Pawn on 5th (4th) Rank | Chess Endgames Network

RMP-534

June 7, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević119

When the pawn is close to the promotion square, mating motifs appear. An unusual plot emerges in N. Minev’s 1986 “study with a mistake.” [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

The winning chances are higher when, in a similar position, the knight defends the pawn from behind because there is a possibility of its sacrifice to enable the pawn promotion. If the pawn has not moved too far, then Black again easily draws with a simultaneous attack with his king on the enemy pawn […]

RMP-317

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević141

c) Doubled Pawns In endgames with doubled pawns, the chances of Black to win are minimal, and they only appear when the pawns are far advanced and the opposing king does not manage to stand in front of them. Then, with the advance of a more advanced pawn, a rook can be won, but […]

RMP-315

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević128

When the opposing king is not in front of the pawns, then Black usually wins easily by advancing them. One exceptional situation with pawns quite far from the promotion squares is seen in the beautiful 1908 Platov brothers study. [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

RMP-309

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević115

Sometimes the awkward piece position can provide an opportunity for unexpected salvation. We see an effective stalemate defense in the following study (Daniel 1908). [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

RMP-305

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević209

Only in exceptional situations, when the pawns have not moved far, can rook stop them even without the king’s help. We see one such position in V. Hortov’s 1962 study. [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

RMP-299B

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević191

Black to move wins as he unstoppably advances both pawns to the second rank. [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

RMP-299A

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević208

b) Endings with isolated pawns In endgames with isolated pawns, a draw is a much more likely outcome, especially when the opponent’s king is in front of the pawns and the rook can take the side position from which it controls both pawns. This is evidenced by Ellison’s 1969 study. [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

RMP-297

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević129

An unexpected salvation is also hidden in the study by brothers V. and M. Platov, composed in 1906. [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

RMP-295

June 4, 2020 GM Vlado Kovačević203

Thanks to the bishop’s “heroism”, Black enables the pawn promotion in L. Prokeš’s 1949 study. [membership]← VKCEVKCE →[/membership]

Tag: Pawn on 5th (4th) Rank