5 52.Kg4 Bc1 53.Kf5 Bg5 54.Ke6 Bh4 55.Rh7 Bg5 56.g7

56...h5!! The study-like rescue. 56...Kxh7? 57.Kf7+– 57.Rxh5 Bf6!! Leko’s point. 58.Rh3 Bxg7 59.Ke7 Bb2 60.Rb3 Bd4 61.Rd3 Bb2 62.Rg3+ Kh7 63.Ke6 Kh6 64.Kf5 Kh7 65.Rg6 Bc3 66.Kg5 Bb2 67.Kh5 Bc3 68.Rg2 Bd4 69.Rd2 Bc3 70.Rc2 Ba1 71.Rc7+ Kg8 72.Rd7 ½-½

Now comes a real revolution. Human theory had thought that the following position was a fortress, which also I had claimed many times, e.g., in Endgame Corner 70:

02.60 Tiviakov – Korsunsky

Frunze 1989

But in his excellent book Amateur to IM – Proven Ideas and Training Methods (Mongoose Press 2012, p.105) Jonathan Hawkins first pointed out that White can win. He does this by either invading with his king to c6 (this winning objective was known to human theory) or – and this is really amazing – by exchanging pawns with a3-a4 at the right time:

45.Ke4 Bf2 46.Rf5 Bg1 47.Rf1 Bc5 48.Kd5 Be3 49.Rf7+ Kb6 50.Rf3 Bg1 51.Rf1 51.Rf6+ Kb7 52.Rf4 Kb6

is more direct. Now White should amazingly exchange pawns with 53.a4!! bxa4 54.Rxa4 Be3

and now White’s rook wins a very long domination duel (mate in 73 moves according to the tablebase), e.g., 55.Ra1 Bf2 56.Rf1 Be3 57.Rf6+ Kb7 58.Rf3 Bg1 59.Kd6 Bh2+ 60.Ke6 Kc6 61.Rf1 Bg3 62.Kf5

This is really amazing! White’s king moves to f5 to win the domination fight. Chess really is a rich game! 62...Bd6 63.Rc1+ Kb6 64.Ke4 Bc5 65.Kd3 Kb5 66.Ra1 Kb6 67.Kc4 Be3 68.Ra3 Bg1 69.Rg3 Bf2 70.Rf3 Bg1 71.Kb4 Bd4 72.Rb3 Be5 73.Ka4+ Ka7 74.Ka5 Bf6 75.Kb4 Kb6 76.Ka4+ Ka7 77.Rb4 Be5 78.Kb3 Bd6 79.Rg4 Be5 80.Re4 Bg3 81.Kb4 Kb6 82.Rg4 Bd6+ 83.Kc4 Bb8 84.Rg6+ Kb7 85.Kd5 Bf4 86.Rg4 Bb8 87.Kc5 Ba7+ 88.Kd6 Bb8+ 89.Kd7 a5 90.Ke6 Kc6 91.Rc4+ Kb5 92.Kd5 a4 93.Rc5+ Kb6 94.Kc4 Bf4 95.Rb5+ Ka6 96.Kc5 Be3+ 97.Kc6 Bc1 98.Rb8 Ka5 99.Kc5 Be3+ 100.Kc4 Ka6 101.Ra8+ Kb6 102.Rxa4+– 51...Be3 52.Ke4 Bg5 53.Rf5 Bc1 54.Rf2 Bg5 55.Kd4 Bc1 56.Re2 Ka5 56...Bg5 57.Re6+ Kb7 58.Kc5 Bd8 59.b4 Bh4 60.Rb6+ Ka7 61.Kc6+– 57.Kc3 Kb6 58.Kd4 Ka5 59.Rc2 Bh6 60.Rg2 Bc1 61.Rc2 Bh6

62.Rc7?! This allows Black to get back in his house. 62.Rg2 wins quicker, e.g., 62...Bc1 (62...Bf8 63.Kc3 Kb6 64.Rg6+ Kb7 65.b4+–; 62...Ka4 63.Rg6 Bc1 64.Kc3+–) 63.Re2 Kb6 (63...Bh6 64.Kc3 Bg7+ 65.Kb3 Bf6 66.Re6 Bd4 67.Ka2 b4 68.axb4+ Kb5 69.Kb3+–) 64.Kd5 Bg5 (64...a5 65.Kd4 a4 66.Kd5 b4 67.Rc2 Be3 68.axb4 Kb5 69.Rc8+–) 65.Re6+ Kb7 66.Kc5

and White’s king invades to c6. 66...Bd8 67.b3 Bg5 68.Rb6+ Ka7 69.Kc6+– 62...Kb6 63.Re7 Bc1 63...Bg5 64.Re6+ Kb7 65.Kc5 Bd8 66.b3 Bh4 67.Rb6+ Ka7 68.Kc6+– 64.Re6+ Kb7 65.Re2

Even 65.Kc5 is playable: 65...Bxb2 66.Re7+ Kb8 67.Re3 (67.Kb6? Bd4+ 68.Kxa6 Bc5=) 67...Kc7 68.Rf3 Kb7 69.Rh3 Kc7 70.Rh7+ Kb8 71.Kb6+– 65...Kb6?!

