Black to move. Is this a win or draw for Black?
Source: ChessToday.net
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A fascinating endgame study. In this position, it is very tempting to try to support the a-pawn’s advance. Let’s look at the possibilities in this variation first:
1. …..Kc2
To support the a-pawn, and plan to attack the rook with Kb2. If the white rook leaves the a-file on any move that is not a check, black can sacrifice his rook at g1 and queen the a-pawn. So for moves white has f3, f4, Ra4-8, and king moves. On f3 and f4, black just captures with ef3 and wins easily with three extra pawns since 3.Kf3 allows Rf1+ followed by queening of the a-pawn. In addition, king moves of Kg3 and Kh3 allow Rg1+ and Rh1+ followed by queening of the a-pawn, so we need to cover the moves Ra4-8, and Kh2 only:
2. Kh2 Kb2
3. Ra8
Planning to check the black king from a distance, but black has a way to defeat this plan:
3. …..Rf1
4. Rb8 Kc3
5. Rc8 Kb4
And black will walk the white rook down by traveling up the b and c files, taking care to not play the king to the a-file which will allow a skewer through the black king to win a2. When the black king finally attacks the white rook from c7, he will gain the final tempo to play a1Q winning white’s rook and the game.
Finally, at move 2, if white moves the rook first before moving the king, he can keep from the losing the tempo he lost on black’s Kb2 in the previous line (a tempo black used to get his rook from out in front of his a-pawn. This makes all the difference in the world:
1. …..Kc2
2. Ra8 Kb3
3. Rb8 Kc4
4. Rc8 Kb5
5. Ra8 Kb6 and we can see that the walk down can’t work- the white rook has enough room to stay on the a-file and out of the black king’s reach by transferring between a8 and a3.
So, what are the important features of this type of position? First, white has his rook behind the a-pawn, has his king on the second rank so that black cannot move his rook with check to clear the way for the a-pawn’s advance.
You can sometimes win this kind of position by moving your rook to the other side of the board to deliver a check and skewer the opponent’s king and rook when he captures on rank 2, but that is not possible here due to the white king having control of h1/h2, and the f-pawn prevents the skewer anyway. So, what plan does this suggest for black? I would definitely be looking the clear the f-pawn off the second rank, force the white king to support the pawn at e3 with his king from f2, and then play Rh1, Rh2+ and win white’s rook. So, can this work? At move 1, I would look to sacrifice the leading e-pawn so that I could clear the f2 pawn out of the way:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
Now, if white moves the rook off the 3rd rank on his next move, black wins the e-pawn and the game as white can’t hold up both pawns. So, the white king must come to f2 to support the pawn:
3. Kf2 Kc2
Threatening, like in the variations I described earlier, to attack the rook with Kb2, moving his rook off a1 and walking the white rook down. So, white must move his rook:
4. Ra8
Attacking the e-pawn with Ra4 fails to Kb3 followed by Rh1. Now black gets his king off the second rank so that he can threaten Rh1:
4. …..Kb3 (guards a2, still!)
5. Rb8
White has nothing else but these checks. Kg3 loses to Rg1+, Ke2 loses to Rg1/h1 like below, and Kg2 loses to Re1 as the black king then walks the white rook down on the c and b-files like before.
5. …..Kc4
6. Rc8
If 6.Ra8, black proceeds with Rh1 and plays Rh2+ if white captures at a2, thus winning the white rook. Continuing:
6. …..Kb5
7. Rb8 Kc6
8. Rc8 Kd7
And now it is over:
9. Ra8 Rh1
10.Ra2 Rh2
11.Kg3 Ra2-+
I don’t think white has a good defense after 1. …e3, but I hope I haven’t missed something obvious here.
Actually, continuing, 2. …Rc1 might be better, so the king can first go to d file and then the rook can block.
No, I decided 2. …Rd1 is the move. the white king gets to the f-file will the rooks still in place, no doubt nothing but a draw is achieved. One should have technique here.
1… e3 2.fxe should win for black.
Whites King is tied to h2/g2
Whites Rook is tied to a file and protecting whites e pawn(or the second passed pawn wins), so no waiting moves for the Rook
Blacks King shoulders the White King off h2/g2 and follows with Rh1. 0-1
No?
