Monday, May 12, 2025

Endgame Corner 1: Rook vs Bishop

Welcome to the first edition of Endgame Corner, where we will be taking a deep dive into a different fundamental theoretical endgame each week. The idea is to accumulate a steady base of knowledge across a wide variety of endgames, with two specific goals:

  1. For each endgame, to know the evaluation of certain key positions.
  2. To know which fortresses the defending side can construct, or how to break down setups which may seem like impenetrable fortresses.
This is a key part of any strong player's toolkit, as frequently in a complex endgame we face moments where we can force a simplification to a theoretical position we may have studied. If we have exact knowledge of which theoretical positions we should be aiming for and how to win or draw them, it makes playing the more complex endgames that much easier.

We will begin with the most basic of positions, and will progressively be able to graduate to more complex positions once we know the basic ones.

For this week, our topic is: rook versus bishop (no pawns).

This should already be well-known to more experienced players but it is always good to practice the cases where the defending side goes wrong - you can definitely set up small tricks in a practical game.

Position 1 (black to move)

In the worst-case scenario, if the defender's king is cut off to the back rank, the position is drawn as long as defender's king is in the "safe corner" of the opposite color as the bishop. In this situation, 1. ... Rh2 2.Bf5 (white can move the bishop to any safe square along the b1-h7 diagonal) 2. ... Rh1+ 3.Bb1= and any rook move on the first rank would be stalemate.

There is also no way for black to create a zugzwang here, as the bishop will always have several safe squares to move to along the b1-h7 diagonal.

If black maneuvers the rook to give a check on a2, white will slide the king to b1, and any rook move back along the 2nd rank will allow white to put the king back on a1. For example: 1. ... Rh2 2.Bf5 Ra2+ 3.Kb1 Rf2 4.Bh7 Kb3 (if black keeps attacking the bishop it will just keep running away, staying on the b1-h7 diagonal, and checking on the first rank allows Kc2, escaping) 5.Ka1= back to the safe corner.

Finally, black could try to put the king on b3 and then give check with the rook along the a-file, forcing white's king to b1, and then try switch the rook back to "pin" the bishop to checkmate along the first rank. But even if black succeeds in making this "pin", white always has Bc2+ (an important resource) to escape. For example, from Position 1: 1. ... Kb3 2.Bf5 (white need not even play Bd5+) 2. ... Rf8 3.Bh7!? (just to illustrate even the "worst"-case scenario) 3. ... Ra8+ 4.Kb1 Rh8 5.Bc2+ Kc3 (5. ... Ka3 6.Ka1= is familiar to us) 6.Bf5= (or anywhere safe along the b1-h7 diagonal) and black is no longer threatening checkmate.

The main "trap" to be careful of here (and why you should always play it out in a real game, to test your opponent) is the following, still from Position 1: 1. ... Kb3 2.Bf5 (following our rule, just keep the bishop on this diagonal) 2. ... Ra8+ 3.Kb1 Rf8 and if white tries to be "clever" with 4.Bd3?? (instead 4.Bc2+ Kc3 5.Be4= holds) then 4. ... Rf2! (D) leads to an instructive winning domination position for black (although it is not immediately obvious that it is winning):

Position 2 (white to move)

White would need to be giving a check along the a2-g8 diagonal to save the game, but because of the unfortunate placement of the bishop on d3, this is not possible (although we wouldn't even be getting to this situation had we followed the simple rule to give check on c2 after 3. ... Rf8). After 5.Ka1 Ra2+ 6.Kb1 Rd2 -+ black wins the bishop, and the threat is anyway to play Rf2-d2. In case of 5.Kc1 Kc3! white is forced into 6.Bb5 (6.Ba6 Ra2 -+) when now 6. ... Rf5! forces back 7.Be2, and finally 7. ... Rg5! (D) dominates the bishop, winning it:

Position 3 (white to move)

This position really makes you appreciate why the rook is so much stronger than the bishop in an endgame. White loses the bishop after any of 8.Kb1 Rg1+ 9.Ka2 Rg2; or 8.Kd1 Rg1+; or 8.Bd1 Rg1; or 8.Ba6 Ra5.