Now the bishop is dominated. 65...Bg5!? 66.Kc5 Bh4

was more tenacious, e.g., 67.a4 bxa4 68.Kb4 Bg3 69.Kxa4 Bc7 70.Kb4 Bb6 71.Kc4 Kc6 72.Re6+ Kb7 73.Kd5 Bf2 74.Rf6 Bg1 75.Rf1 Be3 76.Rf3 Bg1 77.Kd6 Bh2+ 78.Ke6 Kc6 79.Rf1 Bg3 80.Kf5

and White wins as shown above. 65...Bf4?! 66.Re7+ Kb6 67.Re6+ Kb7 68.Kc5 Bg5 69.Rb6+ Ka7 70.Kc6+– 66.Kd5 Bg5 66...a5 67.Kd4 a4 68.Kd5 b4 69.Rc2 Be3 (69...bxa3 70.Rxc1 axb2 71.Rb1 a3 72.Kc4+–) 70.axb4 Kb5 71.Rc8+–; 66...Ka5 67.Rc2 Be3 (67...Bf4 68.Rc6+–) 68.Rc6 b4 69.axb4+ Kb5 70.Rc8 Bf4 71.Rc5+ Kb6 72.Kc4+– 67.Re6+ Kb7 68.Kc5 Bd8 68...Bh4 69.Rb6+ Ka7 70.Kc6+– 69.b3 Bh4 70.Rb6+ Ka7 71.Kc6

White’s king has reached the key square c6 and it is over: 71...Bf2 72.Rb7+ Ka8 73.Rf7 Bg1 74.Rf4 Ka7 75.a4 bxa4 76.Rxa4 Bf2 77.b4 Be3 78.b5 Kb8 79.Rxa6 1-0

02.61 Kholmov 1973

The following important winning method is dealt with in detail in Rook v. Minor Piece Endings by Yuri Averbakh (London 1978, pp.80-85); Endgame Preparation by Jonathan Speelman, (London 1981, pp.95-98); and 25 Annotated Games, by Robert Hübner (Edition Marco 1996, pp.26-40):

1.Bc6 Rd2 2.Kg1 Rd6 3.Bb7

Now Black’s pieces are ideally placed for the following fortress breaker: 3...g5!! 4.fxg5 4.hxg5 h4 5.gxh4 (5.Kg2 hxg3 6.Kxg3 Rd4 7.Kh4 Kxf4 8.Kh5 Rd8 9.Kh6 Rh8+ 10.Kg7 Rb8–+) 5...Kxf4 6.Kg2 Kg4 7.Bc8 Rg6!? (7...Rb6 8.Kf2 Rg6 9.Kg2 Kxh4–+) 8.Kh2 Rc6 9.Bd7 Rc2+ 10.Kg1 Kg3 11.Kf1 f4 12.Ke1 f3 13.Bb5 f2+ 14.Kd1 Rb2 15.Bd3 Rb1+ 16.Bxb1 f1Q+–+ 4...f4 5.gxf4 Kxf4 6.Kf2 Rd2+ 7.Kf1 7.Ke1 Rh2 8.g6 Rxh4 9.Bc8 Kf3 10.Kd2 Rd4+ 11.Kc3 Rd1–+ 7...Kg3 8.g6 Rd4 9.Bc8 Rf4+ 10.Kg1 10.Ke2 Rf6–+ 10...Rc4 11.Ba6 Rc1+ 12.Bf1 Rc7 13.Bb5

13...Rg7! (Hübner) 14.Be8 14.Bd3 Kxh4 15.Kg2 Kg4 16.Be2+ Kg5 17.Bd3 Rd7 18.Be4 Kf4 19.Bb1 Rd2+ 20.Kh3 Rb2 21.g7 Rb3+ 22.Kh4 (22.Kh2 Rg3–+) 22...Rxb1–+ 14...Re7 15.Bb5 Kxh4 16.Kf2 Kg5 17.Bd3 Rd7 18.Bb1 Kf4 19.Kg2 Rd2+ 20.Kh3 Rb2 21.g7 Rb3+ 22.Kh2 22.Kh4 Rxb1 23.Kxh5 Kf5–+ 22...Rg3–+

Speelman showed the way to win when the invasion of the attacking king has not been completed:

02.62 Speelman

Endgame Preparation 1980

1...Rb2+ 2.Kf3 Rb8 3.Bc6 Kc5! 4.Ba4 4.Bd7 Rb6 5.Be8 Kd4 6.Bf7 Rf6 7.Be8 Ra6 8.Bf7 (8.Bd7 Ra3+ 9.Kf2 Rc3 10.Be8 Ke4 11.Bxg6 Rc2+ 12.Kg1 Kf3 13.Bxf5 Rg2+ 14.Kf1 Rh2 15.Kg1 Kxg3–+) 8...Ra3+ 9.Kg2 Ke3 10.Bxg6 Ra2+ 11.Kh3 Kf2–+ 4...Rb6! 5.Ke3 Re6+ 6.Kf2 Kd4 7.Kf3 Re3+ 8.Kg2 8.Kf2 Rc3 9.Be8 Ke4 10.Kg2 Rc2+ 11.Kh3 Kf3 12.Bxg6 Rg2 13.Bxf5 Rxg3+ 14.Kh2 Kxf4–+ 8...Ra3 9.Be8 Ke3 10.Bxg6 Ra2+ 11.Kh3