Hi Susan Polgar,
Nice puzzle.
Well,if both players are strong then this puzzle is much inclined towards repeated move draw / stalemate.
But Black can try to tempt White,in that process if White scum to the temptation,then Black will win the game.
The set of moves supporting my view are given below.[ Variations exist ]
Example
=======
1… Kc1
2.Rc3+(Wrong Move) Kb2
3.Rc8 Rc1
4.Ra8 a1(Q)
5.R*Qa1 R*Ra1[ From here its child’s play for Black to win ]
6.Kg3 Re1
7.f3 e*f
8.K*f3 Kc3
9.Kf2 Re4
10.Kf3 Ra4
11.Ke2 Kd4
12.Kd2 e4
13.Ke2 e3
14.Ke1 Ra2
15.Kd1 e2+
16.Ke1 Kd3
17.Kf2 Ra1
18.Kf3 e1(Q)
19.Kg4 Qf2
20.Kg5 Rg1+
21.Kh5 Qh2++ Mate
Black wins the game.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
1. … e3
2. fxe3
else the e3 pawn advances to e2.
2. …. e4
3. Ra8 Kxe3
4. Ra4 Kd3
5. Ra3+ Kd2
6. Ra7 e3
now the white rook can check the black king for a while (from the back), and the black king will go towards the white rook. at some point, the white rook will have to go back to attacking the a2 pawn, e.g., from Ra6
…
…
skipping those moves,
7. Ra6 Rd1
8. Rxa2 Rd2+
0-1
I think it’s draw. Let’s start with
1..e3 2.fxe
Now 2..e4 doesn’t work because of 3.Kf2 followed by Ra8 and black king can’t hide (3..Rh1 4.Rxa2).
Other option is
2..Ke2 3.Ra5
3..e4 doesn’t work again because of 4.Ra3 which transposes to 2..e4.
Only other alternative I see is
3..Kd3 4.Ra3
4..Ke4 5.Ra5
Now Kxe3 is draw because of Rxe5. Black can hold the position with rook moves, if black king reaches c file, then Ra8, if he goes to b file then Rb8+. Any black’s rook move is draw because of Rxa2.
Only alternatives for first move are
1..Kc2 2.Ra8 followed by some checks and returning to startup position
1..Ke2 2.Ra5 e3 3.fxe Kd3 which is just transposition of 1..e3
Hi Susan Polgar,
Well,I don’t think “e3” may lead to Black’s win,it leads to draw [ repeated moves ]
Example
=======
1… e3
2.f*e e4
3.Kf2[ Leads to draw ] kc2
4.Ra8 Kb2
5.Rb8+ [ Leads to draw ]
Example
=======
1…e3
2.f*e Ke2
3.Kh2 Kf2
4.Ra5 K*e3
5.R*e5+ Kd4
6.Ra5 { Leads to draw ]
Example
=======
1… e3
2.f*e Ke2
3.Kh2 e4
4.Kg2 [ Leads to draw ]
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
Hm, my mistake.
1..e3
2.fxe3 e4
leads to black win because it forces king move (rook must stay on a3 protecting white pawn and preventing black rook move). Now
3.Kf2 Kc2
4.Ra8 Kb3
5.Rb8+ Kc4
6.Rc8+ Kb5
7.Rb8+ Kc6
8.Ra8 Rh1
9.Rxa2 Rh2+
or
3.Kh2 Kc2
4.Ra8 Kb2
5.Rb8+ Kc3
6.Ra8 (Rc8+ fails to Kd3, Kxe3)
6..Rd1
7.Rxa2 Rd2+
Martas and Venky, e3 wins, I am pretty certain. First Martas:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kf2 Kc2!
