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POSITION 1 |
Here we have the case of the Weak King being completely cut off from the battle. The Strong King will help the pawn advance, then at the right moment, his Rook jump into the fray, winning quickly.
1. Kf4
The idea is to march the King toward the enemy Rook till the Rook gives ground and the Pawn can advance.
Black must keep the White King busy, else the pawn advances. If instead, the Rook targets the pawn, the following occurs:
2... Re8 3. Re2 Kb1 4. e5 Kc1 5. e6 Kd1 6. Re5 Followed by the Strong King advancing to chase the black Rook away.
Even though Kg7 also wins, this is quicker because it controls all of the squares that Black would like to use to stop the pawn's advance.
4... Rc8
It does not help Black to try to swing behind the pawn. e.g.
4... Rf1 5. e5 Re1 6. e6 Kb1 7. Kd7 Rd1+ 8. Ke8 Re1 9. e7 Kc1 10. Rf2 And the White King will simply move to f7 and promote the pawn.
5. e5 Rc7+ 6. Kd8 Ra7 7. e6 Ra8+ 8. Kd7 Ra7+ 9. Ke8 Ra8+ 10. Kf7
Hiding behind the pawn, assuring its advance.
This prevents checks and allows the pawn to advance unhindered.
11... Rh3
No better is 11...Ra7 e.g.
11... Ra7+ 12. e7 Rb7 13. Kf8 Rb8+ 14. e8=Q
12. e7 Rh7+ 13. Ke6 Rh8 14. Kd7 Rh7 15. Kd8 Rh8+ 16. e8=Q
It is a very simple thing for the Strong side to chase away the Weak Rook when the enemy King is pinned far away. Perhaps a couple more examples: Please Select POSITION 2 from the pulldown under the chess board.
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Position 2 |
Here we have the Weak King cut off by the file. The strategy is the same as in Position1. The White King helps the Pawn promote and at the right moment his Rook enters the battle, leaving the Black King far away.
1. Kf4 Rf8+ 2. Kg5 Re8 3. Kf5 Rf8+ 4. Kg6 Re8
Black has been trying to separate the White King from his pawn, that will cause the enemy Rook to focus on protecting his pawn. Black hopes then to get his King into the battle. The problem is that while checking the enemy King, he is actually drawing him closer to the promotion square.
5. Re2 Kb7 6. e5 Kc7 7. Kf7 Rh8
Black cannot get his King closer due to Rd2 check and Black loses his Rook.
8. e6 Rh7+ 9. Kf8 Rh8+ 10. Kg7 Re8 11. e7 Kd7 12. Kf7 Rh8 13. e8=Q+
Winning the enemy Rook. Let's look quickly and see if it helps Black have his Rook behind the enemy pawn. Select Position 3 from the pulldown under the chess board.
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Position 3 |
Here we have the enemy King cut off, but with his Rook behind the pawn. Will this help?
1. Kd5 Rd1+ 2. Ke6 Re1 3. e5 Ka6 4. Kd6 Rd1+ 5. Ke7 Re1 6. e6 Ka5 7. Kd7 Rd1+ 8. Ke8 Re1 9. e7 Re3 10. Rf2 Kb6 11. Kf8
And White wins the enemy Rook for the pawn. This simple fact is that if the Weak King is cut off from the battle, his lone Rook has no chance to hold the pawn. Now, let's look at the LUCENA position. Every strong player know this maneuver. Select Position 4 from the pulldown under the chess board.
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Position 4 |
This is the LUCENA position. It should be thoroughly understood. It's maneuvers show how to easily win a position when the Strong King is in front of his advanced pawn, even though the enemy King is very close.
1. Rd2+
First, kick the enemy King away one more file.
This maneuver is what makes the Lucena position so important. A bridge is built which will hide the King and help the pawn promote. There are actually two bridges a long one and a short one. Learn how to build both. We will look at the Short Bridge in the next example.
2... Rg2 3. Ke7 Re2+ 4. Kf6 Rf2+ 5. Ke6 Re2+
5... Rf1 6. Rd6+ Kc7 7. Rd5 Certainly not 7.Ke7 due to Rxf7!! draw. 7... Re1+ 8. Re5 Rf1 9. Ke7 and the black Rook will have to give his life.
Done. The pawn will promote. You see now why the Rook moved to d4 to build the bridge. Now let's look at the short bridge. Select Position 5 from the pulldown under the chess board.
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Position 5 |
This time we will learn how to build the short LUCENA bridge. Learn it as well as the previous Long bridge.
1. Rd2+
Again, kick the enemy King away one more file.
Headed for g8, the short bridge.
3... Kd6 4. Rg8 This is the short bridge. The Rook comes short (close to the pawn), then the King talks a long walk. There are shorter ways to win, but this is methodical and easy. 4... Re1 5. Kg7 Rg1+ 6. Kh6 Rh1+ 7. Kg5 Rg1+ 8. Kh4 Rh1+ 9. Kg3 Rf1 10. f8=Q+
4. Rg8 Rf1 5. Kg7+ Ke7 6. f8=Q+
White wins the enemy Rook. It will be very beneficial to learn and understand this process. Now let's try to find out how to win with a Rook Pawn. Select Position 6 from the pulldown under the chess board.
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Position 6 |
The Rook PAWN. Because there is a lack of space for the Strong side to maneuver in, most of the time a Rook pawn ending is a draw. The only real exception is if the enemy King is at least five squares away from the promotion square. (Drawing this position will be examined in a later lesson.) The winning idea consists of setting up a short bridge Lucena, which takes a lot of time due to being cramped.
1. Rc2
The Rook heads for b8, setting up the bridge. This extra move explains why the enemy King has to be so far away in order to win.
No other move wins e.g.
2. Rc7+ Kd6 3. Rb7 Rh1 4. Rb8 Kc7 and the White King cannot get out of his hole. Draw.
Just having enough time to set up the short bridge!
3... Ra1 4. Kb7 Rb1+ 5. Kc8 Rc1+ 6. Kd8 Rh1
6... Rg1 7. Rb6+ Kc5 8. Rc6+ Not 8.a8(Q) when ...Rg8+ wins the Queen. 8... Kxc6 9. a8=Q+ Kb6 and Black will not be able to keep from losing his Rook, being so far from his protective King. e.g. 10. Qb8+ Kc6 11. Qc8+ Kb6 12. Qe6+ Ka5 (12... Ka7 13. Qe3+) (12... Kb5 13. Qd5+ Ka6 14. Qc6+ Ka5 15. Qc5+) (12... Kb7 13. Qe4+ Ka6 14. Qc6+ Ka5 15. Qc5+) 13. Qd5+ Ka4 14. Qd4+ In all lines, the Queen will wind up winning the distant Rook!
7. Rb6+
Certainly not 7.a8(Q)?? due to 7...Rh8 mate!
Game(s) in PGN