White to move. Can White save this game? How should White proceed?
6R1/8/p7/8/1k5r/1Pp4p/P1K5/8 w – – 0 1
Seleznyov 1912, presented by Andreas
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Rook and Pawn endgame
About Author
1 Rg5 and white wins.
How?
1.Rg5 Rh8
1. Rg5! Rh8 2. a3+ Kxa3 3. Rg4!
In Van Perlo’s Endgame Tactics, there’s a game fragment from Pascual Perez-Otano, Cuba 1995 which features the same idea. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to track down the full game.
There are two lines. No one mentioned the second line until now so I am gonna do it.
After 1. Rg5 (with the threat a3+, Ra5+, Ra4+) black can move his rook on the h file, e.g. Rh8. As computojon points out 2. a3+ and Rg4! mate than.
But black can also play Rd4!? after which 2. a3+, Kxa3 3. Ra5+?, Kb4 4. Ra4+, Kc5 defends the rook.
But now the rook is in a bad position unable to check the white king after 3. Kxc3! and the double threat Ra5+ (with mate to follow) and Kxd4 (next to Rh5 reaching the pawn in time!) secure the white win.
Best regards from Germany
Jochen
ok,
1.Rg5 h2 what now?
1. Rg5! Ka3
2. Ra5+ Ra4
3. bxa4 … 1-0
In reply to:
“Anonymous said…
ok,
1.Rg5 h2 what now?
Monday, August 18, 2008 3:56:00 AM CDT”
1. Rg5 h2
2. a3+ Kxa3
3. Ra5+ Kb4
4. Ra4+ Kb5
5. Rxh4 1-0 {Black Rook Down}
1. Rg5!!
this is threatening 2.a3+! Kxa3 3.Ra5+ Kb4 4.Ra4+ +-
I) 1. … Rh6 or Rh7 or Rh8
2. a3+! Kxa3
3. Rg4 and mate to follow
II) 1. … Rd4 !
2. a3+ !! Kxa3
3. Ra5+ Kb4
4. Ra4+ Kc5
5. Ra5+ Kb6
his is to avoid a threefold repetition
6. Rh5! 1/2 – 1/2