4. Ra8 Kb3!
This move does two things- threatens Rh1 and protects the a2 pawn. If white moves the king on move 5 to e2 or g2, black will move the rook off of a1 to either h1 or e1 respectively and then walk the white rook down with his king as the rook checks from the 8th rank: [5.Kg2 Re1 6.Rb8 Kc4 7.Rc8 Kb5 8.Rb8 Kc6 9.Rc8 Kb7 and the pawn will queen]. Alternatively, the rook on move 5 won’t work either, as I outlined in my previous comment. Continuing:
5. Rb8 Kc4
6. Rc8 Kb5
7. Rb8 Kc6
8. Rc8 Kd7 (or Kb7)
9. Ra8
On any other rook move but Rh8, black just plays Rh1 still. On 9.Rh8, black just puts the rook elsewhere on the 1st rank: [9.Rh8 Rc1 10.Rh7 Ke8 11.Rh8 Kf7 12.Rh7 Kg8 13.Ra7 a1Q 14.Ra1 Ra1 and black has won the rook]. After, 9.Ra8, black now proceeds with Rh1:
9. …..Rh1
10.Ra2 Rh2+ skewers the king at f2 and the rook at a2 winning the game for black.
Now, for Venky:
Your first line in your second comment has black playing Kb2 rather than Kb3! at move 4. Kb3 wins as I showed in my first comment, and repeated above.
Now, I went and looked this game up on Chessbomb this morning, and Rasalov did play e3 and win the game, though Girish did not play the most tenacious defenses. What I found interesting is that the Stockfish program that Chessbomb uses to evaluate positions suggested 1. …Kd1 as the most accurate move, and for a while, I could not really see why since that line eventually transposed into the e3 line, but then I realized there was another way to win by allowing the capture at a2 in certain lines:
1. …..Kd1
2. Kh2
On 2.Ra8, black just plays e3 and the game proceeds very similar to the line I gave earlier, though there are other variations, too, for the curious. Continuing from 2.Kh2 above:
2. …..e3!
3. fe3
Here, 3.Rd3+ loses to Ke2: [3.Rd3 Ke2! 4.Re3 Kf2 5.Re5 Rb1 6.Rf5 Ke3 7.Re5 Kf4 and the a-pawn will queen, or white will lose his rook]. Also, 3.Re3 loses: [3.Re3 Rc1! and white will still lose his rook at a1].
Continuing from 3.fe3 above:
3. …..Rc1!
4. Ra2 Rc2+
This was the other way to win by allowing the capture at a2. Continuing:
5. Rc2 Kc2-+
If you want the full analysis of this king and pawn endgame, just consult any online tablebase, but it is a forced win for black, and a fairly simple one at that.
Hi Susan Polgar,
That’s an absolute beauty!
1… e3 IS the move. Ward’s analysis overlooked a stubborn defense by Black, and the critical move is far from evident to find at my level.
1… e3
2.fxe3 e4
3.Kh2
Shouldering the White king is useless:
3… Ke2
4.Kg2
The hidden idea is that Black cannot progress by zugzwang, but by threat. The black King is extremely well posted to either support the a-pawn or to attack the e-pawn.
The key move is
4…Kc1!! (and NOT Kc2)
5.Ra8 (preparing to check with Rb8-c8 when the King reach b2, but…)
5…Rb1!! a pawn sacrifice.
6.Rxa2 Rb2+ and this rook swap forces a classical pawn ending
7.Rxb2 Kxb2
a passive White resistance is easily punished by zugzwang:
7. Kg2 Kc2
8. Kf2 Kd3
9. Ke1 Kxe3
the more active defense consisting in attacking the e4-pawn is subtly defeated
7. Kg3 Kc3
8. Kg4 (not 8.Kf4 Kd3)
8…Kd2 (not 8…Kd3?? 9.Kf4!! and white wins)
9. Kf4 Kd3
This typical situation is called “trébuchet” in French and is one of the first position of reciprocal zugzwang ever known. At least of theoretical importance!
Cortex,
Yes, you are correct about my oversight. I completely overlooked the power of white’s reply of 3.Kh2. Nicely done! I now understand even better why the Stockfish preferred 1. …Kd1 as the beginning. I did think of 3.Kh2 at one point yesterday, but I completely overlooked the fact that the white rook can return to the a-file whenever the black king goes to the c-file with the intention of playing Kd3 and Kxe3- the white rook prevents this with Ra3+ whenever the black king is on d3.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Hi “Yancey Ward & Cortex”
Well,at the out set,I thank you all for this active discussion about this puzzle.
