Chess Strategy

There was reader’s request to post more about endings. As a warm-up, let’s take a look at the old game Tarasch-Rubinstein, San Sebastian 1911.

This example should serve as reminder on how important is Rook activity in the endgame. Very often, one of the players is willing to sacrifice a pawn or two just to improve Rook’s position and gain on activity. Rook endings are fantastic model for transformations material-to-tempo and vice versa.

In the starting position Black is a pawn down and another one (b6) is attacked. Let’s see what happens in case of the natural move for most of chess players. If Black goes with 1…Rd6 to protect the pawn, White will answer with 2. Ke2! first, to cover entry squares on the d-rank, and then proceed with a4-a5, which exploits the pin on the 6th rank. Black is losing another pawn with no compensation whatsoever.

With the acknowledgment that forfeit of the 2nd pawn is inevitable, Black can consider on how to use the time (tempi) that White is going to lose in the process. Black Rook can go behind the enemy lines, and combined with active King and pawns pair, harass the White King.

Something along this line… A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. - Herm Albright.

1…Rd2! 2. Rxb6+ Kg5

White grabs the pawn with check, but it’s not an earned useful tempo, because Black King is being pushed forward - just what he needs. White has to be careful, however, because blind pawn-push might bring him into trouble - 3. a4 f4 4. a5 f3 5. Ke1 Re2+ and he is forced to repetition, as 6. Kd1 Rxf2 7. a6 e3 8. a7 Rd2+ 9. Kc1 f2 is losing.

3. Ke1 Rc2 4. Rb5

Tarasch estimated that potential of Black’s pawn pair is dangerous and decided to break them up. This slows him down and also leaves queenside pawns unprotected. 4. a4 was possible, but once again Black makes it on time 4…Kg4 5. a5 f4 6. a6 Kf3 7. a7 Rc1+ 8. Kd2 Ra1.
Note: J-R pointed in his comment that 7. a7? is a mistake and 7. Kd1! with idea to play Rb3 before a7 (and meet eventual Ra1 with Rb3-a3) is winning for White. Perhaps 4…f4 with next 5…Rc1+ is better solution for Black. Feel free to join the discussion.

4…Kg4 5. h3+

Already now a4 might be losing, 5. a4 f4 6. a5 Kf3. See how even one tempo can be of crucial importance?

5…Kxh3 6. Rxf5 Rxb2 7. Rf4 Rxa2 8. Rxe4 h5 9. c4 Kg2

White managed to eliminate the danger, but Black collected queenside pawns and has another ace up in the sleeve to save the game - h pawn. Position is now firmly within draw boundaries.

10. Rf4 Rc2 11. Rh4 Kf3 12. Kd1 Rxf2 13. c5 Ke3 14. Rxh5 Kd4 draw

Next article will be about famous Rook ending from Capablanca-Tartakover.

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