[Event "K+R+4P vs K+R+3P"] [Site "www.masterchessopen.com"] [Date "1930.01.01"] [Round "0"] [White "Capablanca"] [Black "Yates"] [Result "1-0"] [EventType "simul"] [EventRounds "2"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [FEN "8/5pkp/R5p1/8/1r6/4PKPP/5P2/8 w - - 0 1"] { 3. Rook and Four Pawns Versus Rook and Three Pawns With this material balance, the two most common pawn configurations in practice are: 1) all pawns on the same flank, or 2) both sides each have three pawns on the same flank, while one has a passed pawn on the other flank. When all pawns are on the same flank, the 4:3 pawn ratio allows more winning chances than a 3:2 ratio. Still, the natural outcome is a draw, assuming the defending side does not play as passively as in the previous example. Diagram #177: Capablanca-Yates, Hastings 1930/31, from an earlier point than diagram 176. } 1.Ra5! { Preparing g3-g4, which if done immediately allows a pawn exchange leading to a draw: 1.g4 Rb5 and 2...h5 etc. } (1.g4 Rb5 2.-- h5 $11) 1...Rc4? { Passive waiting. As we will see below, White can create chances only by advancing his h-pawn. Therefore 1...h5! is mandatory, when Black has nothing to fear (see also Diagram #178). } (1...h5!) 2.g4! { Preventing the most important defensive move, ...h7-h5 } h6 3.Kg3 Rc1 4.Kg2 Rc4 5.Rd5 Ra4 6.f4 Ra2+ 7.Kg3 Re2 8.Re5 Re1 9.Kf2 Rh1 10.Kg2 Re1 11.h4 Kf6 { Better is 11...Ra1 12.h5 gxh5 13.Rxh5 f6! since it is proven that White cannot win this position. } (11...Ra1 12.h5 gxh5 13.Rxh5 f6 $11) 12.h5! Re2+ 13.Kf3 Re1 { Another mistake! Black should have played 13...Rh2. } (13...Rh2) 14.Ra5 Kg7 15.hxg6 Kxg6 { An obligatory weakening of the pawns, as after 15...fxg6 16.Ra7+ Kg8 (or 16...Kf6 17.Rh7+-) 17.e4! Rf1 18.Ke3 Rg1 19.f5! Rxg4 20.f6! the two connected white pawns are decisive. } (15...fxg6 16.Ra7+ Kg8 (16...Kf6 17.Rh7 $18) 17.e4! Rf1+ 18.Ke3 Rg1 19.f5! Rxg4 20.f6 $18) 16.e4 Rf1+ 17.Kg3 Rg1+ 18.Kh3 Rf1 19.Rf5 Re1?? { After 19...f6! the position should end in a draw. } (19...f6 $11) 20.e5 Re3+ 21.Kg2 Ra3 22.Rf6+ Kg7 23.Rb6?! { Correct would be 23.Rd6+-. } (23.Rd6 $18) 23...Re3? { Black did not take advantage of White's lack of precision, by restoring equality by 23...Ra4! 24.Kf3 Ra3+ 25.Ke4 Ra4+ 26.Kf5 Rc4 27.Rb7 Kg8! 28.e6 fxe6+ 29.Ke5 h5! After the text move 23...Re3? we have the position of Diagram #176, in which Capablanca demonstrated a certain victory. But Black had to make a number of mistakes to get there! } (23...Ra4! 24.Kf3 Ra3+ 25.Ke4 Ra4+ 26.Kf5 Rc4 27.Rb7 Kg8! 28.e6 fxe6+ 29.Ke5 h5!) 1-0