You both “Yancey Ward & Cortex” you are very nice in deep drilling the puzzle – thats splendid.
With due respect to you both – as of this puzzle is concerned,I still differ from you both – may be,just because of my limited knowledge.
so,I will put forth few queries,analysis and please clarify my doubt.
To “Yancey Ward”
================
***************
Your Moves
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kf2 Kc2!
4. Ra8 Kb3!
5. Rb8 Kc4
6. Rc8 Kb5
7. Rb8 Kc6
8. Rc8 Kd7 (or Kb7)
9. Ra8 Rh1
10.Ra2 Rh2+ skewers the king at f2 and the rook at a2 winning the game for black.
Now, for Venky:
Your first line in your second comment has black playing Kb2 rather than Kb3! at move 4. Kb3 wins as I showed in my first comment, and repeated above.
*************
Now my query to Yancey Ward is : “If White’s 8th move is Ra8 instead of “Rc8” – then can the mate happen as said ?
My opinion is no.
Next query : We all know in chess,that the result of every move is based on previous moves,so my “kb2” Sequence and your “Kb3” Sequence is completely different – can that be match ?
========
Now To Cortex
=============
*************
your moves
=========
1… e3
2.fxe3 e4
3.Kh2 Ke2
4.Kg2 Kc1!! (and NOT Kc2)
5.Ra8 (preparing to check with Rb8-c8 when the King reach b2, but…)
5…Rb1!! a pawn sacrifice.
6.Rxa2 Rb2+ and this rook swap forces a classical pawn ending
7.Rxb2 Kxb2
a passive White resistance is easily punished by zugzwang:
8. Kg2 Kc2
9. Kf2 Kd3
10.Ke1 Kxe3 [ My Note:From here,Cortex presumed that these moves will lead Black to win Which is not the fact ]
*************
Before my query I wish to say that these set of moves are really interesting but this will end in stalemate not a win for Black.
My Query To cortex : Error :Black can’t move from “Ke2″(3rd move) to Kc1(4th move) anyway I like your 6th & 7th move (6.R*a2 Rb2+,7.R*Rb2 K*Rb2 ) so let me presume as such and proceed -Even, if it is considered that,all the moves are legitimate moves,still your set of moves leads to stalemate not a win to Black,so the question is : I would like to know your opinion about this ?
Here,I will give the set of moves supporting my view [ Cortex’s set of moves leads to stalemate only, not a win to Black ]
My Example [ Result : Stalemate ]
==========
[ After cortex tenth move which is
10.Ke1 K*e3 ]
My set of continuation moves
11.Kd1 Kf3
12.Ke1 e3
13.Kf1 e2+
14.Ke1 ( Now what ? ) Ke3 Stalemate
{Anything other than “Ke3” leads to White taking the Black’s pawn,then the game turns to draw.
}
=========
Now coming to the so called computer analyzed set of moves by “Yancey Ward”
Now
1. …..Kd1
2. Kh2 e3!
3. fe3 Rc1!
4. Ra2 Rc2+
5. Rc2 Kc2-+
[ My Note :4th & 5th aren’t relevant moves,there exist any logic for White to move “R*a2” at this point of time,How come the Black rook goes to “Rc2” at this point of time – may be its typo error so lets discard the given 4th & 5th move ]
…..
…..
For complete set of moves “Yancey ward ” suggested to refer any chess online database.
=======
My Question is : Why the White’s 2nd move should be “Kh2” – It has the liberty to roam anywhere in “a” file isn’t ?
========
Conclusively My Opinion :
=======================
My view about this puzzle is, unless White comments mistake,this game leads to draw/stalemate .
In chess,some pieces has the liberty to toggle itself between two squares,if thats not prevented by opponent piece – so here,white player is stronger then the game leads to draw / stalemate as I said in my initial post to this puzzle.
