Author: Bruce Moreland
Date: 11:59:03 07/12/01
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On July 12, 2001 at 02:03:33, John Hatcher wrote: >Actually, it's quite easy to make a mistake in the R+P endgame (e.g., Black's >later mistake with ....Ke8). That's why it's infinitely simpler to play >....Rxe3+, with about the most elementary drawing position in the book. > >JOHN Of course it's much simpler to play ... Rxe3. But let's say that a supernatural being visited black between moves and told him that he'd smite the tar out of him if he played ... Rxe3, and told him to play ... Ra5 instead. Now what? Black's king is on the same file as the pawn. White has no direct threats. Black's rook is in fine shape. I should think that black should be able to avoid getting into a position where he could make a dumb mistake and lose. The drawing method with the defending king on the 8th, in front of the pawn, the attacking rook on the 7th, the defending rook on the 6th, the pawn on the 5th, and the king next to it, is to keep the rook on the 6th until the pawn goes there, then play to the 1st (from the strong side's point of view) and check the king from behind forever. I would think that black would be able to set this up without much trouble from the position after ... Ra5. That's Philidor's position, and that's what Peter is getting at. bruce
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