Endgame Bootcamp 16

Why is there only one drawing move for Black?

It will be very easy for White to reflexively attempt to trade rooks, as you examine the position without rooks, it's a winning pawn endgame.

So Black must keep their rook to draw.

Black must make use of its rook, and keeping it on the d file currently prevents the White King from approaching its f pawn. What happens when we don't move the Black rook?

Pushing the pawn loses the rook, and retreating the King relinquishes its blockade on White's a pawn.

To highlight the importance of keeping the rook on the 8th rank, we will look at a similar continuation where Rd7 is played.

After attempting to trade off Rooks and inching the King closer to the f pawn, White captures Black's e pawn with tempo, because the Rook tries to blockade on the f file but is on the 7th.

If the rook is on the 8th rank a la Rd8, then the thematic continuation will conclude without a tempo on the rook when the Black e pawn is captured.

Now there is only one drawing move for Black.

We do not want to give White the opportunity to position their rook in front of its f pawn, making it much easier to promote. Kb6, Ka6, and Kb5 allow this plan. The rook will either land on f7 or f5 after check(s).

If Black plays Ka4 then Rd4 Kb3 and f4 must be played. The rook is not positioned in front of the pawn this time, but White is able to still win.

The overall strategy for White's win if Black does not defend correctly is the same. As seen in the Rd7 position with the tempo on the Black rook, you can apply the checking strategy for White's win.

Main idea: Walk the King to eat the Black e pawn and position the rook to assist in promoting the f pawn.

The tablebase shows many other sharp continuations for this drawn endgame but I wanted to show these ideas because they frequently appear in endings.

Now, you should be able convert the win without tablebase assistance with the example continuations if Black doesn't play Rd8.

Twin Drawn Tabiyas

8/4k3/8/8/5n2/2R2r2/3K4/8 b - - 1 61
8/1r6/8/6k1/2R2n2/5B2/3p1K2/8 w - - 0 57

Both of these positions are drawn “tabiyas” meaning either side to move drawn with proper play. In each of the fens you can switch the w or b to the other for it to change which side is to move.

Looking at the material value on the board, one may think: An easy endgame conversion for the side up a piece. They’d be wrong!

I asked my friend about these positions, the tabiya with more material wasn’t so clear to them. The other, an easy draw.

I was happy that my theory was correct! More material on the board will lead seasoned players to believe there may be better chances to win than draw.

Finding ways to put the heat on our opponent, trying to win material, forcing the exchange of pieces for an immediate result, all limit the ability of our opponent to attack. Even though one side is down material, these are things to consider during any endgame.

I do believe that endgames aren’t as hard as people make them out to be, just dry and boring, so people become disinterested quickly. Please take some time to practice these positions on your own so you have confidence going into battle! Remember that half a point is better than no point at all.

Congratulations on making it to the end of this Bootcamp.......what do you think the next one will be about? Comment your thoughts, desires, ambitions....hopefully you are playing OTB and not just online chess, hopefully you are still going out to touch grass and appreciate everything else in life that is not just CHESS!

Peace.