Rook and Knight Endgames - Strategy and Tactics

Created Thursday 07 December 2017

Amazon | Kobo | Google Play | Forward Chess


This ebook is intended as a follow up to the ebook about endings with each side having a rook and a bishop of opposite color - 'Bishop endgames - Do the opposites Attract?'. The idea behind these series is the approach that Nimzowitsch used to call "a radioactive method" - selecting a rather narrow topic, and by learning a lot about it, understand chess much better in general. This book looks at endings with rook + knight Vs. rook + knight. This material balance occurs quite frequently in tournaments, and some classical ideas and endgames have become well-known. Nonetheless, there is some lack of discussion of this topic in chess literature. The book covers both the strategic themes, and gives the reader a chance to practice their tactical skills. Mikhail Botvinnik was well known for his great technique in this type of endings; the book includes several relatively unknown examples from his career to illustrate the typical ideas, but also games by other famous players such as Korchnoi, Morozevich and Anand are featured.


Here are some sample tactical positions:

Arnason, Jon L    --    Adams, Michael
Manila ol (Men)   1992     1-0


:: :: BK :: ::
BP BP :: :: BN ::
:: BP :: :: WR ::
:: :: :: :: WN
:: :: WP :: BP WP
:: :: :: ::
WP WP WP :: :: BR ::
:: WK :: ::


White to move Solution: 37. Rxg4 Rh2

( 37. ... Rxg4 38. Nf6+ Ke7 39. Nxg4 +- leaves White with two extra pawns. )
38. Ng7+ Ke7 39. Nf5+ Kf6 40. b3 +- a5 41. Rg8 Ke5 42. Rf8 Nd6 43. Nxd6 Kxd6 44. Rf4 b5 45. a3 Ke6 46. Rg4 Ke5 47. Rg6 Rxh4 48. Rxc6 Kd4 49. a4 bxa4 50. Rc4+ Ke3 51. Rxa4 Rh5 52. Kb2 Rg5 53. Rc4 Rh5 54. Ka3 Re5 55. Ka4 Kd2 56. Rc8 Kc1 57. c4 Kb2 58. Rb8 Kc3 59. Rb5 1-0

Zelcic, Robert    --    Gleizerov, Evgeny
Montecatini Terme op   1997.08.08     1-0


:: :: :: ::
BN :: BK :: BP
WP BP :: BP :: ::
:: :: BP WP WN BP
:: :: BR WP
:: :: WK :: ::
:: :: :: WP ::
:: WR :: ::


White to move Solution: 39. Rc7+! Kxc7 40. Nxe6+ Kd7 41. Nxf4

With the pseudo sacrifice not only has White regained the pawn, but he also achieved a knight endgame, which is winning for him due to the dangerous 'a' pawn, and more active placement of pieces.
41. ... Nc6
( Defending the 'd' pawn allows White to collect both pawns on the kingside. 41. ... Kc6 42. Nxh5 +- )
42. Nxd5 Nxe5+ 43. Ke4 Nc6 44. Nxb6+ Kc7 45. Nd5+ Kd6 46. Nf4
Black resigned as his kingside pawns cannot be defended.
1-0

Apicella, Manuel    --    Vaisser, Anatoli
FRA-ch Final stage   1999.08.28     1-0


:: :: :: ::
:: WN :: :: :: BP
WP :: BN :: BK BP ::
:: BP :: :: BR
:: BP :: :: ::
WP WP :: WR ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WK ::


White to move Solution: 34. Nd8+! Kd7

( 34. ... Nxd8 35. a7 +- )
35. Nxc6 Kxc6 36. Rxf6+ Kc5 37. a7 Rg8 38. Ra6 +- Ra8 39. Kf2 Kd5 40. Kf3 h5 41. h4 Ke5 42. Ke3 Kd5 43. Kf4 Rf8+ 44. Kg5 Ra8 45. Kf5 Rf8+ 46. Rf6 Ra8 47. Rf7 Kc6 48. Kg6 Rh8 49. Rh7 Ra8 50. Kxh5 Kb6 51. Kg6 Ka5 52. h5 Ka4 53. h6 Kxa3 54. Rb7 Kb3 55. Rxb5+ Kxc3 56. h7 1-0

Reinderman, Dimitri    --    Chuchelov, Vladimir
Mondariz zt 1.1   2000.09.05     1-0