All your comments regarding this puzzle and its discussion,are much appreciated.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
Venky,
I don’t always understand what you write, but I will try to untangle some of your questions:
You wrote:
Your first line in your second comment has black playing Kb2 rather than Kb3! at move 4. Kb3 wins as I showed in my first comment, and repeated above.
The first line in my second comment has black playing 4. …Kb3. Now, maybe you meant to write “second line in your first comment”, but that would still be Kb3. But then you might have really meant the 4th move in the second variation that starts with 1. …Kc2 which is 4. …Kb5? Well, Kb5 is just the attempt to walk down the white rook and force it to quit checking, and I know that is drawn- I showed the line to demonstrate the futility of that plan for black. So, I have to conclude that you made a mistake in the quote I opened with above. Let’s move on.
You asked about the 8th move of white in the following line:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kf2 Kc2!
4. Ra8 Kb3!
5. Rb8 Kc4
6. Rc8 Kb5
7. Rb8 Kc6
8. Rc8 Kd7 (or Kb7)
9. Ra8 Rh1
10.Ra2 Rh2-+
Well, it doesn’t matter when the white rook returns to the a-file, whether on move 8, or move 9 above. Let’s pick it up at move 8.Ra8 as you suggested:
8. Ra8 Rh1 (Kb7 will work, too)
9. Ra6
Here, white could try Rc8, but then Kb7 will allow the a-pawn to queen without interference of any kind as the rook will no longer even be able to sacrifice itself for it. Also, 9.Ra2 will lose as before to the check Rh2 winning the white rook. In any case, even 9.Ra6 loses as black attacks the rook with the king:
9. …..Kb5
10.Ra2 Rh2
11.Kg3 Ra2 and black wins.
Let’s move on to your second query in which you wrote:
We all know in chess,that the result of every move is based on previous moves,so my “kb2” Sequence and your “Kb3” Sequence is completely different – can that be match?
The lines aren’t that different, but my line is one move shorter to the key position. It is important for the black king to vacate the second rank so that the maneuver of Rh1 and Rh2 will work in that line. This is your line below:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kf2 Kc2
4. Ra8 Kb2
5. Rb8
It would continue this way:
5. …..Kc3
6. Rc8
Or: [6.Ra8 Rh1 7.Rc8(or 7.Ra2 Rh2 8.Kg3 Ra2) 7. …Kb4 8.Rb8 Kc5 9.Rc8 Kb6 10.Ra8 a1Q 11.Ra1 Ra1 and black wins]. Continuing:
6. …..Kb4
7. Rb8
If 7.Ra8, then black proceeds with 7. …Rh1 winning like before with the skewer through the king and rook when white captures at a2. In this position, white can try 7.Rc2, but this loses: [7.Rc2 Kb3 8.Rc8 Rh1 9.Rb8 Kc4 and the black king again walks the white rook down and forces it to sacrifice at a2]. Continuing:
7. …..Kc5 and I shouldn’t have to finish this, black wins like before.
In my next comment, I will try to address your queries to Cortex in case he doesn’t return to this thread.
Venky,
You quoted Cortex’s line, but I will provide the correct sequence of moves because Cortex made a slight error in writing his comment. He unintentionally combined two lines of play by mistake. Here is the first line he wrote about:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kh2 Ke2?
4. Kg2! and he mentioned that this “shouldering” of the white king with the black king’s 3. …Ke2 is futile, which it is. Now, he meant to continue from move 3 for black, not move 4 as he mistakenly wrote. So, Cortex’s winning plan from the top should be this:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kh2 Kc1!!
4. Ra8
I will note, here, that white can’t try either Rc3 or the king moves of Kg3 and Kh3 since Kb2 wins in both cases as black gains the tempo needed to get his rook from out in front of his a-pawn while it is protected directly by his king. Continuing with Cortex’s intended line:
4. …..Rb1
5. Ra2 Rb2
6. Rb2 Kb2
And, from here, Cortex’s analysis is still spot on. The effect of the mistake has the white king on g2 instead of h2, but you can consult any online Nalimov table base (here is one: http://www.k4it.de/index.php?topic=egtb&lang=en), and it doesn’t matter if the white king is on g2 or h2 in this position with white to move- it is a forced win for black.
