Heavy piece endgame
The main figure endgame in chess is characterized by the absence of the minor pieces in the final stages of a chess game. The endgames in which either only rooks or only queens appear are referred to as rook endings or queens' endings . The “mixed” heavy piece endgames are of independent importance, especially the endgames checkers against rook, checkers against two rooks and other endings with several heavy pieces that include queen and rook.
In heavy piece endings, the move right is a very big advantage. This is especially true if the Kings are insecure because the great combat power and mobility of the main characters often allows combinations that with a matte finish.
Queen against rook
Without farmers
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th |  |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
8th |
| 7th | |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 | |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
The queen usually wins against the rook. A rule of thumb is that the rook should always stay close to its king so that it is not lost through a fork or spear . However, there are situations when the rook can move away from the king and the rook profit is difficult to calculate. In the history of computer chess, for example, there have been experiments in which even a grandmaster could not win against a chess program within the required 50 moves .
However, there is a (small) class of positions in which the rook holds a draw against the queen . Some of them have been known for centuries. All of these positions are without exception associated with the stalemate .
In the diagram, the rook is constantly chessing or holding the queen on a square marked in black. This leads to permanent check , loss of queens or stalemate . If the black king strives for f8, the rook must bid check on the 7th or 8th row as soon as the black king is on e7 or e8! Re1 + would be fatal? Kf8! and white can give up.
Marc Bourzutschky proved in 2004 that the final checkers against rook on chessboards up to 15 × 15 squares is normally won. With the best game on larger boards, defense is possible from many positions.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H | ||
| 8th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8th |
| 7th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7th |
| 6th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6th |
| 5 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
| 4th | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4th |
| 3 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
| 2 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
| 1 | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
| a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
With farmers
The final is usually won for the ladies' party if the rook party does not have an advanced passed pawn supported by the rook and cannot build a fortress .
Queen against two towers
Without farmers
Usually this endgame ends in a draw . In rare cases a piece is lost and the game is decided. One example of this is the study by Josef Kling .
With farmers
Since the queen is almost equal to the two rooks, there are chances of winning for each side depending on the position. The most extensive study on this topic was carried out by the trio of authors Jürgen Federau, Andreas Bachmann and Rainer Seidel.
Queen and rook versus queen
In a pawnless endgame, the materially weaker party sometimes has a draw. However, if the king's position is weak, she must ensure that the stronger party does not force an exchange of queens and checkmate with the remaining rook.
Queen and rook versus queen and rook
The peasant endgame has been fully analyzed with the help of computers. With perfect play from both sides, 83 percent of all possible positions are won for one side. In many positions the winner can start a mate attack or conquer one of the opposing pieces. In practice, however, the endgame usually occurs with pawns, which can reduce the tactical options.
In endgames with four “mixed” heavy pieces and pawns, which are only marginally addressed in endgame theory, there is usually an exchange at some point. This transition to a queens or rook ending must be accurately estimated.
Individual evidence
- ↑ eg . Special edition. Aix-la-Chapelle 175.2008, p. 318.
- ↑ Lewis Stiller: Exploiting symmetry on parallel architectures ( Memento from March 25, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 992 kB). Dissertation. Baltimore Mar 1995, p. 103.
literature
- Jürgen Federau, Andreas Bachmann, Rainer Seidel: Checkers against two rooks in the middle game and the final . Verlag für Schachtheorie, Berlin 1993. ISBN 3-9801442-9-1