So, going back to Position 2, the most resilient defense is to try and hide the bishop with something like 5.Ba6, but then 5. ... Rd2! 6.Kc1 (forced) 6. ... Rd4! (D) is another key position:

Position 4 (white to move)

On 7.Be2 or 7.Bf1, black is able to force the domination seen in Position 3 (it is a good exercise to practice it so that you know how to execute it properly). For example: 7.Bf1 Kc3! first setting up opposition so that there will be mate threats on the back rank 8.Be2 Rd2! 9.Bb5 Rd6! 10.Bf1 Rf6 11.Bb5 Rf5! 12.Be2 Rg5 -+. The try 7.Be2 Kc3! 8.Kb1!? is met with 8. ... Rb4+! 9.Kc1 (9.Ka1 Kc2! mates) 9. ... Rb2! and black eventually will achieve the Position 3 domination.

So from Position 4, more resilient is 7.Bb7 (7.Bb5 is similar), when black wins by setting up a second type of domination: 7. ... Kc3! again first setting up opposition for mate threats - the bishop is now confined to the b, c, or d-files as otherwise black can fork/pin it to checkmate 8.Bc6 (black is making good use of the temporary fact that white's king could not have escaped the mating net with 8.Kb1 because of the fork on b4) 8. ... Rd6 9.Bb5 Rd5 10.Bc6 Rc5 11.Bd7 Rc7 (D)

Position 5 (white to move)

The bishop is trapped. Either it goes off the b, c, or d-files and is pinned/forked to checkmate, or it is captured after 12.Bb5 Kb4+.

This second type of domination seen in Position 5 will help you appreciate why the endgame is lost if the defender's king is in the "dangerous corner" - the same color as the bishop:

Position 6 (black to move)

In this situation, if black ever checks on the back rank, blocking with the bishop on f1 will not lead to stalemate after a waiting move by the rook, but instead force Kh1 Rxf1#. But if black tries to go for mate directly with 1. ... Ra2? then 2.Kf1= and white will escape (2. ... Kf3 3.Ke1 Ke3 4.Kd1=). Instead, black wins by setting up a similar kind of domination to the one seen in Position 5 (another good exercise to practice, so that you know you can execute it properly): 1. ... Rf8! (other options also win; this is just the fastest) 2.Bh7 Rh8 3.Bg6 Rh6 4.Bf5 Rc6! and white is out of defenses, as the desired 5.Kf1 allows Rf6! pinning and winning the bishop.

Last but not least - white would still be OK if the king was cut off only "near" the dangerous corner, without actually being trapped in it yet. For example:

Position 7 (white to move)

We should be careful, and notice that black is planning 1. ... Rf3!, which would be attacking the bishop and simultaneously threatening ...Rf2+ followed by Kg3, trapping our king in the dangerous corner. For example, black to move here wins after 1. ... Rf3! 2.Be4 Rf2+ 3.Bg2 (3.Kg1 Kg3 and black will win as in Position 6) 3. ... Re2 4.Kg1 Kg3 -+

But as long as the bishop stays off the f-file, white is OK. We will hold the draw after 1.Bc8 Rc3 (in a practical game, black could also try to be tricky with 1. ... Rg8 hoping for 2.Bf5?? Rf8! followed by Rf2+ and Kg3) 2.Bb7 Rc2+ 3.Kg1 Kg3 and importantly, black does not yet have the rook on f2, so white escapes with 4.Kf1!=

Sunday, March 30, 2025

May 3rd HS Chess Team Tournament Results, Chess Lecture on May 14th

High School Chess Team Tournament Results from May 3rd, 2025. The event was held at Rush-Henrietta Senior HS.




