Chapter 4
Rook versus Two Bishops Endgames
Usually the bishops are stronger and they are very difficult to defeat. So we can make the first part of this chapter shorter.
(a) The rook plays for a win
The rook needs strong trumps to harbor hopes to win.
(a1) R+2Ps vs. 2Bs
With a single pawn it is usually a clear draw so we start with two pawns:
04.01 Maiorov – Onischuk
Kharkov 2007
Two connected passed pawns on their fourth rank usually win if the defender is passive: 61.Ba6? Now this conforms to the rule, and Black wins. White must seize the opportunity with 61.Bc4+ Ke7 62.Bd3 Rh3+ 63.Ke2 f4 64.Bf5 Rg3 65.Bf2 Ra3 66.Bd4= 61…Rh3+ 62.Kf2 Kf7?! 62…Kd5 was playable immediately, as after 63.Bf6 g4, White cannot blockade the pawns, e.g., 64.Bb7+ Ke6 65.Bd8 Rb3 66.Bc8+ Ke5 67.Bc7+ Kf6 68.Bd8+ Kg6 69.Bd7 Rd3 70.Be8+
55.f5? 55.Rb5 Bc2 56.f5 Ke7 57.g5+– 55…Ke7? 55…Bc2 56.Rh7+ Kc6 57.Kd4 Bf4 58.Ra7 Kd6 59.Ra2 Be5+ 60.Ke3 Bb3 61.Ra6+ Kc5 62.g5 Bc2 63.f6 Bg6 64.Ra7 Kd5=
And Black’s blockade holds. 56.Rh7+? After 56.Rh1 Bc2 57.Rc1 White has a long win – see below. 56…Kf8? 56…Kf6 57.Rh6+ Ke5 58.Re6+ Kd5 59.Re8 Bc2 60.f6 Bg6 61.Rg8 Bf7 62.Rg7 Ke6 63.g5 Be5= 57.Rd7 Be7 58.Kf4 Bc2 59.g5 Bb3 60.Kg4 60.f6? runs into 60…Bxf6 61.gxf6 Ba2= and Black has the famous del Rio fortress; see 02.04. 60…Ba4 61.Rd4 Bc2 61…Bb3!? was worth trying as 62.f6? (62.Kh5+–) 62…Be6+ 63.Kh4 runs into 63…Bc5 64.Rd3 Kf7 65.Kh5 Bf5= 62.f6 Now this advance wins as White can take back with the rook later. 62…Bxf6 62…Bc5 63.Rc4 Bd1+ 64.Kf5+– 63.Rf4 Bd1+ 64.Kh4 Kg7 65.Rxf6 Be2 66.Kg3 Bd3 67.Kf4 Bb1 68.Rd6 Bc2 69.Kg4 Be4 70.Rd4 Bc2 71.Rd7+ Kg6 72.Rd6+ Kg7 73.Kh5 1-0
R+2Ps vs. 2Bs
W +38
57.Rc1!! Ba4 58.g5!! Bd7 59.Ke4!! Kf8 60.Rc3! Ke8 61.Re3! Kf7 62.Rh3! Bc6+ 63.Ke3! Be5 64.Rh6! Bd5 65.Rh7+!! Kf8 66.Ra7! Bh2 67.Ra6! Kg7 68.Kd4! Bf7 69.Ke4! Bb3 70.Ra5! Kf7 71.Kf3 Bd1+ 72.Ke3! Bb3 73.Ra7+ Kf8 74.Ra3 Bd1 75.Ra1! Bc2 76.Rc1 Ba4 77.Kf3! Bb5 78.Re1 Bd6 79.Kg4! Bb4 80.Re4! Bd2 81.g6 Bc3 82.Re6! Bd7 83.Rd6! Ke8 84.Rd5 Ke7 85.Kh5 Bg7 86.Kg5! Be8 87.Rc5 Bd7 88.Rc7! Be5 89.Rb7! Kd6 90.f6! Be6 91.g7 Bd4 92.Re7 Be3+ 93.Kg6 Ba2 94.Rxe3+– 1-0
We end this section with two mutual zugzwangs and the longest win:
04.03 Rychagov – Kazhgaleyev
Moscow 2009
61.Kd2 mutual zugzwang (White to move loses DTC in 20 moves) 61…Rd4 62.Be1 again mutual zugzwang 62…d5 63.Kc3 Ra4 64.Kd2 Ra2+ 65.Bc2 d4 66.Kd3? 66.Bh4 is called for. 66…Ra1 67.Bb4 Rd1+ 68.Kc4 Ke3 0-1
04.04 Longest Win R+2Ps vs. 2Bs
W +107