BR :: :: :: BK ::
:: :: :: BP BP BP
:: :: BP :: ::
BP :: :: ::
WP BP WN :: WP ::
:: WP :: :: WP WP
:: BN :: WK ::
:: :: WR :: ::


White to move Solution: 34. Nxa5! g5

( 34. ... Rxa5 35. Rd8# )
35. Nc6 +/- gxf4 36. gxf4 Ra6 37. Nd4 Rd6 38. Rg1+ Kf8 39. Nxc2 Rd2+ 40. Ke3 Rxc2 41. Ra1 Rc3+ 42. Kd4 Ke7 43. a5 Kd6 44. a6 Rc8 45. a7 Ra8 46. Kc4 Kc6 47. Kxb4 Kb6 48. h4 h5 49. Ra2 f6 50. Ra5 Kb7 51. Kc5 e5 52. fxe5 fxe5 53. Kd5 Rd8+ 54. Kxe5 Ka8 55. Kf6 Rd3 56. Kg6 1-0

Solutions:


Arnason, Jon L    --    Adams, Michael
Manila ol (Men)   1992     1-0


:: :: BK :: ::
BP BP :: :: BN ::
:: BP :: :: WR ::
:: :: :: :: WN
:: :: WP :: BP WP
:: :: :: ::
WP WP WP :: :: BR ::
:: WK :: ::


White to move Solution: 37. Rxg4 Rh2

( 37. ... Rxg4 38. Nf6+ Ke7 39. Nxg4 +- leaves White with two extra pawns. )
38. Ng7+ Ke7 39. Nf5+ Kf6 40. b3 +- a5 41. Rg8 Ke5 42. Rf8 Nd6 43. Nxd6 Kxd6 44. Rf4 b5 45. a3 Ke6 46. Rg4 Ke5 47. Rg6 Rxh4 48. Rxc6 Kd4 49. a4 bxa4 50. Rc4+ Ke3 51. Rxa4 Rh5 52. Kb2 Rg5 53. Rc4 Rh5 54. Ka3 Re5 55. Ka4 Kd2 56. Rc8 Kc1 57. c4 Kb2 58. Rb8 Kc3 59. Rb5 1-0

Zelcic, Robert    --    Gleizerov, Evgeny
Montecatini Terme op   1997.08.08     1-0


:: :: :: ::
BN :: BK :: BP
WP BP :: BP :: ::
:: :: BP WP WN BP
:: :: BR WP
:: :: WK :: ::
:: :: :: WP ::
:: WR :: ::


White to move Solution: 39. Rc7+! Kxc7 40. Nxe6+ Kd7 41. Nxf4

With the pseudo sacrifice not only has White regained the pawn, but he also achieved a knight endgame, which is winning for him due to the dangerous 'a' pawn, and more active placement of pieces.
41. ... Nc6
( Defending the 'd' pawn allows White to collect both pawns on the kingside. 41. ... Kc6 42. Nxh5 +- )
42. Nxd5 Nxe5+ 43. Ke4 Nc6 44. Nxb6+ Kc7 45. Nd5+ Kd6 46. Nf4
Black resigned as his kingside pawns cannot be defended.
1-0

Apicella, Manuel    --    Vaisser, Anatoli
FRA-ch Final stage   1999.08.28     1-0


:: :: :: ::
:: WN :: :: :: BP
WP :: BN :: BK BP ::
:: BP :: :: BR
:: BP :: :: ::
WP WP :: WR ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WK ::


White to move Solution: 34. Nd8+! Kd7

( 34. ... Nxd8 35. a7 +- )
35. Nxc6 Kxc6 36. Rxf6+ Kc5 37. a7 Rg8 38. Ra6 +- Ra8 39. Kf2 Kd5 40. Kf3 h5 41. h4 Ke5 42. Ke3 Kd5 43. Kf4 Rf8+ 44. Kg5 Ra8 45. Kf5 Rf8+ 46. Rf6 Ra8 47. Rf7 Kc6 48. Kg6 Rh8 49. Rh7 Ra8 50. Kxh5 Kb6 51. Kg6 Ka5 52. h5 Ka4 53. h6 Kxa3 54. Rb7 Kb3 55. Rxb5+ Kxc3 56. h7 1-0

Reinderman, Dimitri    --    Chuchelov, Vladimir
Mondariz zt 1.1   2000.09.05     1-0


