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An introduction to basic chariot and pawn versus chariot endings
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30 November 2000
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Bill Brydon, with help from Kim Pham and Ban LO
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Supplementary Positions
Here are a few positions that are related to this study, and which illustrate its basic principles.
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| Red to move |
First, a basic win: the red pawn is over the river and high above the black palace. This means that it is fully mobile, and has maximum options. Red can immediately attack and win the central line. If Black tries to hold the line, Red simply forces a chariot exchange, and the pawn wins easily. There is no way for Black to wriggle around and avoid checkmate.
Play through the analysis in a Java viewer. Analysis in a text file WXF or algebraic format.
1. P7=6 R5+6
2. K4+1 R5-6
3. R4=5! R5-2
4. R5+3 K5+1
5. P6+1 K5+1
6. K4-1 K5-1
7. P6+1 K5-1
8. P6+1
In the above position, Black might try to avoid the pawn exchange by giving up the central line. Red can quickly force checkmate:
Play through the analysis in a Java viewer. Analysis in a text file WXF or algebraic format.
1. P7=6 K5=4
2. R4=5 R5=6
3. K4=5 K4+1
4. P6=7 R6=4
5. R5=6!
Red forces a simplification to a trivially won pawn endgame. Another way of winning is 5. P7+1 R4+2 6. P7+1 R4-2 7. P7+1 K4+1 8.R5+2.
5. .... R4+1
6. P7=6 K4+1
7. K5+1 K4-1
8. P6+1 K4-1
9. P6+1
In this next position, the pawn has advanced, and is under attack. Red wins easily, if alert:
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| Red to move |
Play through the analysis in a Java viewer. Analysis in a text file WXF or algebraic format.
1. R4+3!
This is the quickest.
1. .... K5+1
2. R4-1 K5-1
3. P7+1
Black is defenceless.
Finally, a situation where Black can draw. With the first move, Red wins with a theoretically important attack from behind. But if it is Black’s move, the central line can be permanently held.
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| Red to move |
If Red moves first:
Play through the analysis in a Java viewer. Analysis in a text file WXF or algebraic format.
1. R4+1 K5+1
2. P7=6
The central line is lost. That’s the key.
2. .... K5=4
If Red neglects to take the central line, Black will.
3. R4=5
Now it’s a quick win whatever Black does.
3. .... R4=6
4. K4=5 R6=3
5. P6=7
But if Black moves first:
Play through the analysis in a Java viewer. Analysis in a text file WXF or algebraic format.
1. .... R4=5
Holding the line.
2. R4+1 K5+1
3. P7=6
This is the only threat Red has.
3. .... K5=4!
Now the line can’t be attacked from behind. There’s nothing Red can do.
4. P6=7 K4=5
And Red has no more tries.
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