1.d3!! Bb5 2.Rg5!! Bd7 3.Rd5!! Be8 4.Re5!! Bd7 5.Re4! Bf8 6.Rd4!! Be6 7.Rd8!! Bb4 8.Re8!! Bf7 9.Rb8!! Bd6 10.Rb5! Bh2 11.Kc2!! Kg7 12.Rb6!! Bg1 13.Rc6 Be3 14.Kc3!! Bg6 15.Re6!! Bf2 16.e4! Be1+ 17.Kc2! Bf2 18.Kd2! Kh6 19.Rf6! Bd4 20.Rd6!! Bb2 21.Rb6! Bd4 22.Rb4! Bf2 23.Ke2!! Bg1 24.Rb1!! Bd4 25.Rb5 Kg7 26.Kf3!! Kf6 27.Kf4!! Bg1 28.Ra5! Bh2+ 29.Kf3! Bg1 30.Ra1! Bh5+ 31.Kf4!! Bh2+ 32.Ke3 Kg5 33.Kd4!! Kg4 34.Kc5!! Bg6 35.Ra6!! Kg5 36.Kd4! Bg1+ 37.Ke5!! Bf7 38.Ra8!! Bb6 39.Rc8! Be3 40.Rf8! Bf4+ 41.Kd4 Be6 42.Kc3! Ba2 43.Ra8! Bf7 44.Ra7! Bg6 45.Kd4!! Bg3 46.Ra8!! Bf2+ 47.Ke5!! Bf7 48.Rf8!! Bg3+ 49.Kd4 Bf2+ 50.Kc3! Be1+ 51.Kc2! Kg6 52.Rb8 Bf2 53.Rb2 Bd4 54.Rb4!! Bc5 55.Ra4! Be3 56.Kc3! Kf6 57.Ra6+!! Kg5 58.Ra1!! Bg6 59.Rf1!! Bh7 60.Rf3 Bf4 61.Rf2! Bb8 62.Rf1! Bg6 63.Kd4! Bf4 64.Kc4! Bf7+ 65.Kc3! Bg6 66.Rg1+! Kf6 67.Rg4! Bg5 68.d4! Bh7 69.Kd3! Bg6 70.Rg3 Bf4 71.Rg1! Bh7 72.Re1! Bg6 73.Kc4! Bf7+ 74.Kc5! Ke7 75.Rf1 Bd6+ 76.Kc6! Ba3 77.Rf3! Be8+ 78.Kb6! Bc1 79.Kc5! Bh5 80.Rh3! Bg4 81.Rh1! Ba3+ 82.Kc4! Kf6 83.Kd3! Be7 84.Ke3! Bd7 85.Rh6+! Kg7 86.Rb6! Bg5+ 87.Kd3! Kf7 88.e5! Bf5+ 89.Kc4! Bd8 90.Rc6 Bh4 91.d5! Kg7 92.Rc7+ Kg6 93.e6! Kf6 94.e7!! Kf7 95.d6!! Ke8 96.Kd5!! Bd7 97.Rc4 Bg5 98.Re4! Bc1 99.Re2 Bh6 100.Kc5! Bf4 101.Rg2! Be3+ 102.Kd5! Kf7 103.Rh2! Be6+ 104.Kc6 Bg4 105.Rg2 Bf3+ 106.Kd7! 1-0
04.05 Longest win R+P vs. 2Bs+P
W +41 (D)
1.a6!! Bb5 2.Rg4+!! Kf5 3.a7!! Bc6 4.Kc7!! Bf3 5.Rg3!! Be4 6.Re3!! Bd5 7.Rd3!! Be4 8.Rd4! Bg2 9.Rd2!! Bh1 10.Rh2! Be4 11.Rf2+ Kg4 12.Re2! Bd5 13.Rd2! Bf3 14.Rd3! Bh1 15.Rd1! Bf3 16.Rg1+! Kh4 17.Rf1!! Bd5 18.Rf5! Bg2 19.Rf4+! Kh5 20.Rf2! Be4
21.Re2! Bf3 22.Re3! Bg2 23.Rh3+! Kg4 24.Rh6! Ba8 25.Kb8! Bd5 26.Rd6! Bh1 27.Rd1! Bf3 28.Rg1+! Kh4 29.Rf1!! Bc6 30.Rf6! Bd5 31.Rd6! Bf3 32.Rd3! Bc6 33.Rd4+! Kh5 34.Rd6! Be4 35.Re6! Bf3 36.Rb6! Bc1 37.Rb7! Bf4+ 38.Kc8!! Bg4+ 39.Kd8! Bg5+ 40.Ke8! Bf6 41.Rxb4! 1-0
(a2) General Case
As the two bishops are very powerful defenders, the rook needs strong trumps to harbor real hopes of winning:
04.06 Nakamura – G.Shahade
Seattle 2003
43.Kd5 Bc1 44.Rb7+ Ke8?! 44…Kd8 45.h4!+– (45.e6? Bxf4 46.Rd7+ Kc8! 47.Rf7 Bxe6+ 48.Kxe6 Bxh2= (Krasenkow in CBM)) 45.e6 h5?! 45…Bxf4 46.Rf7 Bxh2 47.Rxf5 Bg3+– (Krasenkow) is more tenacious. 46.Ke5 Bg4 47.f5 1-0
In the next case, the bishops help Kramnik to defend and draw:
04.07 Kasparov – Kramnik
London 2000
Slowly things are becoming really uncomfortable for Kasparov. With just six games to go and a 6-4 lead for the challenger, he really needed to win with white today. But once again Kramnik was able to exchange queens early and defend well in the endgame.
