Chess Strategy

Previous post about an interesting Rook endgame caused a lively discussion in the comments. My thanks to all who contributed, here is a summary of suggested improvements.

52. Rg5 Re2
Rivair Miranda pointed an interesting alternative that appears to be better - 52…Kg7! The idea is to meet 53. Kf4 with 53…f6! and White pieces are losing coordination. Still possible is 53. Kh3, but then 53…Rf2 or 53…Ra3 should effectively prevent g4.

53. Kf4 Ra2 54. g3 Ra6
Passerby noted that “it is still possible to salvage the game with 54…Rh2. White cannot push g4, but cannot move the king back to drive away the black rook. If white tries to drive the black king back, Rf2 or Rg2 should keep the white king honest. 54…Rg2 also works, since a pawn push will lead to a divided pawn structure, and 2 vs 1 on the g and h files is a draw. After 55. Rg5 Rh2, white has made no progress.”

55. Rb5 Rc6 56. g4 hxg4 57. Kxg4 Rc1 58. h5 gxh5+ 59. Rxh5 Ra1 60. Rb5 Ra6
Passerby and Charles Irvine agreed that 60…Ra4! “is the thematic way of preventing the setup of e5, f5 and the white king on g5.” Charles also added reference to an example from Paul Keres’ book (posted bellow).
Passerby mentioned that 60…Ra7 should lead to a draw, but I don’t see how can Black prevent White’s plan of advancing pawns to e5 and f5, placing the King on g5, and then Rb8, f6+, Re8 and e6.

61. f4 Rc6 62. Rb7 Ra6 63. e5+ Ke6 64. Kg5 Ra1 65. f5+ Kxe5 66. Re7+ Kd6 67. Rxf7 Rf1 68. Ra7 Ke5 69. Re7+ Kd6 70. f6 Rg1+ 71. Kh6 Rg2 72. Re1 1-0

Here is the book quote provided by Charles Irvine: “Practical Chess Endings” by Paul Keres (descriptive version) has diagram 195 on page 151.

“This position arose in a game played in Moscow, 1956. It had to be adjudicated and was given a win for White. However, Levenfish later pointed out the following draw:”

1. K-g5 R-c5!

“The only defense to prevent White setting up a winning position similar to diagram 194 by playing” 2. f4 to f5

2. K-h6 R-c1 3. R-b7+ K-f8 4. f4-f5

“White has now apparently reached his goal and is threatening to win by” 5 R-b8+ and 6 f5-f6+. “However, in order to obtain this position, White’s king has to leave the pawns. Black can use this circumstance to set up a successful defense.”

4… R-g1!

“Again the only defense, cutting off White’s king.”

5. R-b8+ K-e7 6. f5-f6+

“There is no other way to make progress.”

6… K-e6 7. R-e8+ K-f5 8. K-h7 R-g2 9. R-e7 R-g5!

“Black must be careful”
To see the rest of his comments – buy the book!

10 Rxf7 Kxe5 11. R-g7 Kxf6 Draw