11...Kf2 Black’s king starts the mating attack itself. 12.Kh2 12.Bxh5 Kg1 13.g4 Ra3# is an important point. 12...Kf3+ 13.Kh3 Ra1 14.Bxh5+ Kf2 15.Kh2 Rg1 16.Bf3 Rxg3 17.Bc6 Rg4 18.Kh3 Ke3 19.h5 Kxf4 20.Bd5 Kg5 21.Bf3 Rc4–+

Hübner showed the win when Black has not played ...f5 yet:

02.63 Hübner

25 Annotated Games 1996

1.Ra2 Bd4 2.f4 Bc3 3.Ra8+ Kg7 4.Ke8 Be1 5.Ra3! 5.Ra7? Bxg3 6.Rxf7+ Kg8= 5...Bf2 6.Rb3 Be1 7.Rd3

7...Bf2 7...Kf6 8.Kf8 Bf2 9.Kg8 Be1 10.Kh7 Bb4 (10...Kf5 11.Kg7 f6 12.Rb3 Kg4 13.Kxf6 Bxg3 14.Kxg6 Bxh4 15.f5 Bg5 16.Rb4+ Bf4 17.Rxf4+ Kxf4 18.f6+–; 10...Bf2 11.f5 gxf5 12.Rf3 Be1 13.Kh6+–) 11.f5 Kxf5 (11...g5 12.Kh6 gxh4 13.gxh4 Kxf5 14.Kxh5 Be7 15.Rf3+ Ke6 16.Re3+ Kf6 17.Kh6+–) 12.Rf3+ Ke6 13.Kg7+– 8.f5! This is a good moment to use the f-pawn as battering ram. 8...gxf5 9.Rf3 Be1 10.Rxf5 f6 11.Rf3 Bb4 12.Rb3 Bc5 13.Rb7+ Kg6 14.Kd7 Bf2 15.Rb2 Be1 16.Re2 Bc3 17.Ke6 Bd4 18.Ra2 Be5 19.Ra3 Bc7 20.Ra8 Be5 21.Rg8+ Kh7 22.Kf7+–

If White has not played h4 yet the win is easier:

02.64 Lputian – Sideifzade

USSR 1979

1...h5 2.Kf1 Kg7 3.Ke2 Kg8 4.Ke3 Kg7 5.Ke4 Kg8 6.Kd5 Kg7 7.Rb3 Ba1 8.Rb1 Bc3 9.Rc1 Bb2 10.Rc2 Ba1 11.Kd6 Bd4 12.Ke7 Be5 13.Rc4 Bb2 14.Ke8 f5 15.Ke7 Ba1 16.Ke6 Bb2 17.Rc7+ Kg8 18.Rd7 Bc3 19.f3 Bb2 20.g3 Bc3 21.Rd3 Ba1 22.Rd1 Bc3 23.Rg1 Bd4 24.Rg2 Kg7

Now White is ready for the main plan: 25.g4 fxg4 26.hxg4 26.fxg4? hxg4 27.Rxg4 Bc3 28.h4 Kh6 29.Kf7 Kh5 30.Rxg6 Kxh4= 26...Kh6 27.gxh5 27.Kf7 h4 28.Rd2 (28.f4+–) 28...Be3 29.Re2 (29.Rd6? Kg5 30.Rxg6+ Kf4=, Lputian in Informant 29e/9) 29...Bf4 30.Re6 h3 31.Rxg6+ Kh7 32.g5+– 27...gxh5 27...Kxh5 28.Kf7+– 28.Kf5 h4 29.Rd2 Bc3 30.Rc2 Be1 31.Rc6+ Kg7 32.Kg5 Bg3 33.f4 h3 34.Rg6+ Kf7 35.Rh6 h2 36.Kg4 1-0

Knowing the theoretical positions helps to decide on the right exchange:

02.65 Nguyen – Huschenbeth

Khanty-Mansiysk 2010

42...Rxd5! Huschenbeth takes the right bishop. 42...Rxa7? 43.h4 is only drawn of course. 43.Bb8?! 43.g4!? is much more tenacious. The following domination fight is very deep: 43...h5 44.gxh5 Rxh5 45.Bb8 Kh7 46.Kg3 Kg6 47.Kg4 Rg5+ 48.Kh4 Kf5 49.Bg3 Rg6 50.Kh3 Rc6 51.Bb8 Rc3+ 52.Bg3 Kg5 53.Kg2 Kg4 54.h3+ Kf5 55.Bd6 Ke4 56.Bb8 Rc8 57.Bd6 Rc6 58.Bb8 Ke3 59.Ba7+ Kd3 60.Kf3 Rc8 61.Bb6 Kc4 62.Be3 Rf8+ 63.Kg3 Kd5 64.Bf4 Ke6 65.Kg4 Rh8 66.Kg3 Kf5 67.Bd6 Rd8 68.Bc7 Rc8 69.Bd6 Rc6 70.Bb8 Kg5 71.Be5 Rg6 72.Bd4 Kh5+ 73.Kh2 Kh4 74.Bc3 Kg5 75.Kg3 Kh5+ 76.Kh2 Rg5 77.Bd4 Kg6 78.Be3 Rb5 79.Bd4 Rd5 80.Bb6 Kg5 81.Kg3 Rb5 82.Be3+ Kf5 83.Bg1 Rb3+ 84.Kg2 Ke4 85.Bc5 Rb5 86.Bg1 Kf4 87.Bh2+ Ke3 88.Bg1+ Ke2 89.h4 Kd3 90.Kf3 Rf5+ 91.Kg4 Ke4 92.h5 Rf4+ 93.Kg3 (93.Kg5 Rf1 94.Ba7 Ra1 95.Bb6 Rb1 96.Bd8 Rg1+ 97.Kh4 Kf5–+) 93...Kf5 94.Bc5 Rg4+ 95.Kh3 Kf4 96.Bd6+ Kf3 97.Bf8 Rg1 98.Kh4 Kf4 99.Bd6+ Kf5 100.Kh3 Rh1+–+

