Some rook endings are drawn, some are not

by Karsten Müller
1/28/2025 – "All rook endgames are drawn" is a well-known witticisim that is often attributed to Tarrasch or Tartakower. It emphasises the drawish tendencies of rook endings. However, you still have to find the right moves. In the diagram position Black can draw with best play but in the game Black lost. Can you do better?

Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen

Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Re1 Nc6 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.Bxd6 Rd8 13.e5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Bxd6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Qf3 Be5 17.Ne4 Ke7 18.c3 Rd7 19.Re2 Qc6 20.Rae1 h5 21.h4 b6 22.Ng5 Qxf3+ 23.Nxf3 Bb8 24.Nd4 Rc8 25.Rd1 Rd5 26.Rd3 Kd7 27.Rf3 Be5 28.Nc2 b5 29.Nb4 Rd6 30.Nd3 Ke7 31.Nxe5 fxe5 32.Rxe5 Rd2 33.b4 Rxa2 34.Rxh5 f5 35.Rh7+ Kf6 36.Re3 Rc6 37.Rd7 Ra3 38.Rdd3 e5 39.Rd5 e4 40.g4 fxg4 41.Rxe4 Raxc3 42.Rxg4 R3c4 43.Kg3 Rxg4+ 44.Kxg4 Rc4+ 45.f4 Rxb4 46.Rd6+ Kg7 47.Rxa6 Rb1 48.Kg5 Rg1+ 49.Kf5 b4 50.Rb6 Rb1 51.Rb7+ Kh6 52.Kf6 b3 53.f5 b2 54.Rb5 Kh5 55.Kf7 Kxh4 56.f6 Kh3 57.Rb4 Kh2 58.Rb3 Some rook endings are drawn, some are not "All rook endgames are drawn" is a well-known witticisim that is often attributed to Tarrasch or Tartakower. It emphasises the drawish tendencies of rook endings. However, you still have to find the right moves. In the diagram position Black can draw with best play but in the game Black lost. Can you do better?
Black to move and draw
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Maltsevskaya,A2368Guliyev,N24841–02024B80EIRCC 20247.34

Karsten Mueller in ChessBase Magazine

Do you like these lessons? There are plenty more by internationally renowned endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine, where you will also find openings articles and surveys, tactics, and of course annotations by the world's top grandmasters.

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Apart from his regular columns and video lectures in ChessBase Magazine there is a whole series of training DVDs by Karsten Mueller, which are bestsellers in the ChessBase Shop.

Karsten Mueller

Karsten Mueller regularly presents endgame lessons in the ChessBase Video Portal

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<< Magnus Carlsen at the ICE Gaming Fair in Barcelona
Harry vs. Semi-Tarrasch >>
Topics: ChessBase Magazine, Endgame, Karsten Mueller
Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.
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See also

Pin and draw

1/21/2025 – Pure opposite colored bishop endings have a large drawish tendency. In the diagram position Black is a pawn down but can draw. How?
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Mate ends the game

1/14/2025 – Despite the reduced material, mating attacks can still occur in endgames and should be kept in mind. In the diagrammed position, it is White to move, and he has a chance to attack Black's king and win. How?
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Video

60m English The Austrian Attack

What to do against the Pirc? Many players find it difficult to play against Black’s set-up. Try the Austrian Attack! It is a solid but dangerous weapon and guarantees White an effective attack from the very start! Learn the key tricks of this deadly line and crush the Pirc with ease!

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tip4success tip4success 1/28/2025 12:22
Kind of odd that 58.Rb3? throws away the win (58.Kf8). This type of study like positions highlights how much a single move can ruin hours of hard work over the board. Nice article! Thx!
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