Black to move. How should Black proceed?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Rook and Pawn endgame
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Black to move. How should Black proceed?
Hi all,
I could think of
1. …Rh5+
2. Ke6 Re5+
3. Kxf6 Rxe4=
The white king can not give support to its last pawn.
The other replies of white could be
1. … Rh5+
2. d5 Rxe5+ with many chances for black to draw the game with equal material.
1. … Rh4+
2. Kd4/c4 Re5 with careful play black can hold white for a draw. It is not possible for white to give support to both the pawns and attack black’s pawn.
And
1. … Rh4+
2. Kc6 Re4
3. d7 Re6+
4. Kc5 (4. Kd5 Kxd7=) Re5+
5. Kc6 (5. Kc4 Rxe4+ =)
and draw by repetition of moves.
Regards,
P. Anandh
anandh: That really doesn’t work. After 1. … Rh5+ 2. Kc6 Re5 3. Ra1! black is immediately lost.
So after 1. … Rh5+ 2. Kc6 black has to play 2. … Ra5 but white has still a lot of ways to win, e.g. safe way would be even 3. Rf1 grabbing the f6 pawn…
So black has to find different approach, I would suggest to play 1. … Kd7 first not to let white king to reach the 6th rank
Then 2. … Rh5+ is a thread and white therefore has to play either 2. Kc5 or 2. Rf1 but still I don’t see any immediate way for white to make a progress…
1… Rh5+
2.Kc6 Re4
3.Ra1 looking for mate.
So I think 1…Kd7 is the answer. Black should draw by playing Rh5 next.
jaime is correct…
kd7 followed by rh5 will hold black to a draw..