21…h5!? Kramnik had probably prepared this novelty which makes the white expansion on the kingside more difficult. 21…Bc6 22.Kf2 Ke7 23.Ra1 Be5! 24.Ke3 Bd7 25.Rc1 Bxh2! with drawing chances, Kupreichik-Malaniuk, Muenster 1995 22.h4 Kasparov immediately nails down the troublesome h-pawn and hopes to be able to pick it up later. 22.Ra1 Bb7 23.Ra5 Be5 (Kramnik in Informant 80) also seems to hold. 22…Ke7 22…Bg3?? runs into 23.Rd8+ Ke7 24.Rxa8+– 23.Kf2 Bb7 Starting to move the somewhat offside bishop via c8 to the e6-square where it is active on both wings. It is not going to be easy for Kasparov to subdue the bishops.
24.c4 Kasparov uses a typical strategy. The pawn chains b3-c4 and g2-e4 make it difficult for Black to attack the three weak pawns on b3, g2 and h4. 24…Be5 25.Rd2 Bc8 26.Rd5 Be6 27.Ra5 White plans Ke3 and f4, to win the pawn on h5. This is energetically opposed by Kramnik: 27…c5!? 28.Ke3 Naturally not 28.Rxc5?? Bd4+–+ 28…Bd4+ 29.Kd3 f5!? Kramnik wants to exchange pawns to open the position for his bishops and get safe squares for them. In addition, the white pawn chains will be dissolved and it becomes easier to attack them. 30.b4 fxe4+ 31.Kxe4 Bf2 32.bxc5 Bxh4 32…Bxc4? 33.c6 plays into White’s hand 33.c6
33…Kd6! Winning the pawn on c6, after which Black is no longer in serious danger, because the endgame R vs. B without pawns is usually a draw. So he can always sacrifice the second bishop for the last white pawn. 34.Rxh5 Bf2 35.g4 Kxc6 36.Rh2 Bc5 37.Rc2 37.Ke5?? Bd6+– + 37…f6 37…Be7 was also a real possibility, to allow …Kc5 and tie down the white pieces in the defense of the pawn on c4. 38.Rh2 Kasparov activates his rook to win the f6-pawn. But there is too little material left: 38…Bxc4 39.Rh6 39.Kf5 Be7 40.Rc2 Kd5 41.Rd2+ Kc6 42.f4 Bd5 and Black holds. 39…Bd5+ 40.Kf5 Bxf3 41.g5 Kd5 ½-½
(b) The bishops play for a win
This is the normal case and sometimes already a slight advantage can be converted in the long run, if the bishops have full control.
(b1) 2Bs+P vs. R
The bishops usually win even with a rook’s pawn if the rook cannot draw more or less directly:
04.08 Ciocaltea – Pachman
Prague 1954
Black wins if he is careful with advancing the h-pawn: 88…Bc8 Of course not 88…h2? 89.Rxf4+ Kxf4 90.Kg2= 89.Rb4 Ba6 90.Kg1 Be2 91.Rb2 h2+? This is still too early. Black’s king must cross over first, e.g., 91…Bf3 92.Ra2 Bd5 93.Rc2 Kf5 94.Re2 Kf6 zugzwang 95.Rc2 Ke5 96.Rb2 Kd4 97.Rc2 Kd3 98.Rb2 Kc3 99.Re2 Kb3–+
The decisive zugzwang 92.Kh1 Bf3+ 93.Rg2+ ½-½
A typical mistake is advancing the pawn too early:
04.09 Engelbert – Westerinen
Gausdal 2000
