White to move. Is this a win for White? How would you continue? Play it out.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Double Rook and Pawn endgame
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White to move. Is this a win for White? How would you continue? Play it out.
1.c7 Rc8 2.Rd3 doesn’t work since black has a stronger move Kg7.
Perhaps, a better plan is 1.Rc5 with the idea 1.-Rh4 2.c7 Rc8 3.Rd3, followed by Rd8.
How about using the near mate of the black king to distract the second rook:
1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 Rh4 3.Rd3,
when black does not have the defense of doubling the rooks on the backrank.
I think white wins as follows:
1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 (threatening mate by Rh2) 2.- Rh4 (forced as Ra1+ looses to Kb2) 3. Kb2 Rh7 4.Rgc3 and marching the king to b7. The black king kan be driven away by the rooks when necessary.
I checked this idea, and it works, but even quicker is 3.Rd3 Kg7 4.Rd7+ (to hinder the King from recapturing on h8) 4.- Kf6 5.Rd8 Rh8 6.Rxh8 Rxh8 7.c8=Q Rxc8 8. Rxc8
ps, you wrote:
> 1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 (threatening mate by Rh2)
> 2.- Rh4 (forced as Ra1+ looses to Kb2)
> 3. Kb2 Rh7
What about 3….Rxc7 instead of 3….Rh7?
I’m not sure, but I assume Black can force stalemate then.
Dedaalep, you wrote:
> 1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 Rh4 3.Rd3,
Then 3…. Rg4 with the ideas Rg4-g8 and Rg4-g7 (instead of 3…Kg7, as suggested by ps).
How does White win then?
I try to transcript my thought process to solve this position:
I recognise two patterns: First after 1.c7 Rc8 (only move; 1…Rd4+ 2.Ke3 attacking the rook and pawn promotes) I see the (not possible yet) Rd8+ pattern (I notice that I need a tempo to play Rd3 and then Rd8). Secondly I see the typical mate Rh2++… but my king needs a tempo to free the second rank.
So the question is does black have any counterplay to stop my ideas. After 1.c7 Rc8 I free the second rank with 2.Kc1 (allowing Rh2#)and black has two main defence: One is to stop Rh2 mate the other is to give checks: 2…Rh4 stops the mate pattern but gives me a tempo to play my second idea: 3.Rd3 and then Rd8 (it’s unstoppable black can give one check …Rh1+ and after Kb2 white wins or trying to play …Kh7 or …Kg7 so Rd8 doesn’t come with check doesn’t help (3.Rd3 Kg7 4.Rd8 and black is lost).
The second way for black to defend is by giving checks: 2…Ra1+ 3.Kb2 (attacking the rook; no more check)…Rh1 (forced because white threatens Rh2#)and white goes to the second idea again: 4.Rd3 and Rd8 comes next.
Resumed: 1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 Ra1+ 3.Kb2 Rh1 4.Rd3 Kh7 5.Rd8 Rxc7 6.Rxc7 1-0
PS: I’d be greatfull to have feedback about the way I give my “thought process” or trying to give you the “inside the mind of an amateur”. I’m sorry for my english, it’s not my native language.
PS: As tom mentionned the very nice trick (white could fall in a trap) 3.Rd3 Rg4! with the idea to interpose a piece after 4.Rd8+ Rg8! white must be careful because if he takes 5.Rxg8+? Kxg8 we see that black needs 3 king moves to “eat” the pawn and white comes to late (5 moves needed 1/2-1/2) but white takes the other rook 5.Rxc8 Rxc8 and white’s king is on b6 on time (6.Kb2 Kg8 7.Kb3 Kf7 8.Kb4 Ke7 9.Kb5 Kd6 (attacking the pawn) 10.Kb6 (and the pawn is protected). Next step is Kb7 and then Rd2 chasing black’s king away and after …Ke6 or 7 or 8 either taking the rook if still on c8 or promoting the pawn.
Note that 1.Kc3 or 1.Kd3 just hangs the g3 rook. For instance, 1. Kd3 Ra3+
2. Rc3 Rxc3+
3. Kxc3 Ra3+
4. Kc4 Rxg3
5. c7 Rg8
1. Kc3 loses immediately to 1… Ra3+.
First:
1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 Rxc7
loses to 3.Rh3+, e.g. 3.- Rh7 4.Rc8+ Kg7 5.Rc7+
Second:
Suicide rook in the inferior line 1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 Rh4 3.Kb2 fails as follows:
3.- Rxc7 4.Rxc7 Rb4+ 5.Rb3 or 4.- Rh2+ 5.Rc2
Third:
1.c7 Rc8 2.Kc1 Rh4 3.Rd3 Rg4 loses to 4.Rd8+ Rg8 5.Rh2+ Kg7 6.Rg2+ followed by Rxg8
1. c7 Rc8 (seperate the rooks)
2. Rc5 Rh4 (threaten mate and further seperate the rooks)
3. Rd3 (coordinate white’s rooks and pawn)