43...h5!? 43...Rd2+ 44.Kg1 (44.Kh3 Kh7 45.g4 Rd3+ 46.Bg3 Kg6 47.Kg2 Kg5 48.h3 h5–+) 44...g5 45.g4 Kg7 46.Be5+ Kg6 47.h3 h5 48.gxh5+ Kxh5 49.Bg3 Kg6 50.Kf1 Kf5 51.Kg1 Ke4–+ 44.g4 h4!? 44...hxg4–+ 45.Kh3?! This makes Black’s job relatively easy. 45.g5!? Rxg5+ 46.Kh3 is much more tenacious. 45...g5 46.Bc7 Kg7 47.Kg2 Rd3 48.Be5+ Kf7 49.Bb8 Ke6 50.Bc7 Rd4 51.Kh3 51.Kf3 Rc4 52.Bd8 Rf4+–+ 51...Rd2 52.Ba5 Rd3+ 53.Kg2 Ke5 54.Bc7+ Ke4 55.Bb8

and Black wins by dominating the bishop: 55...Rd7 56.Kh3 56.h3 Rd8 57.Bc7 (57.Ba7 Rd2+ 58.Kg1 Rd7 59.Bf2 Kf3–+) 57...Rd2+ 58.Kg1 Rd7 59.Bb8 Kd5 60.Kg2 Rb7 61.Bh2 Rb2+ 62.Kg1 Rxh2 63.Kxh2 Ke4 64.Kg2 Ke3–+ 56...Kd5! 0-1

Exercises

E02.22 Bischoff – Senff

Bindlach 2006

How did Bischoff break down Black’s walls?

E02.23 Leko – Kramnik

Brissago 2004

How could Kramnik have saved himself?

E02.24 Miezis – Postny

Porto Carras 2005

This six-piece position often arises from 2Ps vs. 2Ps cases. Black has only one move to draw, which is often missed. Can you find it?

(f) General Case

The rook is usually superior and tries first to take control first and avoid pawn exchanges. With pawns on both wings, the winning chances are even greater.

(f1) All attacking pawns on one wing

In the first example care is required:

02.66 Carlsen – Anand

Morelia/Linares 2008

34...Re2!! Anand takes control. 35.gxh4 35.f4 Rxe4 36.Bf3 Re3 37.Kf2 Ra3 38.fxg5 fxg5 39.Bg4 Ra2+ 40.Kg1 (40.Be2 Kf6 41.Kf3 g4+ 42.Ke3 Kg5 43.gxh4+ Kxh4–+) 40...Kf6 41.Bd7 Ke5 42.Bg4 Ke4 43.Be6 Rb2 44.Bg4 Ke3 (44...h3 45.Bxh3 Kf3 46.Bf1 g4–+) 45.Be6 hxg3 46.h3 g2 47.Bg4 Kf4 48.Kh2 g1Q+ 49.Kxg1 Kg3 50.Kf1 Rh2–+; 35.Bh5 Rb2 36.Bg4 (36.f4 gxf4 37.gxf4 (37.gxh4 Ke6 38.Bg4+ Ke5 39.h5 Kd4 40.h6 Ke3 41.h7 f3–+) 37...h3 38.Bf3 (38.e5 Rg2+ 39.Kh1 f5 40.e6 Kxe6 41.Bf7+ Kd6–+) 38...Kd6 39.e5+ fxe5 40.fxe5+ Kxe5 41.Bg4 Rb3 42.Kf2 Kf4 43.Be6 Rb2+ 44.Kg1 Rg2+ 45.Kh1 Kf3 46.Bxh3 Rg8 47.Be6 Rb8 48.Bd5+ Kf2 49.h4 Rb4–+) 36...Kd6 37.f4 gxf4 38.gxf4 Rd2

Zugzwang 39.Bh3 Re2 40.Bg2 Kc5 41.e5 fxe5 42.Kf1 Rb2 43.fxe5 Kd4 44.e6 Ke3 45.Bh3 Kf3 46.Ke1 (46.Kg1 Re2–+) 46...Re2+ 47.Kd1 Re5 48.Kd2 Kf4–+ 35...gxh4 36.h3 36.Bh3 Kd6 37.Bf1 Rb2 38.f4 Kc5 39.e5 fxe5 40.fxe5 Kd5 41.Bh3 Kxe5 42.Bd7 Ke4 43.Bc6+ Kf4 44.Bd7 (44.Bd5 h3 45.Be6 Rg2+ 46.Kh1 Kf3 47.Bxh3 Rg5 48.Bd7 Ra5 49.Bc6+ Kf2 50.h3 Kg3–+) 44...Rb7 45.Bh3 (45.Be6 Re7 46.Bc8 Kf3–+) 45...Rb1+ 46.Kf2 Rb2+ 47.Kg1 Kf3 48.Bf5 Ra2–+ 36...Kd6 37.Kf1 Rb2 38.f4 Kc5 39.e5

