Chess lessons › Chess endgames
Rook against two connected pawns
Two connected pawns on the sixth beat a rook when the kings are far away; one rank back, the rook wins.
The idea
Two connected pawns on the sixth beat a rook when the kings are far.
- Black’s rook on b8 attacks the pawn on b6.
- c7 hits the rook: if it takes on b6, c8=Q comes with check.
- Black’s king on h8 is too far away to help.
In a game: Against two connected pawns, attack each one as it reaches the sixth, and bring your king.
How the lesson begins
In Rook against a pawn you stopped one pawn with the rook. Two pawns side by side are harder. Here White’s pawns on b6 and c6 are connected, on neighbouring files, and both are passed. Both kings are far away.
It is Black’s move, and Black has a rook against two pawns, but the tablebase says White wins. Pawns that have reached the sixth rank together are too strong for a rook alone.
Find the move
Black has played Rb8, attacking the pawn on b6. White to move: two moves win. Find one.
A hint
Do not defend the pawn. Push the other one.
Show the answer
1. c7
c7 attacks the rook on b8. If the rook takes on b6, c8=Q comes with check. b7 also wins. Either way the rook can stop only one pawn. Moving the king loses.
In numbers
Positions to practise
32 positions in the study, every result proved by the tablebase: 20 are wins, 10 draws and 2 losses for the side to move, with best play on both sides.