Black to move. Can Black hold this game?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Rook endgames
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Black to move. Can Black hold this game?
Black wins, but I can’t demonstrate that without resorting to tablebases.
Rd2 should save the game for white
This endgame should be handled carefully by both colours.
I propose
1 … Rh2
with the threat of ..a2 or ..Rh3, the second being the reply to
2. Rc6
a possible line:
2 … Rh3+
3. Kc2 .. a2
4. Kb2 .. Ra3 -+
But if White replies
2. Rd7+
Black can’t play ..Kc8 in view of Ra7 which leaves White two pawns ahead.
1 … Rh2
with the threat of ..a2 or ..Rh3, the second being the reply to
2. Rc6
a possible line:
2 … Rh3+
3. Kc2 .. a2
4. Kb2 .. Ra3 -+
5.Ka1 and White wins.
But if White replies
2. Rd7+
Black can’t play ..Kc8 in view of Ra7 which leaves White two pawns ahead.
3.Rxh7 looks a lot clearer to me, but I don’t understand what this second line is about. Are you saying that no, Black can’t hold from the starting position? In fact he can win.
Everytime this site asks if one player can hold a position or stop pawns or save his king, that side has the advantage. So, Rd2+ Kd2 a2 is good for black, but even that would take good winning technique for black to convert. QvR is not as easy as we thought 20 years ago.
I think black’s only salvation is promoting its pawn to queen. but unless he does this black is bye bye. Can black promote quickly? I think it barely can.
claudia
womancandidatemaster.blogspot.com
for me its a draw after Rd2+ Kd2 a2 Rd7+ Kb8 Rd8+ Kb7 =
for me its a draw after Rd2+ Kd2 a2 Rd7+ Kb8 Rd8+ Kb7 =
Try 3…Kb6. White runs out of checks after 4.Rd6+ Kb5.