The rook belongs behind the passed pawn

by Karsten Müller
1/9/2024 – This famous dictum by Dr. Tarrasch is a (very) good rule of thumb in rook endings and valid for the attacker and the defender. In the diagram position it is Black to move and win. What should he do?
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.
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.a3 Be7 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd5 9.Qg4 g6 10.Qg3 d6 11.Ne4 dxe5 12.c4 Nf4 13.Qc3 0-0 14.Qxe5 Nd3+ 15.Bxd3 Qxd3 16.Nf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxf6 Rd8 18.Bh6 Qe4+ 19.Be3 Ba6 20.0-0 Bxc4 21.Rfe1 Bd5 22.f3 Qf5 23.Bd4 Qxf6 24.Bxf6 Rdb8 25.Re2 h6 26.h4 Kh7 27.Kf2 Rb5 28.Rc1 Rg8 29.g4 g5 30.h5 Rgb8 31.Re3 Rxb2+ 32.Bxb2 Rxb2+ 33.Re2 Rb3 34.Re3 Rb2+ 35.Re2 Rb3 36.Re3 Rb5 37.Rec3 Kg7 38.Rc5 Rb6 39.R1c3 Ra6 40.Re3 f6 41.Rc2 Rb6 42.Rc5 a6 43.Ra5 Kf7 44.Rc3 Ke7 45.Ra4 Kd6 46.Rb4 Rb5 47.Rc1 Ra5 48.Rc3 Kc7 49.f4 c5 50.fxg5 fxg5 51.Rb1 Kd6 52.Rb8 Ke5 53.Rh8 Kd4 54.Rg3 c4 55.Rxh6 c3 56.Rh8 The rook belongs behind the passed pawn This famous dictum by Dr. Tarrasch is a (very) good rule of thumb in rook endings and valid for the attacker and the defender. In the diagram position it is Black to move and win. What should he do?
Black to move and win
Show Solution
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kaidanov,G2554Sindarov,J26580–12023B45Qatar Masters 20233.5

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.

 Order now in the ChessBase Shop  – Single issue € 21.90!

ChessBase Magazine trial subscription with 33% savings advantage and thank you bonus!*

Try out ChessBase Magazine now! Order the ChessBase Magazine taster package!
Read ChessBase Magazine for 6 months (= 3 issues) for the special price of only € 44.90 € (instead of € 65,70 for buying them individually). As a thank you, you will also receive 3 months ChessBase Premium Membership free of charge. 

*Bonus for new subscribers only, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months!

ChessBase Magazine one year subscription - plus original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB *

Save twice with ChessBase Magazine: For the annual subscription to ChessBase Magazine you’ll pay only € 109.90 per year (compared to € 131.40 for the 6 individual issues).

* Bonus only for new subscribers, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months! As a new subscriber you will receive the original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB

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

Links

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.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.