K,R,P vs K,R

Originally posted by Mephisto2
Let's give a line to make sure we are talking about the same things:
1.Rg6 Kh7 2.Rc6 Rb8 3.Kf6 Ra8 4.Rd6. Let's assume black replies with Kh6 (a move rook on the 8th rank instead doesn't change much).

White's plan is to get his king to e7 or e8 and promote the pawn. The rook on the d-file can block checks by black's rooks on the 8th rank. However, whit ...[text shortened]... rcing either
- 5. ... Kh5 after which 6.Rg1 Kh4 7.Kg7 wins
or
- 5. ... Ra6+ 6.Ke7 wins

Okey, the penny drops. My difficulty was that 1.Rg6 and 4.Rd6 seemed counter-intuitive. I can see the win now after 5.Rd1...



and that only 1.Rg6 wins by gaining time for white K to reach f6 safe. Much appreciation to you and Northern Lad for explaining.

Armed with this knowledge, I now wait until someone plays 2...Rxc6? instead and I blow the ensuing QvsR in a protracted draw!