39.Bd7 Kd4 40.Bc6 Rb6 41.Ba8 Ke3 42.f5 Rb1+ 43.Kg2 Rb2+ 44.Kf1 Rf2+ 45.Kg1 Kf3 46.e5+ Kg3–+ 39...Rb4! This wins a pawn and the resulting configuration is always won. 40.exf6 40.e6 Rxf4+ 41.Ke2 Kd4 42.Bf3 Rf5–+ 40...Rxf4+ 41.Ke2 Kd4 42.Bf3 Rxf6 43.Bb7 Rb6 44.Bc8 44.Ba8 Rb3–+ 44...Ke4 45.Bg4 Rb2+ 46.Ke1 Ke3 47.Kf1 Kf4 48.Ke1 Kg3 49.Kf1 Rf2+ 50.Ke1 50.Kg1 Rf7 51.Bh5 Re7 52.Kf1 Kxh3 53.Kf2 Rg7 54.Be8 Kh2 55.Kf3 Kg1–+ 50...Rf4 51.Bc8 Rf8 52.Bg4 Kg2 53.Ke2 Re8+ 54.Kd3 Kf2 55.Bf5 Re3+ 56.Kd4 56.Kd2 Re5 57.Bg4 Rd5+ 58.Kc3 Kg2 59.Kc4 Rg5 60.Be6 Rg3 61.Kd4 Rxh3–+ 56...Kf3 57.Bg4+ Kf4 58.Kd5 Re5+ 59.Kd4 Rg5 0-1

Surprisingly even the next example is winning:

02.67 Wahls – Braun

Germany 2005

50.Kg1 50.d5 Kxd5 51.Ba7 Ke4 52.Bc5 h5 53.Ba7 g5 54.Bc5 Rb2+ 55.Kf1 (55.Kg3 Rb5 56.Ba7 Rb3+ 57.Kh2 g4 58.hxg4 hxg4 59.Bg1 Rd3 60.Bb6 Kd5 61.Bf2 Kc4 62.Bg3 Kc3 63.Be1+ Kc2 64.Bf2 Kd1 65.Bg3 Ke2 66.Bc7 Kf1 67.Ba5 Rb3 68.Bc7 Rc3 69.Bd6 Rc6 70.Be5 Rc2 71.Kg3 Rxg2+ 72.Kf4 Kg1–+) 55...g4 56.hxg4 hxg4 57.Bd6 Ke3 58.Kg1 Ke2 59.Kh2

and now Jürgen Fleck (Germany) found the prophylactic 59...Rb3! (59...Kf1? 60.Kg3 Rxg2+ 61.Kf4=) 60.Bc7 Kf1 61.Bd6 Re3 62.Bc7 Re7 63.Bd6 Re6 64.Bc7 Rc6 65.Be5 Rc2 66.Kg3 Rxg2+ 67.Kf4 Kg1 68.Kg5 Kf2 69.Kf4 Rg3 70.Kg5 (70.Bf6 Rf3+–+; 70.Bd6 Kg2–+) 70...Kf3–+ 50...Ke3 51.Kh2 Ke2 52.Bd6 Kf1 53.Bf4 Rd3 54.Be5 h5

55.g4?! Now Black has a clear plan to bring his king to f3. After 55.Bf6, the win is more complicated: 55...Ke1 (55...Rd2? allows 56.Kg3) 56.Be5 Ke2 57.Bf6 Kf1 58.h4 (58.Be5 Rd2 59.Kg3 g5 60.Kf3 Rf2+ 61.Kg3 Rxg2+ 62.Kf3 Rf2+ 63.Ke4 Kg2 64.d5 Kxh3 65.d6 Rf8–+) 58...Kf2 59.Be5 Rd2 60.Kh3 Rd1 61.Kh2 Rg1 62.g3 Rd1 63.Bf6 Rd3 64.Be5 Rd2 65.Bf6 Kf3+ 66.Kh3 Rg2 67.Be5 Kf2 68.d5 Kg1–+

55...h4! 56.Bf6 Rd2+ 57.Kh1 Kf2 58.Bxh4+ 58.Be5 Rd1+ 59.Kh2 Kf3 60.Bb8 (60.g5 Rd2+ 61.Kg1 Rg2+ 62.Kf1 Rxg5–+) 60...Rxd4 61.Kg1 Rd8 62.Bc7 Rc8 63.Be5 Ke4 64.Bd6 (64.Bf6 Rc1+ 65.Kf2 Rc2+ 66.Kg1 Kf4 67.Bxh4 g5 68.Be1 Kf3–+) 64...g5 65.Kg2 (65.Be7 Kf3 66.Bd6 Rd8 67.Bc7 Rd7–+) 65...Rd8 66.Bc7 Rd2+ 67.Kg1 Rd7 68.Bb8 (68.Bh2 Rd1+ 69.Kg2 Rd2+ 70.Kg1 Rxh2 71.Kxh2 Kf3–+) 68...Kd5 69.Kg2 Rb7 70.Bh2 Rb2+ 71.Kg1 Rxh2 72.Kxh2 Ke4 73.Kg2 Ke3–+ 58...Kf3 59.Bg5 Rxd4 60.Kh2 Ra4 61.Bd8 Ra2+ 62.Kg1 Rg2+ 63.Kh1 Kg3 64.g5 Kxh3 65.Bf6 Rg4 66.Bd8 Rd4 67.Bb6 Rd5 68.Be3 Re5 0-1

