Study Puzzle of the Day 14/2/2021
In a critical moment act as a gentleman. Let the other man move first! White to move and draw (R. Reti, 1928) (First try to solve the study without moving the pieces!)
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Category: R+P vs 2P
R-206
When pawns are more than three files apart, rook usually wins easily if it can reach the eighth rank. P. Farago showed typical position in his study published in 1937.
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R-205
Two isolated passed pawns against rook a and a passed pawn have much lesser chances because pawns alone cannot achieve anything. Still, if they have already reached sixth rank and no more than three files apart – they can win if the enemy king is too far away. Such case happened in the ending […]
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R-204
When pawns are not so close to promotion squares, White can win in two basic ways – rook sacrifice for both pawns ( if his king can attack the backward pawn from the rear ) or pawn promotion (if he is quicker for at least one tempo) . These two motifs interweave in the […]
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R-203
Albeit next position (V. Chekhover 1945.) looks equally hopeless for White, there is a hidden saving possibility thanks to the pawn now being on f- instead of on g-file.
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R-202
In these endings, the biggest chances to draw or even win happen in positions with two passed pawns against one passed pawn. Of course, all depends on kings positions, as well as on pawns distance from promotion squares. With far advanced connected pawns can win ig enemy king is not in front of them […]
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R-201
Situation with far advanced edge passed pawn in which an effective tactical motif appears is illustrated in our next example (P. Williams 1984.)
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R-200
When distant pawn is very far, without king’s support it is sentenced to death. The only chance is to sacrifice it and distract the rook with the capture of enemy pawn and creation of new passed pawn. An instructive “battle for time” happened in the ending of a game Rudakovski-Konstantinopoljski, Kiev 1940.
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R-199
In positions where pawn are not blocked, but on adjacent files, endgame strategy changes significantly, although the weaker side has possibilities of more active counter-play. It is much easier to reduce the material, and the outcome of a fight is practically determined by the passed pawn’s distance from promotion square and king’s placement. When […]
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R-198
With pawns two files apart very close to promotion squares, Black can never hope for a win because he cannot capture enemy pawn while not losing his own. However, draw is possible if his passed pawn stands on the shorter side. We will learn the logic of a play on next instructive example. White […]
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