Practical Rook Endgames
by
IM Igor Khmelnitsky
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IM Igor Khmelnitsky
Igor is a winner of many national and
international tournaments in Europe and the United States.
At various points during his career, he has won individual
encounters with many of the game’s best players. He
has been a participant in the Ukrainian National Championship as
well as a three-time contestant in the US National Championship.
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Rook Endgame is the most common type
of Endgame and one of the more complex one. There are many nuances –
activity of the rook, king’s position, pawn structure that can easily
distort what seems to be a clear picture.
Today, I’d like to show an example
from the very recent game that my student has played at the HB Global Chess
Challenge.
It is in the Q&A format. Take it seriously and see if you can find the
right answers.
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Z.D – J.G
HB Global Chess Challenge (7),
21.05.2005
Black to move |
How would you evaluate this position? What would you play? Spend 5-15
minutes.
STOP!! Answer is below!
White has an extra pawn, Black has better pawn structure – just count the
“pawn islands”. Black has 2 and White has 4. The position is
dynamically equal.
Black’s strategy should be trying to start harassing White’s weaknesses
ASAP. Otherwise, White could bring his K towards the center to help
with the defense. Also, Black should consider getting his King to e7.
White’s strategy is consolidating defense of weak pawns, getting K towards
the center and trading both rooks. Another important idea for White is to
trade some of his weak pawns.
Move-candidates – two moves to consider. One seems to lead to draw
almost immediately - 24...Rxd4 25.exd4 Rd8 26.Rd1 Rc8 27.Rc1 Rd8 28. Rd1
Draw. White can only get in trouble if he tries 28.c5 as Black can win
the pawn d4 and then come back with the rook, stop pawn c, bring the K and
win it.
Another idea is to try for more than
Draw and play 24…Rc8, hoping for the following line: 25.Rc1 Rc7 (defending
7th rank from Rd7) 26.Kg2 R8c8 and 27... b5. But after 27.a4, White can
defend the pawns and is not at risk at all. He could also try some other
moves earlier – like 25.Rd7 – utilizing strategy of trading weak pawns (c4
for a7 or b6)
Correct answer:
Position is Equal/Draw. Best move – 24…Rxd4.
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In the game – Black didn’t take on d4
and proceeded with Rc8 plan. Eventually, the game arrived to the following
position.
Black to Move
How do you evaluate position now?
What is the best move? Spend 5-15 minutes.
STOP!! Answer is below!
Well, White managed to consolidate and clearly is not at risk. Black
should play carefully and Draw is the likely outcome.
White’s strategy is not obvious. He can try to win Pawn b5, but it is
not likely. He can try bringing K to Q-side, but it is dangerous –
K-side Pawns will start falling like ripe apples. Advancing pawns e
and f also doesn’t look promising.
Black’s strategy – well, since he is defending, he should be more reactive
than active. Since we can’t identify White’s strategy, it is better to
sit tight and prepare for whatever White will choose.
Move-candidates – aggressive moves are
wrong and penalized. 32…Ra4?? 33. Rxa4 bxa 34.e4 and having an extra pawn in
the endgame, White should win without any trouble. 32. …b4?? 33. Ra4
and White manages to win the b-pawn without losing his a-pawn. “Normal”
32…Kf6 - advancing the King, is OK, but not the best as Black K can’t
advance any further. Partial credit.
I like to improve Black Rook.
After 32…Rc2 Black is tying White K to the pawn f2 and also can shift it to
a2 or b2.
Correct answer: White has small advantage, but Draw is
likely. Best move – 32…Rc2.
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The game continues - 32…Kf6 33.Ra4
Black to Move
How do you evaluate position now?
What is the best move? Spend 5-15 minutes.
STOP!! Answer is below!
Here evaluation should be secondary to the move as Black has to address the
threat 34.Rxb5. If he looses the pawn, the Draw will be difficult to
obtain.
Once again, bad moves are 33….Ra4 34.Rxa4; 33…b4 34.Ra4. Also, bad is 33…Rc5
34.a4. The only move is 33…Rc3, however, it is sufficient to save the
pawn and maintain the excellent drawing chances.
Correct answer:
White has small advantage, but Draw is likely. Best move – 33…Rc3.
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Rate yourself – 5 points for
correct evaluation and 5 points for correct move; 2 points for partial
credit; bad moves - 1 point penalty.
How did you do? For comments send email or
this
form.
More on chess training (serious and enlightening):
|
Chess Exam and Training
Guide:
Rate Yourself and Learn How to Improve
IM
Igor Khmelnitsky's book, Chess Exam and Training
Guide: Rate Yourself and Learn How to Improve (2004, IamCoach
Press) - winner of Book of the Year from CJA - Chess Journalists
of America (2005).
"...will quickly and
accurately test your
combinational ability, positional judgment and endgame expertise...
Instructive and Entertaining!" - Alex Yermolinsky, Grandmaster,
former US Champion and Olympic team member. |
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See more articles at Chessville by IM Igor Khmelnitsky
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Copyright © 2005 by Igor Khmelnitsky &
www.IamCoach.com and is used here by
permission. It may not be reprinted or reposted in any format without
the express written permission of the author.
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