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Rb1 looks nice due to the trapped rook.
1. Rb1 is the most promising with the thought of the follow up being 2.Ra1+ as the black rook must remain on the A file or it will be lost. Then the follow up will be 3. Rxa7 Kxa7.
White’s king now will clean up the king side pawns. While black’s king is a long way away from both groups of pawns.
However, if
2…Ra6+
3. Kc5
with no more rook moves off the A file that would not be met with immediate capture of the rook by white’s king except for
3… Rb6 but this leads to
4. Ra1#
Leaving now
3…some pawn move
4. Ra1+ Kb6
5. Rxa6 Kxa6 with the same problem as before.
Some thought could be given to 1. Kc5. This forces black to defend against the checkmate threat of Ra8#. Also the black king is unable to move to an active position.
If black responds
1…Rc7+ then 2.Kd4 threating to win one or both of blacks doubled c pawns. As 2…Rd7+ leads to 3. Kxc3 with no hope for the c4 pawn except keeping the black rook very passive on the c file.
There would be some play for the king side black pawn majority, however, and the game would last longer.
So all in all 1.Rb1 would be best.
1 Rb1 and BLK is in Zugzwang, so BLK has to play a + or wind up trading R’s leading to a winning endgame for WHT. So 1 Rb1 Ra6+ 2 Kc5 and the game is over. Any move BLK tries will result in mate. For example Ra8 Ra1 #, or if BLK tries t otrade R’s with …2 Rb6 Ra1 #. So the only alternative is to sac the R with …2 Rc6+ 3 Kxc6 and easy win for WHT
TFK
sorry BLK can not trade R’s.
TFK
Another line which black could try after 1.Rb1 is,
1. Rb1 Ka6
2. Kc6 Ka5
3. Kc5 Ka6 etc, or
1. Rb1 Ka6
2. Kc5 Rc7+ etc,
However White can force with
1. Rb1 Ka6
2. Ra1+ Kb7
3. Rxa7 Kxa7 and white’s king can start taking the king side pawn and make its pawn to queen before black can make its queen
P. Anandh
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anandh, u seem to be missing something today.
After 1. Rb1 Ka6 black is lost cos if
a) 2. Kc6 Ka5 3.Ra1+ winning the rook
b) Your 2. Kc5?? 2.Rd7 is a big blunder
c) 2. Ra1+ Kb7 3. Rxa7 wins the pawn endgame, but a dull way to do it.
The “best” black can do is to move a pawn on the queenside – like 1. h5, and then white must trade rooks.