94…g4? Black does not have enough control yet and so the pawn becomes too weak. But the win is deep, e.g., 94…Bg4 95.Rb7 Bf3 96.Rd7 g4 97.Rd3 Bb7 98.Rb3 Ba6 99.Kf4 Be2 100.Rb6 Bf3 101.Rh6 Bf8 102.Rb6 Ba3 103.Kg3 Bc5 104.Ra6 Be7 105.Kf4 Bb4 106.Rb6 Bd2+ 107.Kg3 Ba5 108.Rb3 Bc7+ 109.Kh4 Be5 110.Rb5 Bd6 111.Rh5 Be7+ 112.Kg3 Kf6 113.Rh6+ Kf5 114.Rb6 Be2 115.Rb7 Bd6+ 116.Kh4 Kf4 117.Rd7 Bc5 118.Rf7+ Ke4 119.Kg3 Bd6+ 120.Kh4 g3 121.Kh3 Bc4 122.Rf6 Bf4–+ 95.Kf4 Bc8 96.Rc7 Be6 97.Ra7 Ke8 98.Ke5 Kf7 99.Kf4 Kf6 100.Ra6 Bd8 ½-½
04.10 Longest win 2Bs+P vs. R
W +167
1.Bb7+!! Kc7 2.Bh4!! Kd6 3.Kb6!! Ke5 4.Ba8!! Rf1 5.Bg3+! Kd4 6.Bd6!! Rf7 7.Bc5+!! Ke5 8.Be3!! Rd7 9.Kc6!! Rf7 10.Kb5! Kf5 11.Bf3!! Rc7 12.Bc5!! Rc8 13.Kb6!! Kf4 14.Bd6+!! Ke3 15.Bd5! Rh8 16.Bc5+!! Kf4 17.Bf2! Rc8 18.Bc6!! Rf8 19.Kc7! Kg4 20.Bd7+!! Kf4 21.Ba4! Ke5 22.Bc5!! Rf7+ 23.Kd8!! Kf4 24.Bf2!! Rh7 25.Bc6! Rh8+ 26.Ke7 Rh7+ 27.Kd6! Rh6+ 28.Kc5! Rg6 29.Bf3! Ra6 30.Bh4!! Ra3 31.Bc6! Rd3 32.Kb6!! Rd6 33.Kc7!! Rh6 34.Be1! Re6 35.Bf2! Rh6 36.Bf3! Rh1 37.Bd4! Rf1 38.Bc6! Re1 39.Bf2! Re7+ 40.Kd8! Re2 41.Bh4! Rd2+ 42.Kc7! Re2 43.Kd7! Rc2 44.Bb7 Rb2 45.Bf3! Rb3 46.Bc6! Rc3 47.Kd6! Kg4 48.Be1! Rd3+ 49.Kc5! Rd8 50.Bd5! Kf4 51.Kc6! Ra8 52.Bb4! Ra6+ 53.Kd7!! Rg6 54.Be1! Ra6 55.Bf2! Ra5 56.Bc6! Ra6 57.Bb7! Rf6 58.Bf3 Rg6 59.Ke7! Ke5 60.Be3! Rg7+ 61.Kf8! Rh7 62.Bd2! Kf6 63.Bc3+! Kf5 64.Bg7! Rh4 65.Kf7! Ra4 66.Bf8! Ra6 67.Bh5! Ra4 68.Be7! Rf4 69.Bf6! Rb4 70.Be2! Ra4 71.Bd1 Rb4 72.Be7! Rd4 73.Bf3! Rd7 74.Ba8! Rd4 75.Bb7! Rd2 76.Bc6! Rd4 77.Ke8! Kg4 78.Bd8! Rc4 79.Bf3+!! Kf5 80.Kd7! Rd4+ 81.Ke7! Rc4 82.Bd5! Rc3 83.Kf7! Rc1 84.Bh4! Ra1 85.Bc6! Ra3 86.Be7! Rd3 87.Ke8! Rd4 88.Bc5! Rd2 89.Bb4! Rd4 90.Ba5! Rc4 91.Kd7! Rd4+ 92.Ke7! Rc4 93.Kd6! Rd4+ 94.Bd5! Rd3 95.Kc6! Rd1 96.Bb4! Rc1+ 97.Kd6! Rd1 98.Bc3! Rb1 99.Be6+! Kf4 100.Be5+! Ke4 101.Bd5+! Kf5 102.Bg3! Rd1 103.Bh2! Rd2 104.Kc5! Rc2+ 105.Kd4! Rd2+ 106.Kc4! Rd1 107.Bb7 Rd2 108.Bf3! Rd7 109.Bd5! Rh7 110.Bd6 Rd7 111.Kc5! Ra7 112.Bf3! Ra2 113.Bf8! Kf4 114.Kd5! Ra5+ 115.Bc5! Kg3 116.Kd4! Ra4+ 117.Ke3 Ra6 118.Ke4! Ra4+ 119.Bd4! Rb4 120.Kd3! Rb5 121.Ke3! Ra5 122.Be4! Rb5 123.Ke2! Rg5 124.Kf1! Ra5 125.Kg1! Rb5 126.Bf2+ Kf4 127.Bc6! Rg5 128.Bb6! Rg6 129.Bc7+!! Kg5 130.Bf3! Ra6 131.Kf2! Ra7 132.Bd6 Rd7 133.Be5 Re7 134.Bb8! Re8 135.Bd6! Re6 136.Bc7! Ra6 137.g4! Ra7 138.Bb6! Ra6 139.Bc5! Re6 140.Kg3! Re1 141.Bb6! Re8 142.Bd5 Kh6 143.Bb3! Kg5 144.Bc2! Re1 145.Bd3 Re5 146.Bd8+! Kh6 147.Kh4! Kg7 148.g5! Re6 149.Bc7 Re3 150.Bf5! Kf7 151.Bb6 Rb3 152.Bg1! Rb5 153.g6+ Kf6 154.Bd3! Rd5 155.Be4!! Rd6 156.Bf2 Rd7 157.Bb6 Rd6 158.Ba5! Re6 159.Bc3+! Ke7 160.Bc2! Rb6 161.g7 Kf7 162.Kh5! Rb8 163.Bd4 Rb7 164.Bd3 Rc7 165.Bb1! Rd7 166.Ba2+! Ke7 167.g8Q 1-0
Exercises
E04.01 Holzke – Tolnai
Budapest
Find White’s quickest winning move in DTM metric!
