Endgame Studies 5

Ilham Aliev, 2008
Ilham Aliev, 2008

White to play and win

In order to win, white needs to promote one of their pawns. Taking on c7 won't work, so white needs to find a different idea.

1.Rg5!!

This move deflects the black rook from d5 in order to promote a pawn.

1...Rxg5 2.c6!

This was the idea behind 1.Rg5

2...Rh5+ (2...cxd6 3.cxd7 and white promotes) 3.Kg7!

3.Kg6?? This move actually loses: 3...dxc6 4. dxc7 (4. Kxh5 cxd6) 4...Rh8 -+
This is the reason why the white king needs to go to g7: the black rook cannot be allowed to reach the 8th rank

3...Rg5+ 4.Kf7 Rf5+ 5.Ke7


Black to play

5...dxc6

5...Re5+ 6.Kxd7 cxd6 7.b4! (Taking the c5-square under control) (7.c7? Rc5 8.b4 Rxc7+ 9.Kxc7 d5 =) 7...Rb5 8.c7 Rxb4 9.c8=Q And this is a win for white

6.dxc7 Re5+ 7.Kd7 Rd5+ 8.Ke6! And white will promote and win. 8. Ke7 (This move also wins because white can repeat the position) 8...Re5+ 9.Kd7 Rd5+ 10.Ke6