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Rook Endgames PDF

This document covers various rook endgame positions and strategies. Section 1 discusses the advanced Philidor position and short side defense. Section 2 covers bringing the defending king into the game and frontal attacks. Section 3 discusses when the rook pawn position is winning or a draw based on the attacking king's position. Later sections cover strategies for rook and pawn vs rook, outside passed pawns, and other pawn majority situations. The conclusion recommends studying this topic carefully to avoid getting these endgames against you.

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Nicolás Kulik
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513 views25 pages

Rook Endgames PDF

This document covers various rook endgame positions and strategies. Section 1 discusses the advanced Philidor position and short side defense. Section 2 covers bringing the defending king into the game and frontal attacks. Section 3 discusses when the rook pawn position is winning or a draw based on the attacking king's position. Later sections cover strategies for rook and pawn vs rook, outside passed pawns, and other pawn majority situations. The conclusion recommends studying this topic carefully to avoid getting these endgames against you.

Uploaded by

Nicolás Kulik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Rook Endgames

Sec. 1. Advanced Philidor position

Short side defense


In the MET course, we’ve learned the 6th-rank defense. However, when it’s
not available, the short-side defense is the other option.
Doubled pawns
If you are on time for the 6th-rank defense, an extra doubled pawn changes
nothing - it’s still a draw.

However, in terms of the Knight pawn, now the waiting strategy loses due
to the idea of exchanging the Rooks.
Sec. 2. Frontal attack

Bringing the King

Sometimes when the King is cut, the defending side can offer a Rook
exchange and try to bring it into the game.
This is very concrete and if planning to make it, check carefully whether it
works or not.
Frontal attack
Sometimes when the King is cut, the Rook tries to stop the opponent's King
+ pawn advancement.

It’s important for the defending King to stay on the 6th rank, to be able to
attack the Rook if needed.
If the King is cut for a single line, it’s usually a draw.
In case of 2 lines, c,d,e,f pawns are winning.

Rook and Knight pawns are still a draw.


Sec. 3. The Rook pawn
The King far from the pawn
When the opponent’s King is far from the pawn in the situation below, the
main rule you need to remember is: The position is winning if the King is
on f7 and further (1), and a draw if it is on e7 or closer (2).

1. 2.

Vancura position
In Vancura position, the attacking side has a square for the King in front of
the pawn to hide from the Rook’s checks. So the main idea is to advance
the King.
The defending side needs to give a check from below, and transfer the
Rook for the horizontal defense.

Sec. 4. Rook + 2 connected pawns vs


Rook
The attacking side needs to advance the pawns together with the King.
The defending side looks for pawn halls.

Or ideas to cut the opponent’s King.


Sec. 5. Rook + 2 Separated pawns vs
Rook
We have learned that with a Rook and two separated pawns (f and h) the
positions are drawish.
There are many important positions here, so if you don’t remember, you
better revise the section.
I’ll remind you of 2 important defensive ideas.

1. Avoid going to the back rank


2. We are not scared to go to the h file

In scenarios where there is no Rook pawn with a separated line, positions


are super often winning.
Sec. 6. 2 pawns vs 1

2 vs 1

Generally, these positions are drawish. To avoid back-rank threats, it’s


reasonable to organize the defense on the 7th rank.

If the King is fixed on the back rank, it can be dangerous, and even lost.
3 vs 2
In case of 3 vs 2 pawns, most often a pair of pawns gets exchanged, and
again 2 vs 1 arises.

Sec. 7. 2 Pawns vs 1 - Passed pawn


Even if there is a passed pawn, these positions are super drawish again.
The main takeaway was the idea: Rook going from behind.
This idea helps defend against all potential threats and ideas of the
opponent.
Sec. 8. 4 pawns vs 3 - Same side
The main concepts
The positions are often drawish. However, if the attacking side advances
pawns a lot, it can be lost as well.

In order to prevent the advancements, the defending side needs to build


reasonable pawn structures.
The concrete position
The position below is concrete as White threatens 1.e6.

It’s possible to go 1…Re8, but that’s a passive defense and the aggressive
1…Rb2+ option is much better.
Sec. 9. 4 vs 3 - Outside passed pawn

Pawn on the 7th rank

When the pawn is on the 7th rank with the Rook in front of it, we learned
that it’s mainly a draw. No attacking ideas.

There could be exceptional situations though, when we have winning ideas.


Pawn on a6
With the pawn on a6, the attacking side is ready to give the pawn on f2 and
activate the King.

In order to prevent this, Black needs to have the King ready on f6.
As after Kd4 there is only a drawish move g5!!

For the defending side, it’s also good to prevent the opponent’s King's
advancement.
Pawn on b6
In this case, if the attacking King is out, the position is lost. The b-pawn is
closer to the King.

The defense is possible if the King isn’t activated yet.


A good square for the defending King is e6, so that it can prevent potential
advancements of the opponent’s King.

A defending rule to remember: If the King goes to 3rd rank, the Rook goes
down to give the checks.
And if the Rook goes to b8, we usually bring our King closer to the pawn,
as f7 is no longer hanging.

Pawn on c6 and d6
In case of a c pawn, there is an extra a-file providing a way for the attacking
King.
For this reason, the King goes to e6, and together with the Rook they block
all advancing ideas.

Don’t take the pawn as the pawn endgame is lost.


In case of the pawn on d6, the waiting strategy is good enough for a draw.

Rook from aside


This is generally a good position for the Rook as it can defend the pawns
on both sides, allowing to activate the King.
The defending side needs to create counterplay.

Rook from behind


The Rook from behind forces the opponent’s Rook to be stuck in front of
the pawn. Bringing the King is a big threat.
If they substitute the Rook and the King, the attacking King will go after the
pawns on the other side.

Conclusion
If you studied this Rook endgame topic carefully, I will recommend my GM
friends not to get these positions with you 😄 😄 😄

GM Gabuzyan was here with you,


Good luck and see you soon!

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