It isn’t really a computer line. Chessbomb uses Stockfish to provide suggested lines of play at each move of the game, and when this position arose, the top line for black started with 1. …Kd1. The rest of the analysis in my comment is really my own. You can find the Stockfish line at Chessbomb.com.
I didn’t really care about this entire line since it transposed into a line I had already concluded was won by black. I was more interested in the alternatives for white at move 2. I only analyzed Kh2 in detail because the others were clearly losing (but see below). You can refer to my 3rd comment for the full analysis of 1. …Kd1 2.Kh2.
So, Venky, you asked:
4th & 5th aren’t relevant moves,there exist any logic for White to move “R*a2” at this point of time,How come the Black rook goes to “Rc2” at this point of time – may be its typo error so lets discard the given 4th & 5th move
The moves are literally forced. After black plays 3. …Rc1, if white doesn’t capture at a2 on move 4, the pawn will queen and white will still be forced to sacrifice the rook at a1. So, after Ra2, black forces white into a lost king and pawn endgame by exchanging the rooks at c2. Here is a Nalimov table table base that I consult occasionally: “http://www.k4it.de/index.php?topic=egtb&lang=en”.
Ok, now, lets look at white’s king move alternatives at move 2 in my line above. Starting from move 1:
1. …..Kd1
2. Kg3 Kc2!
Twin threats with this move- Rg1+ gaining the tempo for a1Q and winning the white rook at a1. And also threatening Kb2 attacking the rook and gaining the tempo needed for a move like Re1/d1 and clearing the way to queen the pawn after the black king walks the white rook down. I won’t discuss the alternatives of Ra4 through Ra8, and Kg2/h2 since I have covered relevant lines already- those moves are clearly lost for white. The only line I have not covered is what happens if white goes for e-pawns. To do this, white will play Kg4:
3. Kg4 Rg1
4. Kf5 a1Q
5. Ra1 Ra1
6. Ke4 Re1 and black holds onto his last pawn (the game is lost for white even if black accidentally allows Ke5 as the white pawn is not advanced far enough).
Also, black plays similarly if white plays 2.Kh3, so now let’s look at king moves to the first rank. From the top:
1. …..Kd1
2. Kf1 Kc2 (discovering a check!)
3. Ke2
If 3.Kg2, then Kb2 wins instantly (see first line in my very first comment). Continuing:
3. …..Kb2
4. Ra8
This is just another version of the first line in my first comment. Continuing:
4. …..Rb1
Here, black must avoid Rc1, I think since he need to be able access the b and c-files to walk the white rook down. Here, 4. …Rg1 and Rh1 are good. At b1, the rook is protect by the a-pawn.
5. Rb8 Kc3
6. Rc8
If 6.Ra8, 6. …a1Q wins the rook, and 6.Rb1 ab1Q wins for black. Continuing:
6. …..Kb4 and I shouldn’t need to continue this- eventually the black king will attack the white rook from the 7th rank gaining the tempo for a1Q.
In addition, the line above will be similar to the other moves at #2 in which the white king goes to g1 and h1.
This covers everything, I believe. Again, nice job by Cortex for finding my mistake. Cortex’s line wins in all variations, my initial suggestion does not.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Hi Yancey Ward.
Yes,Yancey Ward & Cortex – you both were correct in tactics,with the exception of typo error by Cortex in his initial posting.[ Which in anyway doesn’t affect the tactics ] – Good.
Down below I had given another variations in reply to “e3” – I believe that you may correct me,if I am wrong.
Example [ Variations Exist ]
=======
.. e3/ f*e e4 / Kg3 Rg1+/ Kf4 a1(Q)/ R*Qa1 R*Ra1/ K*e4 Ra3/ Kf4 R*e3/ Kf5 Kd3 [ variations Exist ]/ Kf4 Re4+/ Kf3 Re3+/ Kf4 [ Leads to repeated moves draw / stalemate ]
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
Venky,
Rook + King vs King is a trivial win for black. No draw, no stalemate with proper technique.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Hi Yancey Ward,
Thank you Yancey Ward.