 Special Event on May 14th  


The Community Chess Club's Lecture Series continues with Candidate Chess Master
Clif Kharroubi

Topic: Understanding and Escaping from Plateaus 
in our Chess Growth


Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 
Time/Place: 5:00-6:30pm at the Rochester Chess Center
$3 for CCCR members; $5 for non-members.  All are welcome!
Free Pizza, Cookies & Cider for all who attend 
Clif Kharroubi's chess lecture

Schedule:

5pm-5:30pm: Pizza, Soft Drinks & Snacks 
5:30-6:30pm: Chess Lecture 

6:30pm: Registration for CCCR G/80d5 games (optional w/ entry fee)
7:30pm: Rated Games begin 



Note: The lecture will be video recorded 
Sponsored by the Community Chess Club of Rochester


Events Summary:

  • At the Rochester Chess Center: Monday Evenings at 7pm, beginning April 7th: Don Stubblebine Memorial League - Call ahead or sign up in person at Chess Center. Cost is $50 per person for the full 10 weeks of games ($5 per US Chess-Rated game) with a $5 discount for Rochester Chess Center members. G/90d5. Please register no later than 6:45pm on April 7th. US Chess membership required & can purchase on-site. This is a team league so please commit to playing all 10 games and making up games if you have a conflict on a Monday night. Teams will be formed on April 7th after all players have been registered.
  • At the Rochester Chess Center: 1st Annual Matt Parry Memorial K-12 Chess Tournament - An open Chess Tournament for grades K-12. When: Saturday May 31st 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Where: Brooks Hill Elementary School 181 Hulbert Rd, Fairport NY. Register online.
  • At the Rochester Chess Center: Wednesday Evenings CCCR Chess with registration 6:30-7:15pm with games starting at approximately 7:30pm. $6 per US Chess-Rated game for visitors and $4 for Community Chess Club members. G/80d5. One game per night. US Chess membership required & can purchase on-site. 
  • At the Rochester Chess Center: Saturdays: Youth tournament G/30d5 from 10am-1pm. Check for special Saturday tournament events held at schools (on those Saturdays, there is no Youth tournament at the Chess Center). Children do not have to arrive at 10am to participate, though this is when the tournament begins. Parents may also inform the tournament director if your child needs to leave early.
  • At the Rochester Chess Center: Saturdays: Open tournament 3-round G/60d5 with registration until 1:45pm. Players showing up after 1:45pm may not be paired for the first round, unless already pre-registered and paid. If a chess player shows up later, we will pair you if possible (the purpose for this is to have the tournament start on time at 2pm).  US Chess membership required for Open tournament & can purchase on-site. 
  • At the Gates Library: Mondays, Twice Monthly: For Kids at the Gates Library Chess Club
  • In Niagara Falls: May 2-4, or 3-4:  Niagara Falls Open, Niagara Falls, NY   US Chess membership required & can purchase on-site. 





 

For all your Chess Equipment needs, please support the Rochester Chess Center by making purchases from their online store CHESS GORILLA or visiting in-person at the Chess Center: 221 Norris Drive, Rochester NY 14610.




Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Lecture with Clif Kharroubi March 19th! Chess Camp (Feb. 17- Feb 21) Upcoming Tournaments!

  Special Event  


The Community Chess Club's Lecture Series continues with Candidate Chess Master
Clif Kharroubi

Topic: Learning While Playing Irresponsibly Online


Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2025 
Time/Place: 5:00-6:30pm at the Rochester Chess Center
$3 for CCCR members; $5 for non-members.  All are welcome!
Free Pizza, Cookies & Cider for all who attend 
Clif Kharroubi's chess lecture

Schedule:

5pm-5:30pm: Pizza, Soft Drinks & Snacks 
5:30-6:30pm: Chess Lecture 

6:30pm: Registration for CCCR G/80d5 games (optional w/ entry fee)
7:30pm: Rated Games begin 



Note: The lecture will be video recorded 
Sponsored by the Community Chess Club of Rochester



Chess Events Summary with more details below:

  • February Break Chess Camp at the Rochester Chess Center (221 Norris Drive, Rochester NY 14610 585-442-2430) - Powered by Chess Gorilla! Feb. 17-21 
  • All Year Long: Weekly (Monday & Wednesday) & Weekend (Saturday) Tournaments at the Rochester Chess Center
  • Monday Evenings, beginning January 6th: Don Stubblebine Memorial League at the Rochester Chess Center - Call ahead or sign up in person at Chess Center.
  • Mondays, Twice Monthly: Held at the Gates Library Chess Club


Please Support Our 
Neighboring Clubs & Organizers by Attending Their Tournaments!