R + K vs 3P + K, who wins?

White: Pa3, Pb2, Pc2, Kb1.

Black: Kf4, Rf3. (I think it's the f file...might be the e file).

White to move. Can White win? When I heard 3P vs 1R I assumed the Pawns would dominate, but I can't make it happen. Black seems to have a won game.

Fritz said not a chance :-)

After a few mins thinking about it it gives black -4.00 advantage

ChessMaster did not win with the pawns.

Those pawns are too far back,they are no match for the rook.
Add two pawns,say on d3 and e4.I think that might win.In theory at least,maybe not if I was to handle the pawns 😳

The matter is... the pawns are still in the second (or third) line, so the rook and the black king have the time to attack and capture them.
But with the pawns already in the fourth line (or such) the game is draw (the rook will have to sacrifice himself on the last pawn to avoid a white queen) and with the pawns on the fifth white wins. It's an old problem by Lucena, if I remember well, about XVI century...

Originally posted by lordste
The matter is... the pawns are still in the second (or third) line, so the rook and the black king have the time to attack and capture them.
But with the pawns already in the fourth line (or such) the game is draw (the rook will have to sacrifice himself on the last pawn to avoid a white queen) and with the pawns on the fifth white wins. It's an old problem by Lucena, if I remember well, about XVI century...

Originally posted by Mephisto2
Isn't there a rook on both sides in the Lucena position?

Originally posted by SirLoseALot
Yes,that's where you build that 'bridge' with your rook.But Lucena composedmore than one study and analysed more than one endgame 😀

Originally posted by Mephisto2
Then help me out. Could you (or anyone else) post one of these Lucena positions that is relevant to this endgame?

Originally posted by SirLoseALot
Ah,relevant to this one,I don't know if he had any.Lordste thinks the given position,but with pawns on the fifth rank,was analysed by Lucena,but he's not 100% sure.And I have no idea

With the king so close to the pawns to aide the rook...White doesn't stand a chance!