E04.02 Paramos Dominguez – Kurajica
La Coruna 1993
Black to move and draw
(b2) 2Bs+P vs. R+P
Even here the bishops have good chances to win if there are not clear reasons why it should be a draw.
(b21) Blocked pawns
If the attacking king can invade, the attacker has good winning chances:
04.11 Furman – Soylu
Porto 2014
64.Rb8? This allows Black’s king and bishops a coordinated attack against the f3-pawn. 64.Ra4 Kc3 65.Ra3+ Kb2 66.Ra8 Bd5 67.Rb8+ Kc3 68.Ke2 Bc4+ 69.Ke1 Kd3 70.Rd8+ Bd4 71.Kf1 Ke3+ 72.Kg2
Now Black cannot make progress, e.g., 72…Be2 73.Re8+ Kd2 74.Rd8= 64…Kd3 65.Ke1 65.Rd8+ Bd4 66.Re8 Bd5–+ 65…Bd4 66.Kf1 66.Ra8 Bd5 67.Ra3+ Bc3+ 68.Kf2 Kd2 69.Ra4 Be5 70.Ra5 Bd4+ 71.Kg2 Bb7 72.Ra2+ Ke1 73.Ra3 Be3 74.Rb3 Bd5 75.Rb5–+ leads to a long win – see below. (75.Ra3 Ke2–+) 66…Bd5 67.Kg2 0-1 in view of 67…Ke2 68.Re8+ Be3–+
R+P vs. 2Bs+P
W -24
75.Rb5 Bc4! 76.Rb2 Bf1+! 77.Kh2 Bc5 78.Kh1 Bd4 79.Rb4 Be3!! 80.Rb2 Bd2! 81.Kh2 Bc3! 82.Ra2 Bd4 83.Rc2 Bd3! 84.Ra2 Be2! 85.Kg2 Bc4! 86.Ra4 Bf1+!! 87.Kh2 Be3!! 88.Ra2 Bc4! 89.Rb2 Bd5! 90.Kg2 Bd2! 91.Rb5 Bc4! 92.Rc5 Bf1+! 93.Kh2 Kd1 94.Re5 Be3! 95.Ra5 Ke2! 96.Ra1 Kf2! 97.Rb1 Be2! 98.Kh3 Bxf3–+ 0-1
04.12 Pitl – Schoenau
Augsburg 1997
Sooner or later Black’s king will invade:
54.Rd8+ Ke5 55.Kg2 Bc6+ 56.Kh3 Bd5 57.Re8+ Kd4 58.Ra8 Be4 59.Ra3 Bd3 60.Kg2 Ke3 61.Rb3 Be5 62.Ra3 Ke4 63.Ra4+ Bd4 64.Rb4 Be2 65.Kg3 Ke3 66.Rb3+ Kd2 67.Rb4 Be3 68.Kg2 68.Ra4 Bd1 69.Rb4 Kd3
The typical zugzwang 70.Rb7 Bf4+ 71.Kh3 Ke3 72.Ra7 Kf3 73.Ra3+ Be3 74.Rc3 Be2 75.Ra3 Bf1+ 76.Kh2 Bb5 77.Kh3 Bd7–+ 68…Bf4 69.Rb2+ Kd3 70.Rb5 70.Kh3?! Bf1+–+ 70…Bxg4 71.Rxg5 Bxg5 72.Kg3 Be2 73.Kf2 Bf4 74.Kg2 Bg4 75.Kf2 Kd2 76.Kg1 Ke2 77.Kg2 Be6 78.Kg1 Kf3 79.Kf1 Bg3 80.Kg1 Bd5 81.Kf1 Bh2 82.Ke1 Ke3 83.Kf1 Bg3 84.Kg1 Kf3 85.Kf1 Bf4 86.Ke1 Bb3 87.Kf1 Be3 88.Ke1 Bc2 89.Kf1 Bd2 90.Kg1 Kg3 91.Kh1 Bd3 0-1
Under favorable circumstances, the bishops can even win with a blocked rook’s pawn:
04.13 Atlas – Summermatter
Switzerland 2000 (D)
60.Bg4? 60.Bxa5+? Kxa5 is also wrong, as then Black’s king can reach Rauser’s drawing zone. But 60.Kd2 wins. 60…Ra8? Black misses 60…Ra6 61.Bd8 with the point 61…Rc6+