But of course not all configurations are won:

02.68 Donner – Barcza

Budapest 1967

The famous Hungarian-American endgame theoretician and composer Pal Benko found the complex draw: 53.g4+? White rushes. The resulting formation is no fortress as the f3-pawn is too weak. White should wait as Black’s main plan ...g5-g4 exchanges too many pawns:

53.Kf1 Ra3 (53...g4 54.hxg4+ hxg4 55.g3! fxg3 56.Bxg3 gxf3 57.Bc7!=) 54.Bb6 g4 55.hxg4+ hxg4 56.fxg4+ Kxg4 57.Bf2 Rxa5 58.Ke1 Ra1+ 59.Ke2 Rc1 (59...Rh1 60.Be1=) 60.Kd2 Rh1 61.Ke2 Rh2 62.Kf1 f3 63.Kg1 Rxg2+ 64.Kf1= (Benko)

53...fxg3 54.Bxg3 Rxa5 55.Bc7 Ra2 56.Bg3 Ke6 57.Bc7 Rc2 58.Bb8 Kd5 59.Ba7 Ke5 60.Bb8+ Kd4 61.Ba7+ Kd3 62.Bb6 Ke2 63.Kg2 Rc8 64.h4 gxh4 65.f4 Rc4 66.f5 Rf4 67.Kh3 Kf3 68.Bc7 Rxf5 69.Kxh4 Ke4 70.Bd8 Rb5 71.Bc7 Kf5 72.Bd6 Kg6 73.Bc7 Rb4+ 74.Kh3 Rg4 75.Bd6 Kf5 76.Bc7 Ke4 77.Bd6 Kf3 78.Bc7 Rg1 79.Kh2 Rc1 80.Bb8 Kg4 81.Be5 Rc2+ 82.Kh1 Kh3 83.Kg1 Rc5 84.Bb8 Rg5+ 85.Kf1 Rg4 0-1

Finally one case, when the defending king is far away from the kingside:

02.69 Esen – Mamedjarova

Antalya 2004

White takes control first and then forces Black’s king back by zugzwang, but Black can survive by creating the right set up: 104.Ke3 Kc2? 104...Kc4 105.Rd8 Kc5 (105...Kc3? 106.Rd4 Kc2 107.Rd5 Kc3 108.Rc5+ Kb4 109.Rxf5 gxf5 110.Kxd3+–) 106.Rd4 Kc6 107.Kd2

The following attacking plan was found by Rainer Knaak, but it seems that Black can give up the g6-pawn and defend: 107...Kb5 108.Kc3 Kc5 109.Rd8 Kc6? Now White can make further progress. (After 109...Be4! White can win the g6-pawn g6, but not the game, e.g., 110.Rd7 Bf5 111.Rd4

111...Kb5 112.Rc4 (112.Rd5+ Kc6 113.Kd4 Be6 114.Rc5+ Kd6 115.Rc1 Bf5=) 112...Kb6 113.Kb4 Bg4 114.Rd4 Be2 115.Kc3 Kc6 116.Rd8 Kc7 117.Rg8 Kd6 118.Rxg6+ Ke5 119.Kd2 Ke4 120.Rf6 Kd4=) 110.Kc4 Kc7 111.Rd4 Kc6 112.Kb4 Kb6 113.Rd6+ Kc7 114.Kc5 Be4 115.Rd4 Bf5 116.Rd5 Be4 117.Rd6 Bf5 118.Rd4

White has made good progress and forces Black to make further concessions: 118...Kb7 119.Kd6 Ka6 (119...Kc8 120.Kc6 Kb8 121.Kb6 Kc8 122.Rd5 Be4 123.Rd6 Bf5 124.Rd4+–) 120.Rb4 Bg4 121.Rb2 Bd1 (121...Be2 122.Kc5 Ka5 123.Kd4 Ka4 124.Ke3 Bf1 125.Rf2 Be2 126.Rxe2 dxe2 127.Kxe2+–; 121...Bf5 122.Kc5 Ka7 123.Kd4 Ka6 124.Ke3 Ka5 125.Rf2 Kb4 126.Rxf5 gxf5 127.Kxd3+–) 122.Kc5 Bc2 123.Rb6+ Ka7 124.Rd6 Kb7 125.Kc4 Kc7 126.Rd4 Kc6 127.Kc3 Kc7 128.Rd5+–

105.Rd5! Kc3 106.Rc5+ Kb4 106...Kb2 107.Rxf5 gxf5 108.Kxd3 Kc1 109.Ke3 Kd1 110.Kf4 Ke2 111.Kxf5 Kf3 112.Kg5 Kxg3 113.Kxh5 Kf4 114.Kg6+– 107.Rxf5! gxf5 108.Kxd3 Kc5 109.Ke3 Kd5 110.Kf4 Ke6 111.Kg5 1-0 because of 111...Ke5 112.Kxh5 Kf6 113.Kh6 f4 114.gxf4 Kf5 115.h5 Kf6 116.Kh7 Kf7 117.h6 Kf8 118.Kg6 Kg8 119.f5+– 1-0

