Originally posted by RamnedI don't know much about rook and pawn endings, but I do know that rook activity is often very important. It's often worth giving up a pawn to convert a passive rook into an active rook.
I'm working on these fairly tricky endings and am finding them difficult. Is there any pattern to it?
Some of that problems are extremly difficult...
I recently bought Silman Complete endgame course, and it was a good decision... It really helps you understand that nasty rook and pawn endings, end yes there are nice patterns to know. So you can do mental shortcuts instead of long calculations (well, at least sometimes, in some cases 🙂)
Originally posted by ivan2908on the promotable files, the idea is to force the enemy to begin poling. If you succeed you can usually gain initiative for a king move. Understanding how to force the enemy into poling is the difficult part. I'm also taking the Personal Chess Training course and although it hasn't helped me specifically I can see it helping players in these types of situations as it will strengthen your use of rooks in the endgame.
Some of that problems are extremly difficult...
I recently bought Silman Complete endgame course, and it was a good decision... It really helps you understand that nasty rook and pawn endings, end yes there are nice patterns to know. So you can do mental shortcuts instead of long calculations (well, at least sometimes, in some cases 🙂)
That is one huge recommendation from me. Another recommendation, is read some of Josh Waitzkin's literature on endings, as he explains these very themes in such a way that you can focus on them more linearly rather than having to compute heuristically.
-Attacking Chess
-Art of Learning
- He has some annotated games and some tutorials in the 10th edition and Art of learning edition's of Chessmaster.
Originally posted by RamnedYes, you keep the enemy king away from his pawn with your rook and you bring you king in contact with the enemy pawn...once this is achieve then you simply take the pawn with your king..if you can't get the enemy king away you do all this but have to make sure both your king and your rook are attacking the pawn at the same time..this usually comes from your opponent having to was time to move his king out of the way of his pawn or you forking the king and pawn with your rook while your king is already connected to his pawn.
I'm working on these fairly tricky endings and am finding them difficult. Is there any pattern to it?
Originally posted by tomtom232keeping the king away from the pawn is great! that is if its possible...
Yes, you keep the enemy king away from his pawn with your rook and you bring you king in contact with the enemy pawn...once this is achieve then you simply take the pawn with your king..if you can't get the enemy king away you do all this but have to make sure both your king and your rook are attacking the pawn at the same time..this usually comes from you ...[text shortened]... you forking the king and pawn with your rook while your king is already connected to his pawn.
the final part here is where poling comes into play, forcing the enemy king around the pawn untill your king can block, then using the rook on an adjacent file, the king must move to the other side of the pawn, then the rook can take the pawn as it is protected by the king.
The only time it really becomes problematic is when their are two pawns, "theory of two weaknesses" takes place.
And once again leads me back to you reading josh waitzkin.