       |
[A.J. Goldsby I]
***
(Position check: White - King on e8, Pawn
on e7, Rook on g1;
Black - King on c7, Rook on f2. White to move.)
( This ending is also covered on my web page, {in my GeoCities web site}; for "The Lucena Position." )
Note:
Please note the above date. Even though I began this series - at
least I started it on my computer - in the year 1999; I obviously
began studying endings many, many years ago.
(Someone gave me a small book on R+P endings in New York ...
when I was like 10 years old.)
I pulled these examples from MANY different books ... it would be impossible to
credit them all. I have used GM Seirawan's "Winning Chess Endings,"
quite a bit since it was published. I also studied literally hundreds - if not
thousands - of examples in magazines over the years. In addition to this, I have
literally dozens of books devoted to the ending ... far too many to try to name
them all here!!
What
I have tried to do, was - first - try to isolate the fundamental
positions which are VERY necessary to endgames with Kings, Rooks,
and 1 (or more) Pawns. Then I wanted to go on and show some real endings
- played in actual games - that I thought were both VERY brilliant AND
very
instructive. When I finish the series, it is my hope - if a student has
applied
himself in a really dedicated manner - that he will have all the
instruction
necessary to master at least the fundamentals of Rook-and-Pawn end-games.
This is the (so-called) "Lucena Position."
You
must know this position if you are going to master R+P endings.
{A.J.G.}.
"White to play and win." (L.R. Lucena, 1497!!!)
The first step is to check and drive the Black King away.
1. Rc1+
Kb7;
One of the first things to learn is a good general rule of thumb: In order for the
side with the Pawn to win, the opposing King must be driven 2 files away!
[ If 1...Kb6; 2.Rc4
Kb5;
3.Rd4
Kc5; 4.Rd1!,
(Or 4.Kd7
Kxd4; 5.e8Q,
"+/-" also wins, but is not as good.
It also requires a greater knowledge of the endgame.)
4...Kc6; 5.Kd8
Re2;
6.e8Q+
Rxe8+; 7.Kxe8,
"+/-" and White wins easily.
Or 1...Kd6?;
Black's King blocks his own Rook
from checking White's King.
2.Kd8
Re2; 3.e8Q
Rxe8+;
4.Kxe8, "+/-" ].
2. Rc4!,
---> Part of the technique.
Find the promotion square for the pawn, and count 5 rows back.
This is where the White Rook
must go!!
[ It's too early to bring out the White King,
i.e., 2.Kd7?
Rd2+; 3.Ke6
Re2+;
4.Kd6
Rd2+; 5.Ke6
Re2+;
6.Kf6
Rf2+; 7.Kg7
Re2;
8.Kf7
Rf2+; 9.Ke6
Re2+;
and White cannot make progress. The King would have to seek refuge in
front of the pawn.
Or: 2.Rc5?
Kb6; 3.Re5
Kc7;
4.Rc5+
Kb6; 5.Rd5
Kc6;
6.Re5
Kd6; 7.Re1
Kc7;
and White finds it difficult to make progress. ].
2...Rf1;
Black simply makes a move.
[ If the Rook tries to cover one file... 2...Rd2; then: 3.Kf7, The King simply steps
out on the other file. The point is the Black Rook cannot cover two files at once. ].
3. Kd7
Rd1+; 4.
Ke6
Re1+; 5.
Kd6
Rd1+; 6.
Ke5!
Re1+;
7. Re4,
The "Building of the Bridge."
Black cannot now prevent the White Pawn from promoting.
[ 7.Kd5??
Rxe7; is a draw.
("=")
or 7.Kd6
Rd1+; 8.Ke6
Re1+;
9.Kf7
Rf1+; 10.Ke8,
("=")
and White makes no progress. ].
7...Rxe4+;
What else?
[ 7...Rd1; 8.e8Q, "+/-" ].
1 - 0
Study this technique carefully! It is
one of the most basic of all endings.
Mastery of it is ESSENTIAL to
understanding and playing R+P
endgames.
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I; (c) 1999, (c) 2000, (c) 2001, & (c) 2002.
If
you enjoyed this position, and would like to study ANOTHER
Rook-and-Pawn endgame, ("The LUCENA Position");
click HERE.
This
is the complete version of this game as it exists on my hard drive
in my endgame database, I have NOT shortened it for
publication!
(Normally
I greatly shorten, edit, and abbreviate these analysis for publication
But since I VERY MUCH want this series to be ...
... THE VERY BEST ON THE 'NET!!! ...
I have in many cases, expanded or enlarged my analysis ...
in an attempt to teach every iota of information possible about these
endgames!!)
If
you would like a copy of this endgame
- in the Chessbase format -
to study on your own computer, please drop
me a line.
Click
HERE
to
return to my "Geo-Cities" web site.
(My Home Page.)
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HERE
to
return to my "Geo-Cities" web site.
(Chess Training Page.)
Click
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(This was the page you were on before coming here.)
Click HERE to go to, or return to, my "Games4" Home Page.
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Copyright, (c) A.J. Goldsby I
© A.J. Goldsby, 1994 - 2004. Copyright © A.J. Goldsby, 2005. All rights reserved.
