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The "Lucena Position."
( Click HERE if you would like to go over this ending on a java-script 're-play' board. )
(1) Rook Endgame Course - R + P Endings
Position # 1[A.]; (Lucena) (1.1), 09.12.1999
[A.J.G.]
This is the so-called
"Lucena Position."
You must know this position if you are going to master R+P
endings!!
(Virtually all R+P end-game knowledge
is predicated on
understanding this one endgame!)
{A.J.G.}
(The main line here is under-lined.)
***
White to play and win.
***
The first step is to check and drive the Black King away.
1. Rc1+, Kb7;
One of the
first things to learn is a good general rule of thumb: In order for the
side with the Pawn to win, the opposing King
must be driven
2
files away!
If 1...Kb6; 2. Rc4 Kb5; 3. Rd4 Kc5; 4. Rd1!,
(4.
Kd7 Kxd4; 5. e8/=Q, "+/-", also wins, but is not as good. It also requires a
greater knowledge of the endgame.
You must be prepared to beat a K+R combo.)
4...Kc6; 5. Kd8 Re2; 6. e8Q+ Rxe8+; 7. Kxe8, "+/-", and White wins easily.
Or
1...Kd6?; Black's King blocks his own Rook from checking White's King.
2. Kd8 Re2; 3. e8/=Q Rxe8+; 4. Kxe8, "+/-".
(The position after 2. Rc4!)
2. Rc4!,
Part of the technique. Find the promotion square for the pawn, and
count
five (5) rows
back. This is the
row where the White Rook
must go to now!!
It's too early to bring out the White King,
i.e., 2. Kd7? Rd2+; 3. Ke6 Re2+;
4. Kd6 Rd2+; 5. Ke6 Re2+; 6. Kf6 Rf2+; 7. Kg7 Re2; 8. Kf7 Rf2+; 9. Ke6 Re2+;
and White cannot make progress. The King would have to seek refuge in front
of the pawn.
Or:
2. Rc5? Kb6; 3. Re5 Kc7; 4. Rc5+ Kb6; 5. Rd5 Kc6; 6. Re5 Kd6;
7. Re1 Kc7;
and White finds it difficult to make progress.
2...Rf1;
(The position after 2...Rf1.)
Black simply makes a move.
[ If the Rook tries to cover one file... 2...Rd2 then: 3.Kf7, The King simply steps
out on the other file. The point is the Black Rook cannot cover two files at once. ]
3. Kd7, Rd1+; 4. Ke6, Re1+; 5. Kd6, Rd1+; 6. Ke5!, Re1+; 7.Re4,
(White has built the bridge.)
The "Building of the Bridge."
Black cannot now prevent the White Pawn from promoting.
7.
Kd5??, Rxe7; is a draw. Or 7. Kd6 Rd1+; 8. Ke6 Re1+; 9. Kf7 Rf1+;
10. Ke8, and White makes no progress.
7...Rxe4+,
Or 7...Rd1 8.e8/=Q, "+/-".
8. Kxe4, Kc7;
Now
we see the importance of driving the opponent's King two files away!
This leaves
the poor leader (of the other guy's
army) too far away to get
back in time to
stop our pawn from promoting.
9.e8Q, "+/-".
(The final position. Black can hang it up.)
Study this technique carefully. It is one of the most basic of all endings. Mastery of it is ESSENTIAL to understanding and playing R+P endgames!
1 - 0
Copyright (c) (LM) A.J. Goldsby I
Copyright
(©) A.J. Goldsby, 1985 - 2011.
Copyright © A.J.
Goldsby, 2011. All rights reserved.
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Page last {majorly} updated on: January 1st, 2007. Last edit/save on: 07/14/2012 .
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Click
HERE
to learn about the "Vancura Position."
(Another VERY essential R+P ending you should know!!)
