Endgame Bootcamp 9: Two Rook and Pawn Endings

Endgame Bootcamp 1: CampAddendum

Endgame Bootcamp 2: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Endgame Bootcamp: 345678 9

First Position: White to Move

Calculate

Only one move keeps the win for White. (Tip: As in prior posts, ask yourself what you’d play if Black was to move). One common idea in rook and pawn endings is threatening check with a rook on the 8th or 1st ranks, so your pawn(s) on the 7th or 2nd rank will be defended on the promotion square.

In this position, if the Black King ever steps to the g file, then Rg8+ is followed by a8=Q.

Currently White does not have an immediate check, so let’s hold off on moving the rook for now. Its current duty is defending the a pawn.

Once the move is revealed, it’s like the shadows cast over are removed by light shining bright on the board, with the win clearly highlighted. The quicker you spot the spark to feed, the faster a fire is built.

Two Weaknesses

The main idea for White’s win is capitalizing on Black’s inability to address the threat of promotion with the f and a pawns. You must realize that Black has these two weaknesses, with enough energy to “heal” one of the two weaknesses.

The Move

White must play f6 to create the second weakness for Black! Black’s candidate moves are either King or rook. Black can shuffle their rook around as White walks up the board towards the f pawn. Black can also take White’s h pawn during this process, but there is not a thing Black can do once White reaches the Black f pawn.

Key Factors

1. Black is not fast enough to threaten promotion with their h pawn.

2. After White played f6, Black’s f pawn is blockaded. Don’t be so quick to forget the Black King is unable to step over to the g file and protect it (Rg8 check is followed by a8=Q).

3. Black can’t move their rook off the a file, so White will run to the f pawn. This is the power of two weaknesses!

Drawn if White misses f6, or Black moves first

If White moves their King in this position, Black immediately plays f6, but White can create a sharp position for Black.

First Example: Kb5 f6 Kb6 and Black has to keep their rook on the a file, otherwise White has a mating net.

Second Example: Kb5 f6 Rf8 and Black must take on a7, or White has a mating net.

Key Factors

1. The White King cannot continuously protect the a pawn, since Black has checks with their rook. White loses the a pawn in order to activate the rook.

2. Black can start the pawn liquidation process after pushing f6, by taking on h4 and preventing the White King from walking closer to the f pawns.

If you’d like to practice the drawn ideas for Black, have White play Kb5 to start, or make it so Black is to move and start with f6. R7/P4p2/r6p/5P1k/7P/1K6/8/8 b - - 0 1

Second Position: Black to Move

I reminisce of the First Endgame Bootcamp post, when thinking of Black’s only winning move. It is important to understand White’s defensive ideas when Black plays any other move, so we will touch on that after Black’s victorious path. It also correlates with the analysis of White moving first in the position, so spend some time calculating before reading further, because you might figure it out yourself.

Black’s Main Threat:

Promoting the b pawn. Let’s not lose it by pushing b2 too soon. White’s rook on the 8th rank is their defensive weapon, and will happily go to the b file after the immediate b2.

Kb4 is the only move for Black, otherwise White draws!

Rd8 is White’s most natural response to Black’s threat, positioning their weapon to move from the 8th to the 1st rank, neutralizing the Queen as soon as it appears. Black should not be worried, b2 follows Rd8 and after Rd1 the Black King can initiate the escort mission.

Kb3 is not the cleanest win (Kc3 is preferred by the beast). After Rb1 Re8 g5 Black must play h5 as their only winning move! The fight continues with g6 Rg8 Rg1 Kc2 (or Kc4)

Kc3 falls into the same sharp situation as well. One possible dominating continuation: Rb1 Re8 g5 h5. After White plays Kf4 Black completes the escort mission, unless White sacrifices their rook. Rf8 Ke3 Kc2. If g6 is played instead of Kf4...Rg8 Rg1 Rxg6! A wild rook sacrifice appears, and Black’s b pawn is about to promote, otherwise White lets the g pawn fall by placing their rook on a different file/moving their King in response to Rg8.

After Black plays Kc3, the difference between Rb1 and White’s other candidate moves is discovered by how quickly Mate occurs. It’s not close, but still on the horizon.

White's Final Options

Thanks for Reading!

Even though the Beast scraps White’s g5 move for Kf4 after Re8 by Black, it’s still a fight!

Re8 g5 h5 Kf4 Rf8 Ke3 Kc2 Rxb2 Kxb2 f4 Kc3 Ke4 Kc5 Ke5 Re8 Kd6 Kd3 f5 Ke4 f6 Kf5 f7 Ra8 Ke7 Ra7 Ke8 Ke6 f8=N Kf5 Nd7 Ra4 Kf7 Rxh4 g6 Rf4 g7 Rg4 Nf6 Rxg7 Kxg7 h4 Nd5 Ke4 Nc3 Kf3 Nd5 h3

White could have played g6 rather than Kf4 after h5, but then we wouldn’t have had that lovely underpromotion!
....g6 Rg8 Rg1 Rxg6 Rxg6 b1=Q Rg3 Qb7 Kf4 Kd4 Rg5 Qh1

The computer can’t decide which is the best continuation for White after Rb1 Re8 Kf4 Rf8 Ke3 Kc2.

Rxb2 or Rg1?

Rg1 Rd8 f4 Rd3 Ke4 Rg3 Rxg3 b1=Q g5 Qe1 Kf3 Kd3

Rg1 Re8 Kf4 Ra8 Re1 Ra1 Re2 Kc3 Rxb2 Kxb2 Ke5 Ra5 Kf6 Ra4 f3 Kc3 Kg7 Ra6 f4 Kd4 g5 h5

Rxb2 Kxb2 f4 Kb3 Ke4 Kc4 g5 h5 Ke5 Re8 Kd6 Kd4

Rxb2 Kxb2 g5 h5 f4 Kc3 Ke4 Kc4 Ke5 Re8 Kd6 Kd4 f5 Ke4

Now that the victorious path has been laid out, what is White’s staunch defense when Black doesn’t play Kb4? I thought to myself: What if Black plays Kc4? Hopefully you will glean some knowledge from practicing a 0.0 position.

As always: please feel free to post feedback and ideas about these Bootcamps. They are for any type of Chess player to enjoy and learn from. Keep on fighting!