(f2) Pawn Races

Here the rook usually is also superior, but it can be tricky and just pushing the passed pawn is often too simple:

02.70 Giri – Vuckovic

Khanty-Mansiysk 2010

59.Rg8? Now both passed pawns can run. After 59.h5 e3 60.Rg2! Ke4 61.h6 Kf3 62.Rg1 e2 63.h7 Bc3 64.Rc1!

the bishop is overloaded as White has managed to combine both scenarios: 64...Bb2 (64...Kf2 65.Rxc3 e1Q 66.h8Q Qe6+ 67.Kxa5+–) 65.Rh1 Kf2 (65...Bc3 66.Rh3++–) 66.Kxa5 e1Q+ 67.Rxe1 Kxe1 68.Kb5+– 59...e3 60.Re8 Kd4 61.h5 d3 62.h6 e2 63.h7 Bc3 64.Ka6 Kd2 65.Rd8+ Kc2 66.Rc8 e1Q 67.h8Q Qe2+ ½-½ and a draw was agreed as 68.Kb6 Qe3+ 69.Rc5?? backfires completely: 69...Qxc5+ 70.Kxc5 Bxh8–+

Sometimes the rook can start a direct race:

02.71 Thiede – Wegener

Germany 2005

57.b4! axb4 58.a5 1-0 and Black resigned in view of 58...b3 59.a6 Be3 59...b2 60.Rb7+– 60.Rd7+ Bd4 61.a7 b2 62.a8Q b1Q 63.Qe4++–

Sometimes a passed pawn can be created by a spectacular breakthrough:

02.72 Carlsen – Wang Yue

Medias 2010

45...g5? Black is too impatient. He should wait with 45...Bc6 when it is not clear if White can win, e.g., 46.Ke3 Kd6 47.Kf4 Bd7 (However, not 47...Ke6?

because of 48.b5!! Bxb5 [48...axb5 49.Rxc6+ bxc6 50.a6+–] 49.Rc7 Bc6 50.Rg7+–) 48.Rc1 Bc6 49.Rd1+ Ke7 50.Re1+ Kd6 51.g4 hxg4 52.Kxg4 and White still has winning chances. 46.g4!!

The winning break as White’s passed h-pawn will decide the day. 46...hxg4 47.h5 Be4 47...Bc6 48.Kg3 f5 49.h6 Kf6 (49...Kf7 50.Rxf5+ Kg6 51.Rxg5+ Kxh6 52.Kxg4+–) 50.b5 Bxb5 (50...axb5 51.Rxc6+ bxc6 52.a6+–) 51.Rc7 f4+ 52.Kxg4 Be2+ 53.Kh3+– 48.Rc7 f5 49.h6 f4 50.h7 g3+ 51.Ke1 f3 52.h8Q f2+ 53.Ke2 Bd3+ 54.Ke3 1-0 and Black resigned in view of 54...f1Q 55.Qe8+ Kd5 (55...Kf5 56.Rf7++–) 56.Rc5+ Kd6 57.Qe5+ Kd7 58.Rc7+ Kd8 59.Qe7#

(f3) Opening inroads

Often the rook opens files to invade:

02.73 Wang Yue – Svidler

Baku 2008

39.h4!? h6 After 39...gxh4 40.Rh1 Kb6 41.Kd2 Ka5 (41...Kc5 42.Kc3 a5 (42...Bc4 43.Rxh4 Be2 44.Rxh7 Bxf3 45.Rxf7 Bxg4 46.Ra7 Bf3 47.Kd3 Bg2 48.Rxa6+–) 43.Rxh4 b4+ 44.axb4+ axb4+ 45.Kd2 b3 46.Kc3 b2 47.Kxb2 Kd4 48.Rxh7 Ke3 49.Rh6 Kxf3 50.Rxe6 fxe6 51.g5+–) 42.Kc3 Ka4 43.Kb2

White is too quick on the kingside: 43...Bc4 (43...b4 44.axb4 Kxb4 45.Rxh4 Kc4 46.Rxh7 Kd3 47.Rh6 Bc4 48.Rf6+–) 44.Rxh4 Be2 45.Rxh7 Bxf3 46.g5+– 40.Rh1 Kd6 40...Kb6 41.hxg5 hxg5 42.Rh5 Ka5 43.Rxg5 Ka4 44.Rxe5 Kxa3 45.g5 b4 46.g6 b3 47.g7 b2 48.g8Q b1Q 49.Ra5+ Kb4 50.Qb8+ 41.hxg5 hxg5 42.Rh5 f6 43.Rh6 Ke7 44.Rh7+ Bf7 45.Rh8?!

45...a5?! 45...Be8 is more tenacious: 46.Rh7+. Rainer Knaak indicates that 46.Kd3? runs into the fantastic blow 46...b4!!

