Coaches Corner by Ron Luther

In Coaches Corner, Chess Boards are provided that allow you to move the pieces while following the lesson. Only the moves listed in the lesson are allowed to be moved. Read the text before the moves to understand the example. Use the VCR buttons below the board to move next and previous for each move. One of the VCR buttons ( – 5th button from the left) enables the moves to be made automatically.

In this lesson there are two examples of Rook and King versus King, as well as a third example of the “losing a move” technique. Rook and King versus King is a simple problem for the experienced player, however, as the first example shows, many players do not know the most efficient path to winning the game. The second example shows us an improved method that is a much more efficient use of time by using the “losing a move” technique.

 

Average attempt at mate with Rook and King versus King

[ctpgn id=part1 fen=”8/8/8/3k4/8/3K3R/8/8 w – – 1 1″ layout=left]{Most of us have seen something like this and the following procedure. Many times we have a tendency to want to “Force” everything. However by learning when, and how to gain, or lose moves, can save us time, and frustration.} 1.Rh5+ Ke6 2. Ke4 Kf6 3. Kf4 Kg6 4. Ra5 Kh6 5. Kg4 Kg6 6. Ra6+ Kf7 7. Kf5 Ke7 8. Ke5 Kd7 9. Kd5 Kc7 10. Kc5 Kd7 11. Rh6 Ke7 12. Kd5 Kf7 13. Ke5 Kg7 14. Ra6 Kf7 15. Rb6 Ke7 16. Rb7+ Kd8 17. Ke6 Kc8 18. Rh7 Kd8 19. Rg7 Kc8 20. Kd6 Kb8 21. Kc6 Ka8 22. Kb6 Kb8 23. Rg8# {Let’s say you are playing a non-delay time control, like 3or 5 min blitz, and have only 15 sec left at the diagram position. Assuming you are quick, and can make a move per second, you would allow a draw on time.}[/ctpgn]

Better attempt at mate with Rook and King versus King

[ctpgn id=part2 fen=”8/8/8/3k4/8/3K3R/8/8 w – – 1 1″]

{Now lets look a much quicker and simpler way to win this position.} 1. Re3 Kc5 ( 1… Kd6 2. Kc4 Kc6 ( 2… Kd7 3. Kc5 Kd8 ( 3… Kc7 4. Re7+ Kd8 5. Kd6 Kc8 6. Kc6 Kd8 ( 6… Kb8 7. Re8+ Ka7 8. Rd8 Ka6 9. Ra8# ) 7. Re6 Kc8 8. Re8# ) 4.Kc6 Kc8 5. Re8# ) 3. Re6+ ) 2. Re5+ Kd6 ( 2… Kb4 3. Rd5 Kb3 4. Rb5+ Ka4 5. Kc4 Ka3 6. Kc3 Ka4 ( 6… Ka2 7. Ra5+ Kb1 8. Ra3 Kc1 9. Ra1# ) 7. Rc5 Ka3 8. Ra5# ) ( 2… Kc6 3. Kc4 Kd6 4. Re4 Kc6 5. Re6+ Kd7 6. Kd5 Kc7 7. Kc5 Kd7 8.Re5 Kc7 9. Re7+ Kd8 10. Kd6 Kc8 11. Kc6 Kd8 12. Re6 Kc8 13. Re8# ) 3. Kd4 Kc6 4. Re6+ Kd7 5. Kd5 Kc7 6. Kc5 Kd7 7. Re5 Kc7 8. Re7+ Kd8 9. Kd6 Kc8 10. Kc6 Kd8 ( 10… Kb8 11. Re8+ Ka7 12. Rd8 Ka6 13. Ra8# ) 11. Re6 Kc8 12.Re8# {Hopefully you noticed how by “Losing a Move”, White was able to save several. This concept is critical to winning many Endings. As well as saving many moves, and time on the clock.} [/ctpgn]

Another Example of losing a move to save time

[ctpgn id=part3 fen=”8/8/8/k1p3p1/2P1K1P1/8/8/8 w – – 1 1″]{Here is one such position where the ability to gain or lose a move affects the out-come.} 1. Ke5! {Losing a move to gain material!} ( 1. Kd5 Kb4 2. Kd6 Kxc4 {And Black wins} ) ( 1. Kf5 Kb4 2. Kxg5 Kxc4 3. Kf6 Kd4 4. g5 c4 5. g6 c3 6. g7 c2 7.g8=Q c1=Q {A Draw should follow} ) 1… Ka4 ( 1… Ka6 2. Kd5 Kb6 3. Kd6 Kb7 4. Kxc5 Kc7 5. Kd5 Kb6 6. Ke5 Kc5 7.Kf5 Kxc4 8. Kxg5 Kd5 9. Kf6 {White will win} ) 2. Kd6 Kb4 3. Kd5 Ka5 4. Kxc5 {And White will win Remember, there are times when not trying to force things, is to your advantage!} [/ctpgn]

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