David Roberts winning a rook ending.

A few weeks ago, I finished a Berkshire Chess League game early, so had time to watch two players rated over ECF 2000 play a rook ending. David Roberts of Bracknell Chess Club was white. Rook endings are among the hardest end-games to play and even when the position below has a computer rating of +1.53, there are so many possible options that the only way to win is to have a very sound technique and to play with creativity. The engine agreed that the moves found by each player were accurate, which is credit to the skills and learning of both.

Position after black’s 70^th move 70….Kb5.

How do we assess this position? Firstly, it is clear that if the two rooks are not on the board, then it is a trivial win for white. Black cannot defend both sides of the board. So, black must avoid the immediate exchange of rooks. Secondly. Black must eliminate the white a – pawn with his rook before considering how to stop white’s h – pawn. The king needs to relocate to the middle of the board (heading towards the h – pawn). The plan for white is to prevent the black king blocking the h – pawn, capture the g-pawn and advance the king to shepherd the h-pawn to the eighth rank. Easier said than done!

I had not seen David’s next move which is a clever way of forcing an exchange of the white a – pawn for the black g – pawn. After 74. Ra4. Black cannot position his king in front of the white h pawn via his third rank because of Kxg6. A rook check on a5 will force the king to the white’ fourth rank, cutting it off from the advancing h-pawn. Black has to play waiting moves.

Now the king is cut off from the g – pawn white can look to force the capture of the g – pawn by Rb5, then a5 and Rb6. Black is forced to exchange the g – pawn for the a – pawn or else go two pawns down.

White can force the capture of the g – pawn by Rb6.

The final phase of the game! White plays Ra8 threatening to check the black king on f8 forcing it away from the advancing h-pawn, whilst giving his king cover from checks across the back rank. A great move!

Now the game is won.

There is enormous credit due to the way both players tackled this ending. It demonstrates how important it is to study endgames and, even when you do, how rich in possibilities they can be. 

JL