Originally posted by richardholtYou are entitled to read up on this in a book on endings or any on-line resource provided you don't use a tablebase.
I am playing a game at the moment where I have a rook and a king - and the other guy just has a king. Is it possible that if he knows what he is doing he can stop me winning this ever?
thanks in advance for any help
Originally posted by Dragon FireI don't like the fact that people can use databases and books during games, but since they can I can't really see much difference between doing that and asking for advice on a message board (although I accept that the latter is not allowed on this site).
You are entitled to read up on this in a book on endings or any on-line resource provided you don't use a tablebase.
sorry for asking - have never asked for advice on a game before. I only asked as the guy I'm playing keeps telling me I can't win and pushing me for a draw (saying he is bored of what I am doing). Instinct says that I can beat him - and I will now keep going until I either mess it up or one of us times out. Thanks.
Originally posted by richardholtNext time you have a free hour you could spend it alot less wisely than by learning how to mate with various combinations of pieces against a lone king. Then you can feel confident that when you choose to go into such an endgame you know whether its won or not.
sorry for asking - have never asked for advice on a game before. I only asked as the guy I'm playing keeps telling me I can't win and pushing me for a draw (saying he is bored of what I am doing). Instinct says that I can beat him - and I will now keep going until I either mess it up or one of us times out. Thanks.
We cannot give out help on current positions, however, R+K v K is an elementry endgame.....
Here, I'll write you a little tutorial....
The basic idea is to force the enemy king to the sides of the board...and not let it escape!
The easiest method of mateing is to try and achieve a position like this, with WHITE TO MOVE.
In this position, The location of the Rook is not important, provided it can check without being captured.
The position of the kings however, is very important. and this is the type position you want in order to win.
The reason being, the Black king cannot escape by moveing down the board, The White King makes sure of that.
Now, all white has to do is push Black onto the 8th [last] rank.
How do we do that? well, the first move is....
Ra6+
Black cannot move to c5, d5, or e5 because of the white King.
Black cannot move to c6 or e6 because he would still be in check.
so the only option is to go backwards, to e7, d7, or c7. all of these options loose in almost identical ways.
Kc7
Now its white's move.
White rook is safe, so we don't need to move it, we are much better off improving the position of our King.
so lets do that.
Kd5
Kc5 is also good, but this move mates slightly faster.
Prt2
Kb7
Black try's a cheapo...
Had black played Kd7 White would just play Ra7+, had he played Kb8 or something then white just moves the king up (kc6) and would mate even faster.
[/b]Rh6[/b]
White needs to keep the rook safe, and on the 6th rank...h6 is the best square because it is furthest from the enemy king.
Kc7
This is the hardest part to understand, but in this position white should play a waiting move. it will probably make more sense later
Rg6
Now, should black play Kd7 white just plays Rg7+ and force him to the back rank.
but in this example, black decides to make things harder for white.
Kb7
Kc5
White's best move here was Kc5, because it give black few options.
now, should black play Kc7 or move to the back rank, you should know what to do by now.
but instead, black decides to be anoying.
Ka7
hopefully, you should be able to work out the win from here....
Solution:-
Kb5!
Now black can't delay mate, moving to the back rank is just met with white advancing the King foward, and should black play Kb7 white forces black to the 8th rank.
...so Kb7 Rg7+ Kc8 Kc6!
now black is finally on the back rank, White has the win in his sights....
If black plays Kb8 we just play another waiting move (Rh7) and then just repeat the process.
but, black might prefer to be anoying.
Kd8 Kd6 Ke8 Ra7!
and white wins.
Kf8 Ke6 Kg8 Kf6 Kh8 Kg6 Kg8
White to mate in 1.
Originally posted by richardholtYou've played over 1000 games on this site and you don't know how to mate him? Have you not been in this position before? (either side)
I am playing a game at the moment where I have a rook and a king - and the other guy just has a king. Is it possible that if he knows what he is doing he can stop me winning this ever?
thanks in advance for any help