Chess Strategy

The game Capablanca-Tartakower, played on 1924, is a wonderful classical example for the importance of Rook’s activity in the endgame. Most of the notes bellow will be translations from Paul Keres’ book, because it is hard to expect anyone else to explain it better, and some will be of Irving Chernev (Capablanca’s Best Chess Endings) and myself.

This position is very interesting and not easy to evaluate. Black King is cut off on the 8th rank and White also has a protected passed pawn. On the other hand, Black Rook is about to start collecting White’s weak pawns. Which factors here are more relevant?

In Rook endings, to some lesser extent than in Queen endings, a general rule says that it is very important to make yourself a passed pawn. The difference is that Queen alone is usually providing sufficient support for the pawn’s advance, while in Rook endings, when enemy King is on the pawn’s route, it is required to have King’s help.

In the given example, White already has passed pawn and an active Rook, and knowing that King has to be involved eases future planning.

1. Kg3!

Only this way! King is heading forward via h-file to support the passed pawn. Important to note is that King from f6 is also establishing mating threats, which combined with other factors adds to the White’s advantage. By no means White shouldn’t allow his King to end cut off from the 3rd rank, for example 1. Ke2 Rxc3 2. Rh6 Rc4 3. Rf6+ Kg7 4. Rxf5 Rxd4, where pawn chase is entirely unpredictable.

1…Rxc3+ 2. Kh4 Rf3

Main threat was g6 with Kg5, and 2…c5 3. g6 cxd4 4. Kg5 d3 5. Rd7 Rc5 6. Kh6 is too slow. Rooks exchange 2…Rc1 3. Kh5 Rh1+ 4. Kg6 Rxh7 5. Kxh7 c5 6. g6 is also pointless, and 2…Rc1 3. Kh5 c5, taking advantage of the fact that White can’t push 4. g6 yet (4. g6 Rh1+ 5. Kg5 Rxh7 6. gxh7 Kg7 and after next c4 Black is winning), breaks against 4. Rd7.

3. g6!

In this particular position it is not about pawns, it’s rather about activating forces. But please note that White will always remain flexible to change his mind and settle for pawns grab in some particular lines when advance wouldn’t be beneficial enough. 3. Rxc7 is probably also sufficient for a win, but in a much more complicated struggle.

3…Rxf4+ 4. Kg5

Black Rook snatched f4 pawn with check, but White is quickly taking this tempo back by attacking the Rook. Now completely hopeless is 4…Rxd4 because after 5. Kf6 Ke8 Black will be forced to give Rook for a pawn, but before pushing forward White can take time to destroy potential pawn mass with 6. Rxc7, just in case.

There is a common defending trick here, Black plays “naive” 4…Rg4+ allowing White to take 5. Kxf5 with tempo, but then after 5…Rxd4 6. Kf6 there is 6…Rf4+! and checks from behind prevent White King from making mating net. It is much better to leave Black pawn on the board for White’s own shelter from checks with 5. Kf6! which wins. Remember both motifs, it can be very useful.

4…Re4 5. Kf6!

Again leaving f5 pawn as protection from checks! Kf6 is also much more forcing than taking pawn because White is already threatening mate. As small intermezzo and from my teaching experience, working with beginners on finding moves that carry more force against the opponent is greatly helping in improving their general level of play. Back to the topic, Black King is in the net and he will be forced to give material back and with interest.

5…Kg8 6. Rg7+ Kh8 7. Rxc7 Re8

Black has survived the initial onslaught, he’s not checkmated and g-pawn cannot promote for the time of being, therefore White is using his flexibility to switch between plans and simply go on with collecting Black pawns. King is in the corner, Rook is tied for the 8th rank defence and pawns are left on their own.

8. Kxf5 Re4

Using the opportunity when White King left the 6th rank for a moment. Black will finally have checks from behind, but it is already too late. Compare this position with the line given after White’s 4th move: Black King in the corner, pawn c7 is already gone but d4 stands, and White King ready to collect queenside items.

9. Kf6 Rf4+ 10. Ke5 Rg4 11. g7+!

No reason to leave the pawn en price, particularly because Black cannot take it - pawn ending is lost 11…Rxg7 12. Rxg7 Kxg7 13. Kxd5 Kf7 14. Kd6 Ke8 15. Kc7 and d-pawn promotes.

11…Kg8 12. Rxa7 Rg1

If Black attempts to keep the d-pawn with 12…Rg5+, White can play 13. Kd6 and Kc6. Capablanca’s sacrifice of two pawns at the beginning brought him four in return!

13. Kxd5 Rc1 14. Kd6 and Tartakower resigned soon.

For us, it is of interest to note how Capablanca didn’t care for pawns while he was in a hurry to fully activate all of his main potentials - passed pawn, Rook on the 7th rank and attacking King. Black somehow defended from the threats of checkmate and pawn promotion, but his pieces where pushed to passive positions and White then resorts to collecting the fruit - lonely pawns.

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