47.axb4 (47.Kc4 bxa3 48.Kb3 a2 49.Kxa2 Ba4 50.Rh1 Bb5=) 47...Bb5+=

46...Bf7 (46...Kd6 47.Ra7 Bc6 48.Kd2 a5 (48...b4 49.Rxa6+–) 49.Rxa5 Kc7 50.Kc3 Kb7 51.Kb3 Kb6 52.Kb4+–) 47.Kd2 a5 (47...b4 48.axb4 Ke6 49.Rh8 Ke7 50.Kc3 Be8 51.Kc4 Bb5+ 52.Kd5+–) 48.Kc3 Kf8 49.Rh8+ Bg8 50.Rh1 Be6 (50...Bc4 51.Kd2 b4 52.Rc1 Bf7 53.a4 Be8 54.Rc5 Bxa4 55.Rxa5 Be8 56.Ra8 Ke7 57.Rb8+–) 51.Rb1 Bd7 52.Rd1 Ke7 53.Rh1 Be6 54.Rh7+ Bf7 55.Rh8 Be8 (55...Bc4 56.Kd2 b4 57.a4 Bb3 58.Ra8 Bxa4 59.Rxa5 Be8 60.Ra7+ Kd6 61.Rh7 Bc6 62.Rh8 Kc5 63.Rf8+–) 56.Kd3

Zugzwang 56...Kf7 57.Rh7++– 46.Ra8 a4 46...b4 47.Ra7+ Ke8 48.a4+– 47.Ra7+ Ke8 48.Rc7 1-0

Exercises

E02.25 Koggala – Kawuma

Khanty-Mansiysk 2010

Which amazing maneuver did White uncork?

E02.26 Kharlov – Movsesian

Moscow 2006

How to evaluate the position with Black to move?

E02.27 Krivokapic – Kontic

Pancevo 2006

What is White’s highest priority?

E02.28 Nordahl – Johannessen

Sandnes 2005

Find Black’s winning plan!

(g) The bishop has the advantage

To have chances to defeat the powerful rook, the bishops needs strong compensation, such as dangerous passed pawns:

02.74 Monier – Bitelmajer

Buenos Aires 2003

White can win, but must still be careful: 56.e7+! However, not 56.b7? Kc7 57.e7 Rh8 (57...Re4? 58.Bd6+ Kxb7 59.Be5+–) 58.Kg7 Re8= 56...Kd7 57.e8Q+ 1-0 and Black resigned because of 57...Kxe8 58.b7 Rh6+ 59.Kg5+–

Connected passed pawns are especially dangerous against a rook:

02.75 Ponomariov – Aronian

Khanty Mansiysk 2005

46...Bb4! Forces the rook back into passivity. The direct 46...b2? spoils it because of 47.Rb8 Bd4 48.Ke2 Ke5 49.Kd3= 47.Rc1 a5 48.Ke2 a4 49.Rc6+ 49.Rc4 a3 50.Rxb4 a2 51.Ra4 b2–+ 49...Kg7 50.Kd3 a3 51.Ra6 a2 0-1

In the next case Black can hold with precise defense:

02.76 Van Wely – Tiviakov

Wijk aan Zee 2010

81...Kg4? The resulting blockade with a passive rook will not hold. The active defense 81...Rc7 holds, e.g., 82.Kd4 Kf6! 83.Kd5 Rc8! 84.Bd4+ Kg5 85.Bg7!? Rg8 86.f6 Kg6 87.e5 Rc8 88.Kd6 Rc4

and Black’s powerful rook cannot be defeated because of 89.Ke7 Rc7+ 90.Kd8 Ra7 91.e6 Ra8+ 92.Kc7 Ra6! 93.Kd7 Ra7+ 94.Kc6 Ra6+ 95.Kxb5 Rxe6= (Krasenkow in CBM 135); 81...Rd1? 82.Be7+ Kh6 83.e5+– and Black’s powerful rook cannot be defeated because of 89.Ke7 Rc7+

The invasion of White’s king decides the day. 85...Rxd6+ 86.exd6 Kxd6 87.f7 Ke7 88.Kc5 1-0

When the passed pawns are not connected the rook has better chances to establish a blockade:

02.77 Borgo – Krasenkow

Cutro 1999

57.Re5? Now Black’s king can invade sooner or later. 57.Rd3 Kf5 58.Rd4 (D)

This stops the advance of Black’s king and holds, e.g., 58...Kg5 59.Rd5+ Kf4 60.Rd3 Ke4 61.Rd8 Ke5 62.Rd7 a4 63.Rb7 Bc5 64.Kxd2 a3 65.Kc3 (65.Rb5 Kd5 66.Kc3 g3 67.Rb1 h3 68.gxh3 g2 69.Kb3=) 65...Kf4 66.Kb3 Kg3 67.Rg7 Bd4 68.Rg8 Bb2 69.Ka2

h3 70.gxh3 Kxh3 71.Rg6 g3 72.Rg8 g2 73.Rg5 Kh2 74.Rh5+ Kg3 75.Rg5+ Kf2 76.Rf5+ Ke3 77.Rg5 Kf3 78.Kb3= 57...h3 58.gxh3 gxh3 59.Re3 h2 60.Rh3 Bd6! 60...d1Q+? 61.Kxd1 Bd6 62.Ke2 Kg5 63.Kf3 a4 64.Kg2= 61.Kxd2 Kg5 62.Rh7 Kg4 63.Rg7+ 63.Ke2 Bg3 64.Kf1 Kf3 65.Rf7+ Bf4 66.Rh7 a4 67.Rh8 a3 68.Rh3+ Bg3–+ (Hecht in CBM 71) 63...Kf3 64.Rh7 Kg2 0-1