BR :: :: :: BK ::
:: :: :: BP BP BP
:: :: BP :: ::
BP :: :: ::
WP BP WN :: WP ::
:: WP :: :: WP WP
:: BN :: WK ::
:: :: WR :: ::


White to move Solution: 34. Nxa5! g5

( 34. ... Rxa5 35. Rd8# )
35. Nc6 +/- gxf4 36. gxf4 Ra6 37. Nd4 Rd6 38. Rg1+ Kf8 39. Nxc2 Rd2+ 40. Ke3 Rxc2 41. Ra1 Rc3+ 42. Kd4 Ke7 43. a5 Kd6 44. a6 Rc8 45. a7 Ra8 46. Kc4 Kc6 47. Kxb4 Kb6 48. h4 h5 49. Ra2 f6 50. Ra5 Kb7 51. Kc5 e5 52. fxe5 fxe5 53. Kd5 Rd8+ 54. Kxe5 Ka8 55. Kf6 Rd3 56. Kg6 1-0




Korchnoi, Viktor    --    Tiviakov, Sergei
Warsaw AIG Life rapid qf4   2002.12.22     1-0


:: :: :: ::
WR :: :: BP BK
:: BR :: BP :: BP
:: :: BN :: ::
:: WN :: :: ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WP WP WK WP
:: :: :: ::


White to move Solution: 29. Rxf7+ Kg8

( 29. ... Kxf7 30. Ne5+ Ke7 31. Nxc6+ +- )
30. Ne5 Rc2 31. Kf3 Nc3 32. Rc7 Nxe2 33. Rxc2 Nd4+ 34. Ke4 Nxc2 35. Ng4 Kg7 36. Ke5 Ne1 37. Kxe6 +- Nf3 38. h4 Nd4+ 39. Ke5 Nf3+ 40. Kd5 Nd2 41. Ne5 Kf6 42. g4 Nf1 43. Ke4 Nd2+ 44. Kf4 Nb3 45. g5+ hxg5+ 46. hxg5+ Ke6 47. Nf3 Nc5 48. Nd4+ Kd5 49. Ke3 Ne4 50. f4 Ng3 51. Kf3 Ne4 52. Nf5 Nd2+ 53. Kg4 Ke6 54. Nh6 Ne4 55. f5+ Ke5 56. Nf7+ Kd5 57. Kh5 Ng3+ 58. Kg6 Ke4 59. Nh6 1-0

Aronian, Levon    --    Filippov, Valerij
EU-ch 4th   2003.06.10     1-0


:: :: :: ::
BN :: BR :: BP ::
WP :: :: BP
WN :: BK BP
WP :: WR BP BP :: ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WP WP
:: :: :: WK ::


White to move Solution: 39. Rxd4!!

A very impressive combination, even though not a strictly necessary one. Instead 39.b7 or 39.bxa7 were also winning.
39. ... Kxd4
( 39. ... Rxd4 40. bxa7 Rd8 41. Nc6+ +- )
40. bxa7 Rxa7 41. Nc6+ Kc5 42. Nxa7 +-
#

:: :: :: ::
WN :: :: BP ::
:: :: :: BP
:: BK :: BP
WP :: :: BP :: ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WP WP
:: :: :: WK ::

42. ... f5 43. Nb5 f4 44. Nc3 Kd4 45. Nxe4 Kxe4 46. gxf4 1-0

Sutovsky, Emil    --    Bacrot, Etienne
EU-ch Internet fin   2003.11.09     1-0


BR :: :: ::
:: BP WN WR :: BP BP
BP :: BN :: BK ::
:: :: :: BP ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP
WP :: WP WP ::
:: WK :: :: ::


White to move Solution: 26. Nxa6! Ra8

( 26. ... bxa6 27. Rd6+ Kg5 28. Rxc6 +- )
27. Nc5 Ne5 28. Rxb7 +- Rd8 29. Kc2 Nc4 30. b3 Rd2+ 31. Kc1 Rxf2 32. bxc4 Rxg2 33. Nd3 Rg3 34. Kd2 Rxh3 35. c5 Rh2+ 36. Ke3 Ke6 37. Nf4+ Ke5 38. c6 Kd6 39. c7 Kd7 40. Nd5 Rh4 41. Nb6+ 1-0

Dobrov, Vladimir    --    Kiriakov, Petr
EU-ch Internet 3rd   2006.01.22     1-0


:: :: BK ::
WP :: :: ::
BR :: BP :: :: ::
:: :: :: BP ::
:: WP BP :: ::
WP WN WP ::
:: WR WK BN ::
:: :: :: ::


