Rooks belong behind passed pawns

9/23/2010 – This is one of the best-known principles in rook endings, formulated by Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934), who was at the turn of the century one of the strongest players around as well as being an extremely influential chess theoretician on account of his writings on chess which earned for him the nickname of Praeceptor Germaniae. Now, you will certainly point out that in this position from the game Acs-Timman the white rook is already in position behind the passed h-pawn. And yet, White found a strong move which is in total harmony with the Tarrasch rule. Analysis by GM Karsten Müller on ChessBase Magazine Online.