62.Kb2 Kc4 63.Bxh4 Kd4= 61.Kd3 Now White is back on track. 61…Kb5 62.Bf2 Rh8 63.Bd7+ Kb4 64.Ke4 Rd8 65.Bf5 Rh8 66.Kf4 Kc4 67.Kg5 Kd5 68.Bxh4 Kd6 69.Bg3+ Ke7 70.h4 Rg8+ 71.Bg6 Ra8 72.h5 Ra5+ 73.Kh6 Kf8 74.Kh7 Ra7+ 75.Kh8 Ra6 76.Be5 Ke7 77.Kg7 Ke6 78.Bd4 Ra4 79.Bf7+ Kf5 80.Bc5 Ra5 81.Bf8 Ra1 82.Bg6+ Ke6 83.h6 Ra7+ 84.Kg8 Kf6 85.h7 1-0
(b22) Neighboring pawns
Again it is mostly about the question whether the attacking king can get into position:
04.14 Horvath – Visser
Triesen 2000
63…Rf2? Now White’s king can cross over. After the cut-off 63…Rg2 Black can hold, e.g., 64.Bg5 Rg1 65.Kg6 Ke8 66.Kf6+ Kd7 67.Be2 (67.Bf7 Re1 68.Bg8 Kd6=) 67…Rh1 68.Bb5+ Kd6 69.Bc4 Re1 70.Bh6 Re4 71.Ba6 Kd7 72.Bb5+ Kd6 73.Bf8+ Kd5 74.Bh6 Kd6= 64.Bg5 Rh2 64…Rf1 65.Kg6 Ke8 66.Be2 Rb1 67.Bc4 Kd7 68.Kf7 Re1 69.Bb5+ Kd6 70.Ba6 Ra1 71.Bc8 Re1 72.Be7+ Kd5 73.Bb7+ Kd4 74.Bd6 Re2 75.Kf6 Re1 76.Be5++– 65.Kg6 1-0
(b23) Both sides have passed pawns
If the bishops can get control they have good chances to win:
04.15 Szell – Boros
Hungary 1993
Black will win the h-pawn first and then the game, but this could take a long time: 56…Kf7 57.Kg4 Kg7 58.Rc5 Kh6 59.Ra5 Bf7 60.Rc5 Bb3 61.Rc6 Ba4 62.Rc7 62.Rc5 Bd1+–+ 62…Bd1+ 63.Kf5 Kxh5 64.Ke6 64.Rc1 Bg4+ 65.Ke4 Bd7–+ 64…Bb3+ 65.Kf5 Kh6 66.Rb7 Bf7 67.Ra7 Kg7 68.Ra6 Bd5 69.Ra7 Kf7 70.Rc7 Be6+ 71.Kf4 Ke8 72.Rb7 Bd5 73.Rc7 Kd8 74.Ra7 Bd4 75.Ra4 e5+ 76.Kf5 Kd7 77.Ra6 Bc6 78.Ra3 Kd6 79.Ra6 Kd5 80.Ra5+ Kd6 81.Ra6 Bc3 82.Ra3 Bd7+ 83.Ke4 Bd4 84.Ra6+ Kc5 85.Ra5+ Bb5 86.Ra2 Bc6+ 87.Kf5 Kc4 88.Ra5 Bd5 89.Ra2 e4 90.Ra4+ Kd3 91.Ra5 e3 0-1
As usual, it is a typical mistake to advance the pawn too early:
(239) 04.16 Neubauer – Simacek
Szeged 2007
57.b6? Only after 57.Bc8 Rg2 58.Bb7 Rc2+ 59.Kb4 h4 can the pawn advance safely: 60.b6+– 57…Kc6 58.b7 Rg8 59.Ba7 Kc7 60.Be3 Kc6 61.Ba7 Kc7 62.Kc5 Rg5+ 63.Kb4 Rg4+ 64.Kb5 Rg5+ 65.Bc5 h4 66.Kc4 Rxc5+ 67.Kxc5 ½-½
04.17 Longest win 2Bs+P vs. R+P
B -169
1…Kh3 2.Bc7!! Rf2 3.Bb6!! Rh2 4.Bf3! Kh4 5.Bd8+!! Kh3 6.Bh5! Ra2 7.Bb6!! Ra6 8.Bf2!! Ra5 9.Bd1!! Ra2 10.Be1!! Ra1+ 11.Kc2! Ra2+ 12.Kb1! Ra8 13.Kb2! Rc8 14.Bh5! Rh8 15.Bg6! Kg4 16.Bd2!! Rc8 17.Be4!! Kg3 18.Bb4!! Kf2 19.Bd6!! Ke2 20.Bb7!! Rg8 21.Kc3!! Rg6 22.Bc5! Rg5 23.Bb4! Ke3 24.Bd6! Rf5 25.Be4! Rh5 26.Ba3! Ke2 27.Bf8! Rg5 28.Be7! Ra5 