[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Rook Ending"] [Black "?"] [FEN "r5k1/5pp1/p7/Pp6/1P5P/6P1/5P2/5RK1 w - - 0 1"] {How should we assess this position. White is a pawn up, and should be playing for a win, Black for a draw. Often when there is just a one pawn difference the position is theoretically a draw, but the more pawns on the board the more chances for the stronger side to win. So White's best chance to win would be to activate his rook and king and try to keep as many pawns on the board as possible. Black should try to exchange pawns, and if he could exchange all the pawns from one side of the board, then his defence would be much easier.} 1. Rd1 {Diagram #} (1. Rc1 Rd8 2. Rc6 Rd4 3. Rxa6 Rxb4 4. Rb6 (4. Kf1 { is better keping pawns on both sides of the board}) 4... Rb1+ 5. Kg2 b4 6. a6 Ra1 7. Rxb4 Rxa6 $11) 1... Rc8 2. Rd4 Kf8 (2... Rc4 3. Rxc4 bxc4 4. Kf1 c3 5. Ke2 c2 6. Kd2 $18) 3. Kf1 Ke7 4. Ke2 Ke6 5. Kd3 f5 6. f3 { White wants to create a passed pawn on the kingside to distract Black's pieces} 6... Rc1 {Trying to attack from behind} 7. Ke3 { Loking to use f4 as a shelter from rook checks} 7... Ke5 8. Rd7 { Now White attacks Black from behind} 8... Rc3+ 9. Ke2 Rb3 10. Rxg7 Rxb4 11. Re7+ Kd4 (11... Kf6 12. Ra7) 12. Rd7+ {This last manouver has brought the rook to the centre where it can help in defence and attack} 12... Ke5 13. h5 { passed pawns must be pushed} 13... Rb2+ 14. Ke3 Rb3+ (14... Rh2 { White has a technique to advance his h-pawn} 15. Re7+ Kd6 (15... Kd5 16. g4) 16. Rh7 Ke5 17. h6 b4 18. Re7+ $1 Kd6 (18... Kd5 19. Rd7+ Ke5 (19... Kc5 { It doesn't help if the king goes the other way} 20. h7 b3 21. Kf4 Rh5 22. Rb7 Kc4 23. g4 fxg4 24. fxg4 Rh4 25. Kg5 Rh1 26. Kg6) 20. f4+ Ke6 21. Ra7) 19. Ra7 {Now that the king has moved to the same file as White's h-pawn, White's rook can attack Black's a-pawn. Meanwhile, Black can't cature the h-pawn as} 19... Rxh6 20. Rxa6+ {will find the Black rook skewered}) 15. Rd3 Rb1 16. f4+ Ke6 17. Rd8 {White will try to bring about the same sort of skewer threats as in the last note} 17... Re1+ 18. Kf2 Rh1 19. Rh8 b4 20. Kg2 Rc1 21. h6 Rc2+ 22. Kf3 Rh2 23. Ra8 {and here it is} 23... b3 24. Rxa6+ Kd5 25. Rb6 { in time to prevent Black's pawn from promoting} 25... b2 26. a6 b1=Q (26... Kc5 {is hopeless} 27. a7 Kxb6 28. a8=Q b1=Q 29. Qb8+ {with yet another skewer}) 27. Rxb1 Rxh6 28. Ra1 {rooks belong behind passed pawns} 28... Rh8 29. a7 Ra8 { Black's rook is now totally paralysed} 30. g4 {creating a passed pawn on the other side of the board. Black will not be able to stop both pawns} 30... fxg4+ 31. Kxg4 Rg8+ 32. Kf5 Rf8+ 33. Kg6 {White doesn't have to defend his f-pawn as Black's rook can't take it or the a-pawn will promote} 33... Ra8 34. f5 { this pawn will cost Black a rook and the game} *