ROOK ENDINGS
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The Bridge
A player that has material advantage should know how to capitalize on it. The ability to convert an advantage to a win is very important and is called technique.
Too often winning chances are missed because a player was not familiar with some basic position. In Rook endings a player often has a situation where his(her) pawn reached the second (seventh) and the King is in front of it, but there seems to be no way to get rid of annoying checks by the opponent’s Rook. Let’s take a look at one such position.
What should Black do here? Well let’s try something simple first. Black can push opponent’s King aside and then come out with his King.
1...Rf8+ 2.Kg2
If 2.Ke3? then after 2...Ke1 Black promotes his pawn.
2...Ke2
Now the King is out, but...
3.Re7+ Kd3 4.Rd7+ Kc2 5.Rc7+ Kb2 6.Rb7 Kc1 7.Rc7+ Kd1 8.Rc6
Well, we are back to the square one. The reason that Black can’t make any progress is simple, he does not’t have a place to hide once the King comes out from d1. So, the winning plan must include Black’s Rook providing a shelter for his(her) own King! Let’s get back to the beginning and start over. First, just as before, we clearly must push White’s King aside, otherwise we don’t have room to come out with our King.
Now we need to bring the Rook closer, so it cover the King from checks somewhere at 5th or 4th rank. Let's try again.
1..Rf8+! 2.Kg2 Rf4!
This escape method is called the bridge. Now in case of White just waiting with 3.Rc8, we can play 3...Ke2 4.Re8+ Kd3 5.Rd8+ and here ...Rd4! saves the King from checks and wins the game soon, since the pawn can’t be stopped.
The trick that confuses many is
3.Kg3!
What should Black do now? Just step one square back!
3...Rf5
Again, if White awaits with
4.Rc8,
then,
4...Ke2 5.Re8+ Kd3 6.Rd8+ Ke3
here Black threatens ...Rf5-f1 and ...d2-d1=Q.
7.Re8+ Kd4! 8.Rd8+ Rd5! 9.Rxd5+ Kxd5
and again Black promotes his pawn and wins. But what to do if White’s King continues to chase the Rook?
Back to move three.
4.Kg4
Now the King if far away from the pawn and the Rook must simple come down!
4...Rf2!
Now ...Ke1 is the threat and in case of 5.Re7+ Black plays 5...Re2 and wins.
5.Kg3 Ke1 6.Re7+ Re2
Black’s pawn is unstoppable and he wins.
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