29.Bd6! Ke3 30.Bf8! Re5 31.Bh6+! Ke2 32.Kd4! Rh5 33.Bf4!! Ra5 34.Bd6!! Ra4+ 35.Kc3!! Ra5 36.Be7! Ke3 37.Bg6! Rd5 38.Ba3! Ra5 39.Bc1+! Kf3 40.Be4+!! Kf2 41.Kb4! Ra7 42.Bf4!! Ra6 43.d4! Re6 44.Bd3!! Kf3 45.Bg5!! Re1 46.Bf5 Rg1 47.Bd2! Rd1 48.Kc3!! d5 49.Kd3! Rb1 50.Be6! Rb3+ 51.Bc3! Rb5 52.Bg8! Kg3 53.Be1+! Kg4 54.Bd2! Kf3 55.Bf7! Rb3+ 56.Bc3! Rb5 57.Be6! Kg3 58.Bd7! Rb6 59.Bd2! Rb3+ 60.Ke2! Rf3 61.Bc6 Rf6 62.Ba4! Re6+ 63.Kd3! Rb6 64.Bd1! Rb1 65.Ke2! Rb7 66.Ke3! Re7+ 67.Kd3 Rb7 68.Bg5! Rb1 69.Ke2! Ra1 70.Be7! Ra6 71.Kd3! Kf4 72.Bb4!! Rb6 73.Bd2+! Kf5 74.Ke3!! Rb2 75.Bc1! Rb4 76.Ba3! Rb7 77.Bd6! Rb6 78.Bf4! Ra6 79.Kf3! Ra2 80.Bc1!! Ke6 81.Bg5!! Ra1 82.Be2!! Ra4 83.Ke3!! Ra2 84.Bg4+! Kd6 85.Bf6!! Ra1 86.Be2!! Ke6 87.Bh4 Kf5 88.Bd3+! Ke6 89.Bb5! Ra5 90.Be2! Kf5 91.Bd3+! Kg4 92.Be7!! Ra7 93.Bc5! Rf7 94.Be2+!! Kf5 95.Ba6! Rc7 96.Bd3+! Ke6 97.Kf4! Rf7+ 98.Kg5! Rf2 99.Ba6!! Rg2+ 100.Kf4!! Rf2+ 101.Kg4 Rg2+ 102.Kf3! Rc2 103.Bc8+! Kf6 104.Bh3! Rc3+ 105.Kg4!! Ke6 106.Bg2! Rc1 107.Kf4! Re1 108.Bf8! Re2 109.Bh3+! Kf7 110.Bc5!! Kf6 111.Bb4! Rf2+ 112.Kg4 Re2 113.Kf3! Re4 114.Bc5! Re8 115.Bd6! Re4 116.Bb4! Re8 117.Bf1 Ra8 118.Bg2! Ra4 119.Bc5!! Ra2 120.Bd6! Ra4 121.Ke3! Ke6 122.Bb8! Ra2 123.Bh3+! Kf6 124.Bd7! Ra1 125.Be5+ Kg5 126.Bf4+! Kf6 127.Kf3! Ra7 128.Bc8! Ra4 129.Be3! Ra8 130.Bb7! Rd8 131.Bf4 Ke6 132.Kg4! Rg8+ 133.Bg5! Rf8 134.Ba6! Kd7 135.Bb5+! Kd6 136.Bh6 Rf7 137.Be8! Rf2 138.Bf4+! Ke6 139.Bg6! Rg2+ 140.Bg3!! Kf6 141.Bh7! Re2 142.Kf4! Re8 143.Bh4+! Ke6 144.Bf5+! Kf7 145.Bg5! Re2 146.Bd8! Re8 147.Bc7! Kf6 148.Be5+! Ke7 149.Bg4! Rf8+ 150.Kg5! Rg8+ 151.Kf5! Rf8+ 152.Kg6! Rf2 153.Kg5! Rf8 154.Bc7 Rf7 155.Bb8! Rf8 156.Ba7! Rf2 157.Bc5+! Kf7 158.Bd6! Rd2 159.Be5! Rc2 160.Kf5! Rd2 161.Bh5+! Ke7 162.Bg7! Rg2 163.Bf6+! Kd6 164.Be5+! Kd7 165.Bf4! Ra2 166.Bf3 Ra5 167.Bg2 Rb5 168.Ke5! Kc6 169.Bd2! Kc7 170.Bxd5! 1-0
Exercises
E04.03 Bareev – Sion Castro
Leon 1995
Where should Black’s rook go?
E04.04 Garcia Martinez – Karpov
Madrid 1973
How did Karpov deal with the b-pawn?
E04.05 Acs – Berkes
Paks 2007
How to defend with Black?
E04.06 Kryukov – Sorokin
corr 1977
How to defend with Black?
E04.07 Divljan – Vajic
Banja Vrucica 2013
Find White’s only winning move!
