Chess Endgame: Superior King in Front of Rook Pawn

This is a look at a position with King, Rook and Rook Pawn vs. King and Rook where the superior side's king is caught on the 8th rank in front of the pawn. If the inferior side can keep the king cut off, there will be a draw. If the superior side can free the king using his rook, he can usually win, but the inferior side has some tricky resources based on checkmate threats.

Based on analysis from "Rook Endings" by Levenfish & Smyslov.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• chess
• pullin
• rook
• pawn
• endgame

[fezzjr]

while 7:29 isn't ur ideal position for white, cant a8=N allow you to salvage a draw? i dont knkow for sure, but Rook vs Knight seems like a draw.... i really dont know i didn't look much more than 2-3 moves in but it looks like white can get out and be rook vs knight... but would this be a draw?

[GreenCastleBlock]

It usually is but not when the knight is in the corner. Look one move ahead after a8N Kc6, White is dead already. I didn't comment on this because White is playing to win and has better.

[skreyer]

At 1:45. I think white can't go to Rg2 because black can answer with Rb8#, or am I missing something?

[GreenCastleBlock]

White's pawn on a7 covers that square.

[skreyer]

Oh of course. sorry I've missed the sides.

[GreenCastleBlock]

Easy mistake to make. Sometimes I show Black at the bottom when I am showing whole games. But in chess diagrams, always assume White's pawns are going up.

[veorens]

thanks, i like these endgame videos you've done lately, showing many different possibilities and such.

[iceheart920]

For such a seemingly simple position, it's more complex than one would imagine.

[callogician]

outstanding video. The position appear superficially totally uninteresting until I absorbed your analysis.

[scraccomatto]

OTTIMO!!

[buenotc]

greatttt

[bearpickle]

Matt is nice but doesn't have the flavor of Matty P... can you make an exception for me? If fail, then how about Matt-Dogg or MC GCB?

[xclosertotheheartx]

thanks very much for the video. it was REALLY instructional. however, the question remains : is the game drawish with rook pawns for the player in disadvantge? keep it up greencastle!!!

[skreyer]

Or maybe just listening more assiduously at the beginning. Anyway good instructive video...