Key Endgames

Notes:
Use these positions as foundation for endgame practise and study.
They should form the building blocks of future endgame theory.

Lucena Position (win K+R+P v K+R)

Solution
FEN: 8/4k3/8/2K5/2P5/8/3R4/2r5 w - - 0
1
Key Concepts:
Build a bridge
Keep king at distance
(does not work on A or H files)

Philidors Defence (draw K+R v K+R+P)

Solution
FEN: 4k3/R7/8/4PK2/8/8/8/1r6 w - - 0 1
Key Concepts:
Cutting off king
Constant checking
(Bishops pawn)

Passive Defence (draw K+R v K+R+P)

Solution
FEN: 1r4k1/R7/6PK/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0
1
Key Concepts
Counterintuitively, you play
passively
(Knights pawn)

Philidor Position (win K+Q v K+R)

Solution
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/2K5/kr6/3Q4 w - - 0
1
Key

Concepts:
Control of central squares
Avoid stalemate
Control key sqares

Opposite-coloured bishops
When one side is two pawns up (vs. lone King and Bishop) in a Bishop of
opposite colour endgame, here are some rules:
Positions where the pawns are separated by one file are often drawn
since the defending bishop and king are closed enough to work
together in creating a blockade against both pawns.
Positions where the pawns are separated by two files offer some
drawing chances, particularly if the defending Bishop eyes the
advance squares of both pawns at the same time
Positions where the pawns are separated by three or more files offer
few defensive chances. However, a draw is likely if one of the pawns
is a rook pawn of the wrong colour.
Puzzles
Solution

1. (202) No, it draws.

2. Yes, its the only way to win. Yes, it is a way to win but its not the
only win. g5! Is the most convincing way to win.
3. No, d3!
4. Yes, but he needs to get his King to a8!
5. No, it forces a draw, Rd7 needs to be played first. Yes, 1.g6 is
excellent since it creates back rank mate possibilities if blacks rook
moves off its 1st rank.
6. None, they all draw.
7. No, its stalemate.
8. Bb5+ and e5. Theme is that the Rook on the 7th is strong and the
rook on b8 is tied to the defence of the b7 pawn. The theme is to

give whites rook control of the absolute 7th rank and, as a result,
leave blacks pieces passive and helpless (in other words, no
counterplay for Black!).
9. Yes, Re7 to contain the king and to tie the Rook down. Also gets
behind Blacks pawns.
10.
No, as there is other material on the board and Whites pawns
are on the safer coloured squares. Whites h-pawn is also of the
correct colour.

Opposite bishops practise

The game would be drawn if the b-pawns didnt exist. But with them on
the board, White will easily score the full point. He has two ways of doing
this:
Plan 1:
Exchange his g-pawn for blacks h-pawn. Then force the win of
blacks bishop for whites tow kingside
pawns. Once this is done, Whites king
will march over to the queenside and
eat the b5 pawn, ending the game.
Plan 2: Exchange his f- and g-pawns for blacks
b-pawn and g-pawn. Whites two passed
pawns would then be too far from each
other for Black to deal with.
King and pawn
The situation where the defender must give up his pawn but can take the
opposition is always drawn unless whites pawn is on the 7th rank.
Rook endings
The study of Rook endgames no matter how complex-always remains
eminently useful simply because they occur so often and in so many
different forms.
Though the student may think that the first five parts of this book has left
him with a sizeable amount of Rook endgame infancy and will continue to
be long after you make master. The material presented here will leave you
with a very solid base of rook endgame understanding and on a
competitive level this knowledge will far outgun that which most of your
opposition will ever posess.

R/N pawn on 6th Rules:

When combating a rook-pawn on the 6th (with the stronger sides Rook in
front of its pawn and the stronger sides King off in the hinterlands), the
Vancura position is the defenders road to salvation.
When combatting a knight-pawn on the 6th (with the stronger sides Rook
in front of its pawn and the stronger sides King off in the hinterlands), the
Vancura Position is no longer sufficient for a draw. However, keeping the
Rook behind the pawn and rushing the King towards the embattled area
should pick up the pawn and draw the game.
Rook and Pawn (on 4th or 5th) vs Rook
The game is easily drawn If the defending King can get in front of the
pawn (i.e., using the Philidor Position, as shown earlier). However, what
happens if the defending King is trapped one or more files to the side of
the pawn?
The result of this endgame depends on whether or not the stronger side
can reach a Lucena position, and this is determined by the following
specific rules (as usual, rook-pawns form exceptions, so well only explore
positions with a knight-pawn, bishop pawn or centre pawn)
Rules:
A pawn on the 5th rank or beyond wins if the King is cut off by one file on
the long side of the board.
A pawn on the 4th rank wins of the defending King is cut off by two files. A
knight pawn is an exception and takes three files.