White to move Solution: 36. Nb5! cxb5

( 36. ... Ke7 37. Rxc6 +- )
37. Rc8+ Ke7 38. a8=Q Rxa8 39. Rxa8 +- Nd3 40. Rb8 Nb2 41. Rxb5 Nc4+ 42. Ke2 Ke6 43. a4 1-0

Solutions:


Korchnoi, Viktor    --    Tiviakov, Sergei
Warsaw AIG Life rapid qf4   2002.12.22     1-0


:: :: :: ::
WR :: :: BP BK
:: BR :: BP :: BP
:: :: BN :: ::
:: WN :: :: ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WP WP WK WP
:: :: :: ::


White to move Solution: 29. Rxf7+ Kg8

( 29. ... Kxf7 30. Ne5+ Ke7 31. Nxc6+ +- )
30. Ne5 Rc2 31. Kf3 Nc3 32. Rc7 Nxe2 33. Rxc2 Nd4+ 34. Ke4 Nxc2 35. Ng4 Kg7 36. Ke5 Ne1 37. Kxe6 +- Nf3 38. h4 Nd4+ 39. Ke5 Nf3+ 40. Kd5 Nd2 41. Ne5 Kf6 42. g4 Nf1 43. Ke4 Nd2+ 44. Kf4 Nb3 45. g5+ hxg5+ 46. hxg5+ Ke6 47. Nf3 Nc5 48. Nd4+ Kd5 49. Ke3 Ne4 50. f4 Ng3 51. Kf3 Ne4 52. Nf5 Nd2+ 53. Kg4 Ke6 54. Nh6 Ne4 55. f5+ Ke5 56. Nf7+ Kd5 57. Kh5 Ng3+ 58. Kg6 Ke4 59. Nh6 1-0

Aronian, Levon    --    Filippov, Valerij
EU-ch 4th   2003.06.10     1-0


:: :: :: ::
BN :: BR :: BP ::
WP :: :: BP
WN :: BK BP
WP :: WR BP BP :: ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WP WP
:: :: :: WK ::


White to move Solution: 39. Rxd4!!

A very impressive combination, even though not a strictly necessary one. Instead 39.b7 or 39.bxa7 were also winning.
39. ... Kxd4
( 39. ... Rxd4 40. bxa7 Rd8 41. Nc6+ +- )
40. bxa7 Rxa7 41. Nc6+ Kc5 42. Nxa7 +-
#

:: :: :: ::
WN :: :: BP ::
:: :: :: BP
:: BK :: BP
WP :: :: BP :: ::
:: :: :: WP
:: :: WP WP
:: :: :: WK ::

42. ... f5 43. Nb5 f4 44. Nc3 Kd4 45. Nxe4 Kxe4 46. gxf4 1-0

Sutovsky, Emil    --    Bacrot, Etienne
EU-ch Internet fin   2003.11.09     1-0


BR :: :: ::
:: BP WN WR :: BP BP
BP :: BN :: BK ::
:: :: :: BP ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP
WP :: WP WP ::
:: WK :: :: ::


White to move Solution: 26. Nxa6! Ra8

( 26. ... bxa6 27. Rd6+ Kg5 28. Rxc6 +- )
27. Nc5 Ne5 28. Rxb7 +- Rd8 29. Kc2 Nc4 30. b3 Rd2+ 31. Kc1 Rxf2 32. bxc4 Rxg2 33. Nd3 Rg3 34. Kd2 Rxh3 35. c5 Rh2+ 36. Ke3 Ke6 37. Nf4+ Ke5 38. c6 Kd6 39. c7 Kd7 40. Nd5 Rh4 41. Nb6+ 1-0

Dobrov, Vladimir    --    Kiriakov, Petr
EU-ch Internet 3rd   2006.01.22     1-0


:: :: BK ::
WP :: :: ::
BR :: BP :: :: ::
:: :: :: BP ::
:: WP BP :: ::
WP WN WP ::
:: WR WK BN ::
:: :: :: ::


White to move Solution: 36. Nb5! cxb5

( 36. ... Ke7 37. Rxc6 +- )
37. Rc8+ Ke7 38. a8=Q Rxa8 39. Rxa8 +- Nd3 40. Rb8 Nb2 41. Rxb5 Nc4+ 42. Ke2 Ke6 43. a4 1-0