Not always drawn

"Rook endgames are always drawn" is a well-known saying to emphasise the tendency of many rook endgames to end in a draw. But, of course, not all rook endings are drawn and, above all, they are often difficult to play and defend.

This fact became evident in the second game of the Women's World Championship match between Tan Zhongyi and Ju Wenjun. Following a balanced struggle, Ju Wenjun came under increasing pressure in the rook ending, and then an inaccuracy was enough to turn a drawn position into a losing one.

Tan Zhongyi showed good technique to win the game and take a 1½-½ lead in the match.

Tan, Zhongyi

1–0

Ju, Wenjun

WCh Women 2025 Shanghai Chongqing CHN04.04.2025[Johannes Fischer]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 h6 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Bd2 Qd6 11.Bc3 Qe7 12.Nd2 Nd4 13.e3 Nb5 14.a4 Nxc3 15.bxc3 c6 16.a5 Bd7 17.Qb3 Rab8 18.Ne4 Bd6 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.d4 b6 21.axb6 axb6 22.Ra7 Be6 23.Qa4 Rfc8 24.Rb1 Bd5 25.dxe5 Qxe5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.exd4 Bxg2 28.Kxg2

After a quiet start, a balanced double-rook endgame appears on the board. The active rook on the seventh rank gives White slightly better practical chances, but objectively the position is equal. 28...b5 29.Re1 Ra8 30.Ree7 Rxa7 31.Rxa7 c5 32.Kf3 cxd4 33.cxd4 Kf8 34.Rb7 Rc3+ 35.Ke4 Rc2 36.Ke3 Rc3+ 37.Kd2 Rf3 38.Ke2

38...Rf5?! Here the black rook is sidelined. After 38...Rb3 Black should be able to hold a draw, for example: 39.d5 Ke8 40.d6 Ra3 41.Rxb5 Kd7 42.Rb7+ Ke6 43.Re7+ Kf6 44.Rb7 Ra5 45.d7 Ra8 46.f4 Ke6 47.Kf3 Rd8 and Black regains the white extra pawn. 39.Ke3 h5 40.f4 White takes away the squares from the black rook, and Black has trouble defending her b-pawn. Ke8 41.Ke4 Rf6 Even after 41...g6 42.d5 the b-pawn is lost. 42.Rxb5

White has captured the black b-pawn and now has a winning position. In the remainder of the game, Tan Zhongyi demonstrates fine technique to secure the full point. 42...g6 43.d5 Ra6 44.Ke5 f6+ 45.Kd4 Ra2 46.Kc5 Rxh2 White has returned her extra pawn, but still stands better. Her rook and king are very active. 47.Rb8+ Kd7 48.Rb7+ Kc8 49.Rg7 g5

50.f5! But not 50.fxg5? fxg5 51.Rxg5 because the rook endgame after h4 52.gxh4 Rxh4 53.Kc6 Rc4+ 54.Kd6 Rh4 is drawn. 50...h4 51.gxh4 gxh4 52.Rh7 h3 53.Kd6 Kb8 54.Kd7 Kb7 55.d6 Kb6 56.Kd8 Rh1 57.d7 h2 58.Rh3 Kb7 59.Rb3+ Ka7 60.Rb2 Ka6 61.Re2 Kb7 62.Ke7 1–0

The Endgame Academy Vol.1: Checkmate & pawn endgames

From Mating with a queen; a rook; two bishops; a knight and a bishop; to the basics of pawn endgames – here you will gain the necessary know-how to turn your endgame advantages into victories!

Defending champion Ju Wenjun during the press conference | Photo: Anna Shtourman

Tan Zhongyi is leading the 12-game match | Photo: Anna Shtourman

All games

Master Class Vol.16 - Judit Polgar

In this video course, experts (Pelletier, Marin, Müller and Reeh) examine the games of Judit Polgar. Let them show you which openings Polgar chose to play, where her strength in middlegames were, or how she outplayed her opponents in the endgame.

Links

• Official website
• Ju Wenjun scores clutch win, defends World Championship title
• Tan Zhongyi convincingly wins Women's Candidates in Toronto
• Ju Wenjun triumphant at inaugural Norway Chess Women event
• Tan Zhongyi wins Cairns Cup, Anna Muzychuk grabs second place