By the by,if its trivial for “Rook & King” combination to win,in all the matches between “Rook & King Vs King”,then it will be much appreciated,if you post the set of moves in support of your view,as a continuation to my last posted moves.
For the sake of your ease,I am posting the last set of moves here again,so that you can continue there on and prove that,its a win for Black.
The moves are
==============
.. e3/ f*e e4 / Kg3 Rg1+/ Kf4 a1(Q)/ R*Qa1 R*Ra1/ K*e4 Ra3/ Kf4 R*e3/ Kf5 Kd3 [ variations Exist ]/ Kf4 Re4+/ Kf3 Re3+/ Kf4 [ Leads to repeated moves draw / stalemate ] ….
Now its all yours,to continue and place,the remaining set of moves in support of your view.( Black wins from here )
For acceptance and better understanding.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
Venky,
You would do well to simply buy a good chess primer (a book) that teaches beginners the fundamentals of chess. Such a book will describe the mating techniques of various endings of kings vs pieces + king. However, since this one is simple enough, I will outline for you how this particular ending will proceed, though I will leave some of the variations for you to work through. Taking the line from your last comment:
1. …..e3
2. fe3 e4
3. Kg3 Rg1
4. Kf4 a1(Q)
5. Ra1 Ra1
6. Ke4 Ra3
7. Kf4 Re3
8. Kf5
Now, what black will do is use the king in opposition to his opponent, and check along a rank or file to push the king to the edge of the board, at which point he will walk him to a corner and then mate with the rook on the edge. So, from this position, the closest edge is the h-file, and the rook has the white king trapped on the f,g, and h-files through his control of the e-file. So, the first move is to bring the black king up the d-file to take the opposition against the white king when necessary. Continuing:
8. …..Kd3
9. Kf4
If white plays Kf6, black plays Re4 and the white king is trapped in a smaller box formed by the squares f5/f8/h8/h5 by the rook’s control of the e-file and the 4th rank. If white played Kg6, black moves the rook to f3 taking away the f-file from the white king- the same applies to 9.Kg5. If white plays 9.Kg4, then black leaves the rook where he is, and plays Ke4. I will leave these positions to your analysis, using what I am going to show you below. You will only learn by doing. Continuing from move 9 above:
9. …..Kd4
Taking the opposition, as black will do repeatedly below. White now has only moves that give ground- Kf5, Kg5, and Kg4. Continuing:
10.Kf5
With the goal for black to get the white king on the edge of the board, white’s optimal play is to stay as far away as possible from the edge. If white had played 10.Kg4 or 10.Kg5, black gets him on the edge more quickly: [10.Kg5 11.Rf3 Kg4 12.Ke4]; or [10.Kg4 Ke4 11.Kg5 Rf3 etc.]. Continuing from move 10 above:
10. ….Re4
The idea is to narrow the box the white king is in, and to not let him out. So, now, the white king is trapped in a box formed by the squares f5/f8/h8/h5. And we just repeat the technique above:
11.Kf6
If 11.Kg6, black plays Rf4, and if 11.Kg5, black plays Ke5. Continuing:
11. ….Re5
Now the white king is trapped in box formed by f6/f8/h8/h6. Continuing:
12.Kf7
If white plays 12.Kg7, black can play either Re6 or Rf5 trapping the white king one more square closer to the edge of the board. If white plays 12.Kg6, black just continues to bring the black king closer with either Kd5 or Ke4: [12.Kg6 Kd5 13.Kf6 Kd6 14.Kg6 Ke6 rest left to Venky]. Continuing from move 12 above:
12. ….Kd5
13.Kf6 Kd6 (taking opposition)
14.Kf7
