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The Endgame Tactician: Rook vs Bishop

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Submitted by likesforests on Thu, 10/11/2007 at 12:04am.

For players under 2100, Rook vs Bishop is won 40% of the time. The drawing technique is counter-intuitive, so if your opponent doesn't know it, you have chances to win.

 



 As usual, we begin by looking at the right moves.

 

To draw, the weaker side should run towards the corner. And not just any corner! Only a corner that's not the same color as the bishop will do.

 

Suppose you have the rook in this ending, and you manage to force your opponent's king into the wrong corner. How do you win?

 

Let's finish by considering an interesting battle between two tactical wizards where the weaker side ended up in the wrong corner.




And now we know another ending. I hope you enjoyed. Smile

» posted in likesforests, the Endgame Strategist
| 832 reads | 4 comments
 

Comments:

by MaltaCross - 14 days ago
Malta
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 2

Thanks for the explanation, LikesForests. Much appreciated.

by likesforests - 18 days ago
United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 2981

Malta, usually you can only force a win if your opponent flees to the wrong corner--specifically, a corner that is the same colour as his bishop. The winning method is demonstrated in Tal-Zhidkov. The weaker side has an easy draw if he flees to a corner that is not the same color as his bishop, as demonstrated in the second interactive diagram labelled correct defense.

The point I was making in the first diagram is that by centralizing, Neumann missed the simple draw and gave Losche practical chances. Further mistakes eventually led to his demise... Loesche did not have a forced win yet. I'll message you the full game score so you can compare his technique to your own.  :)

by MaltaCross - 18 days ago
Malta
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 2

Dear LikesForests,

I am quite nonplussed by this endgame analysis. The first diagram, for instance, does not help me at all to understand how White obtained a win against Black. How was it done?

Recently I finished in a chess game precisely as shown in the first diagram. My opponent pursued a centralising strategy with his King, and I could not find a way to bottle him with my Rook and King, given that he still had his Bishop. So what is the secret to winning in the case? Please tell me how!

by ferlop - 10 months ago
SEiXAL Portugal
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 325
thanks, lik
 
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