Szen's Endgame Lessons

How did Josef Szen win this game?

white to move

I can't see any tricks, so the obvious try is for White to get his rook to the b-file, preventing Black from getting his king out of the way of his pawn.

So.

1. Rc5 a4
2. Rb5

Then, with the king safely cut-off and no-way for the a-pawn to queen, White can wander his king over to h4 to support g4-g5. Once these pawns are on the move it's game over. If Black ever threatens to exchange rooks then White should instead swap his rook for Black's a-pawn. Once both of White's pawns are on the 6th rank they are worth more than a rook and one of them will queen without any problem.

One more thing - if Black gets his king on a1 and the pawn on a2, then White has to watch for stalemate tricks, so White will need to take the a-pawn before that happens.

Originally posted by Fat Lady
I can't see any tricks, so the obvious try is for White to get his rook to the b-file, preventing Black from getting his king out of the way of his pawn.

So.

1. Rc5 a4
2. Rb5

Then, with the king safely cut-off and no-way for the a-pawn to queen, White can wander his king over to h4 to support g4-g5. Once these pawns are on the move it's game over. ...[text shortened]... as to watch for stalemate tricks, so White will need to take the a-pawn before that happens.

Yep. I stalemated Fritz this morning the way you describe.

In the game, Szen gave up his rook for the pawn/queen but managed to advance his pawns far enough that the black rook could not stop both.

I was thinking about this. If you get the pawns to the sixth White is winning right? So allowing the pawn to queen but getting pawns moving would be another plan.