Or [14.Kg7 Rf5 15.Kg6 Ke6]; or [14.Kg6 Ke6 15.Kg7 Ke7! 16.Kg6 Rd5! 17.Kg7 Rg5 18.Kh6 Kf6 and then see below the ending]. Continued in my next comment from move 14 above:
Continued from move 14 in my previous comment:
14. ….Kd7
Now, we have reached the key position. What black wants to do here is to force this same type of position, but with black to move. Right now, white is to move and can keep his king out of the opposition, but black can now force the white king back. Continuing:
15.Kf6 Rd5 (a waiting move)
16.Kf7
Or [16.Kg6 Ke6 17.Kg7 Rd8 18.Kg6 Rg8 19.Kh7 Rg5 20.Kh6 Kf6 21.Kh7 Kf7 22.Kh6 Rf5 23.Kh7 Rh5#]; or [16.Kg7 Ke7 17.Kg6 Re5 18.Kg7 Rg5 19.Kh6 Kf6 20.Kh7 Kf7 21.Kh6 Rf5 22.Kh7 Rh5#]. Continuing from move 16 above:
16. ….Rd6
17.Kg7
Or [17.Kf8 Rf6 18.Kg7 Ke7 19.Kg8 Rg6 20.Kh7 Kg7 21.Kh8 Rh6#]; or [17.Kg8 Rf6 18.Kg7 Re7 19.Kg8 Rg6 20.Kh7 Kf7 21.Kh8 Rh6#]. Continuing from move 17 above:
17. ….Ke7 (keeping opposition)
18. Kg8
If 18.Kh8, then Kf7 19.Kh8 Rh6 is mate, and if 18.Kh7, then Kf7 19.Kh8 Rh6 is still mate. Continuing:
18. ….Rg6
19.Kh7 Kf7
20.Kh8 Rh6 is mate.
Such an ending must become second nature to a chess player, even fairly weak ones. I can literally force this mate taking less than a half second for each move, but that is because I have played it over a thousand times over the years. There are variations to this ending, the most important of which is the case where you get the king to the edge, but because of the placement of your rook and king, you are forced to walk him down to the opposite corner before mating him. Practice this Venky, if you have any serious desire to become a better chess player.
Hi Susan Polgar,
Hi Yancey Ward,
Thank you Yancey Ward.
Much appreciated,I will read your moves later on,as its 12:25 AM in India.
Well,your suggestions shows the way,you have learned chess – I mean disciplined way,scratching from rudiments from all available sources and thoroughly relying on them,distancing from self innovation – Good at times but not always.
Given my opinion based on the belief that you respect others opinion( Sign of maturity ),even though,you may not completely agree with it,at times.
By
Venky [ India – Chennai ]
Repost from earlier solution, but with correct move orders, answer to Venky’s line and main line in bold:
1… e3
2.fxe3 e4
3.Kh2
Here, the idea is that Black cannot progress by zugzwang, but by threat. The black King is extremely well posted to either support the a-pawn or to attack the e-pawn.
The key move is
3…Kc1!! (and NOT 3…Kc2?; shouldering the White king is also useless: 3… Ke2? 4.Kg2)
4.Ra8 (preparing to check with Rb8-c8 when the King reach b2, but…)
4…Rb1!!
5.Rxa2 Rb2+
6.Rxb2 Kxb2
Here, two lines:
1) Passive White resistance
7. Kg2 Kc2
8. Kf2 Kd3
9. Ke1 Kxe3 and to answer very late to Venky, it is an automatical win for black because
a) The pawn is at the fourth
b) The Black king is on one of the nine squares in front of the pawn (here, d1, d2, d3, e1, e2, e3, f1, f2, f3)
c) The pawn is not attacked by the white king.
Venky’s line,
10.Kd1 Kf3?!
11.Ke1 e3?
12.Kf1 e2+
13.Ke1 Ke3 leads to stalemate, but here, Black of course can enhance his play with
10.Kd1 Kf2! followed by the pawn thrust to e1.
2) Counterattacking the e4-pawn.
A very interesting endgame occurs which the principles were analyzed by Philip Van Zuylen van Nyevelt in the 18th century. If Black is overhasty, he even loses! Nevertheless, he can win with the subtle “trébuchet” manoeuvre
7. Kg3 Kc3
8. Kg4 (8.Kf4 Kd3 only loses the pawn faster)
8…Kd2 (not 8…Kd3?? 9.Kf4!! and white wins)
9. Kf4 Kd3
Next move is known: 10…Kxe3 and curtains.
PS: Pandolfini’s Endgame Course has a good reputation as an endgame primer. Worth checking in a library.