(b3) General Case
If the bishops have control and potential targets, they often win, even a pawn down:
04.18 Short – Alekseev
Havana 2010
White wins in the long run as he will win on the queenside: 29.Kf2 g6 30.Be3 Kf7 31.Bd3 Re7 32.a4 Rc7 33.a5 bxa5 33…Rc6 34.b5 Rd6 35.Bc4+ Ke7 36.axb6 axb6 37.Ke2 Kd7 38.Kf3 Ke7 39.h4 Kd7 40.Kf4 h6 41.Ke5 h5 42.Bd5+– 34.bxa5 Kf6 35.h4 Ke6 36.a6
Short fixes the weakness on a7 in typical fashion. 36…Kd5 37.Be2 Ke4 38.Bf3+ Kd3 39.Bb7 Rc2+ 40.Kf3 1-0
If the weaknesses are not accessible then it is drawn:
04.19 Müller – Pribyl
Prague 1990
98…Ra6! 98…Rb8? 99.Bd8 Rb1 100.Be7+ Kg7 101.Ke8 Rb8+ 102.Bd8 Rc8 103.Bd5+– 99.Be7+ Kg7 100.Bd6 Kg8 101.Bd5 Ra5 102.Bf3 Ra4 103.Ke8
103…Ra5! 103…Rxh4? 104.Bd5 Rf4 105.e6 fxe6 106.Bxe6+ Kg7 107.Bxf4+–; 103…Rd4? 104.Be7 Rd2 105.Bf6 Rb2 106.Bd5 Rb8+ 107.Ke7 Rf8 108.e6+–
104.h5 gxh5 105.Bxh5 Ra8+ 106.Ke7 Kg7 107.Bg4 Ra7+ 108.Bd7 Kg6 109.Bb4 Rb7 110.Be1 Ra7 111.Bh4 Rb7 112.Kd6 Rb6+ 113.Kd5 Rb4 114.Bf2 Rb2 115.Bd4 Rd2 116.Be8 Kg7 117.Bb5 Kf8 118.Bc4 Rd1 119.Ke4 Rc1 120.Bd3 Kg8 121.Be3 Ra1 122.Kf4 Ra3 123.Be4 Ra1 124.Kf5 Rf1+ 125.Bf4 Kg7 126.Bd3 Rd1 127.Be2 Re1 128.Bc4 Rh1 129.Bg5 Rh2 130.Bf6+ Kf8 131.Ke4 Rd2 132.Bd3 Rd1 133.Kd4 Ke8 134.Kc4 Rc1+ 135.Kb5 Kf8 136.Kb6 Rc3 137.Be4 Rc1 138.Bc6 Rb1+ 139.Kc7 Rc1 140.Kd7 Rd1+ 141.Kc8 Rc1 142.Kc7 Rc2 143.Bg5 Rc3 144.Kd7 Rd3+ 145.Kc8 Rc3 146.Kc7 Rc4 147.Kd6 Rd4+ 148.Kc5 Rd1 149.Bb5 Re1 150.Bf6 Rc1+ 151.Kd6 Rd1+ 152.Kc7 Ra1 153.Bd7 Ra7+ 154.Kd8 Ra8+ 155.Bc8 Ra7 ½-½
Finally a borderline case, which shows the depth and difficulty of such endgames:
04.20 Carlsen – Karjakin
New York 2016
With very precise play White can win as his king can invade to g6 and then roads for the bishops can be opened: 57.Bc2 Rb7 58.Kg6! Rb2 59.Bf5 Rxf2 60.Be6+ Kh8 61.Bd6 Re2 62.Bg4? As it turns out, White could win here: 62.Kf7 Rc2 63.g4 h5 64.gxh5 Rb2 65.h6! gxh6 66.Bf8 Rb7+ 67.Kg6 Rh7 68.h5 f5 69.Bc5 Rg7+ 70.Kxh6 Rh7+ 71.Kg6 Rg7+ 72.Kxf5+– (Navara in CBM) 62…Re8 63.Bf5 Kg8 64.Bc2 Re3 65.Bb1 Kh8 66.Kf7 Rb3 67.Be4 Re3 68.Bf5 Rc3 69.g4 Rc6 70.Bf8 Rc7+ 71.Kg6 Kg8! 72.Bb4 Rb7? 72…Rc6 draws. 73.Bd6? 73.Be6+! Kh8 74.Bf8! f5 75.gxf5 Ra7 76.f6 gxf6 77.Kxh6 f5 78.h5 f4 79.Kg6 f3 80.h6 f2 81.Bg7+ Rxg7+ 82.hxg7# 73…Kh8? 73…Rb6!= 74.Bf8! Kg8 75.Ba3? 75.Bc5! Kh8 76.Be6 Rb8 77.h5 Ra8
78.g5!! Ra5!? 79.gxh6 gxh6 80.Be7 Rg5+ 81.Kxh6 Rg7 (Navara in CBM) 82.Bc5+– 75…Kh8? 75…Rb6!= 76.Be6? 76.Bf8! still wins. 76…Rb6 77.Kf7 Rb7+ 78.Be7
78…h5! 79.gxh5 79.g5 fxg5 80.hxg5 h4= 79…f5 80.Bxf5 Rxe7+ 81.Kxe7 Kg8 82.Bd3 Kh8 83.Kf8 g5 84.hxg6 ½-½