FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa

1

Oleksandr Sulypa:

Stalemate in the rook endgames

In the rook endgames two features are
becoming increasingly important: in the
endgame the promotion of pawns plays a
greater role and the king, who normally hides
throughout the middlegame, becomes an active
piece of outstanding importance. The side
which has material advantage or well advanced
pawn owns big advantage. However here an
important role is played by activity of the king
of the defending side. In this article we can
show some rare ideas of stalemate defense and
typical mistakes of winning side.

Example 1
2017

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We must remember the standard idea of
defence is associated with stalemate idea.
1.c6 Kb8!!
Only move. 1...Rh7 2.Rf1 Rh8 3.Ra1+–.
2.Rh1 Rb7!
It is the point!
3.Kc5 Rb2=
and easy draw - ½.

Example 2
Salvio, 1792

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9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+k0
9-+-+-+p+0
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xiiiiiiiiy

This position has theoretical value. Even as
early as 1792, Salvio had shown how to achieve
a draw.
1.Rh7!
To create a stalemate situation.
1...Kg3 2.Re7! Rd8 3.Rd7!
The typical stalemate necessity of sacrificing
the last remaining piece.
3...Ra8 4.Ra7!
And the so called "crazy rook" constantly hunts
its counterpart along the seventh rank. ½.

Reshevsky : Geller
Zürich 1953

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1.Ra6
The first wrong move. The correct method of
winning this position is to transfer the rook:

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa

2

1.Ra8! Re3 2.Kh2 Rb3 (2...Kg7 3.Ra6 Rc3
4.h5+–) 3.Rg8 Kf7 4.Rg5 Kf6 5.h5 Ra3 6.g3
Ra1 7.Rg6 Kf7 8.Rb6 Rc1 9.h6 Ra1 10.h7 Kg7
11.Rb5+–.
1...Kh5 2.Rf6?
2.Ra8! is winning as in previous line.
2...Re3! 3.Kf2 Ra3
Incredible defence. King on h5 plays a crucial
role, as it falls into a stalemate motifs.
4.g3
4.Rf5 Kh4=. And this is draw according to
Nalimov Tablebase, even with Black to move:
5.g3 Rg3 6.Rh5 Kh5 7.Kg3 Kg6 8.Kg4 Kf6=.
4...Rf3!!
Losing is 4...Ra5?! 5.Kg2 Rb5 6.Kh3 Ra5
7.Rf5 Rf5 8.g4 Kg6 9.gf5 Kf5 10.Kg3.
5.Ke2
5.Kg2 Rg3 6.Kg3=; 5.Kf3 is stalemate!
5...Rg3 6.Rf5 Kh4 7.Kf2 Ra3 8.Rg5 Rb3
9.Rg1 Kh5 10.Ke2 Ra3 11.f5 Ra5 ½.

Garcia Toledo : Mecking
Mar del Plata 1969

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9+-+-+-+-0
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This example shows how large of the ability is
needed to save the game even in a difficult
situation.
1...Kb4?
The natural move. This move hardly calls
doubts - it is necessary to activate black king.
But this move probably misses the victory.
Right way was 1...hg5! Non-standard solution.
At first glance, it seems to us - why give the
opportunity White have a passed pawn h?

Answer - to have passed pawns in the centre.
2.fg5 Kc6!! The correct solution is to move the
king to the сentral pawns. (In the comments to
the game the wrong way to win was shown -
2...Kb4 3.h4 g6 (3...c4 4.bc4 Kc4 5.h5=) 4.Kf4
Rd4 5.Kf3 Rh4 6.Re6 Kb3 7.Rg6 c4 8.Rb6 Kc2
(8...Ka3 9.Ke3=) 9.Rb5 f4 10.g6 Rh8 11.g7
Rg8 12.Rb7=) 3.h4 Kd7 4.h5 Rd4 5.Rc3 Rh4
6.Rc5 Rh5 7.Kf4 Rh4 8.Kf3 Rg4–+.
2.g6!!
Amazing solution! Again, the saving case for
the stalemate is h5.
2...Ka3
Incredible, but there is no more win. 2...Kb5
3.Kg3 Kc6 4.Kh4 Kd7 5.Kh5 Rd5 6.h4 e5
7.Rc3 ef4 8.b4 f3 9.bc5 f2 10.Rf3 Rc5 11.Rf2
Ke6 12.Re2 Kf6 13.Re6 Ke6=, stalemate!
3.Kg3! Rb6 4.Kh4 Rb3 5.Re6
5.Rb3?? Kb3 6.Kh5 c4 7.h4 e5! and suddenly
Black wins.
5...Rb7 6.Kh5 Kb4 7.h4 c4 8.Rb6! Rb6 ½.
Fantastic game. It was impossible to foresee
this position after the first move by Black.

Adam : Dresher
Bad Orb 1938

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9mkP+K+-+r0
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The following position is typical of this
defensive motive.
1.Kc6??
White wins with any move by the king, only
not with the game move! F.e.: 1.Kd6 Rh6
2.Kc7 Rh7 3.Kc8! Rh8 4.Kb7 Rh7 5.Rc7+–.
1...Rb5! ½. After taking on b5 – stalemate!

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa

3

Tomovich : Vidmar
Ljubljana 1945

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9+-+-tr-+-0
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Of course White's position is easily winning.
But you always need discretion.
1.Kd6?
This unfortunate move loses half a point. You
should pay attention to the position of the black
king. 1.Re7 Rd1 2.Re8 Rd2 3.f6! Kg6 4.Rg8
Kh6 5.e6!+–; 1.Ra6 Kg7 2.Kd6+–.
1...Re5! 2.Ke5 f6!
After 3.Kf6 there is stalemate ½.

Ree : Langeweg
Wijk an Zee 1972

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9-tr-+-+-zP0
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9-+-+-+-+0
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9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
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In this position the black king is already in a
stalemate. And should be very careful approach
to the problem of perpetual check, because at
some point the stalemate will disappear.
1...Rh6?

Wrong way to get stalemate. To a draw leds
1...Rb5! 2.Kf4 (2.Kh4 Rh5 3.Kg4 Rh4 4.Kf3
Rf4=) 2...Rb4 3.Ke5 Rb5 4.Kd4 Rb4 5.Kc5
Rb5=.
2.Rg8!
2.Kh6?=.
2...Kh7 3.Rh8!
Now it turns a lost pawn endgame. That's the
pay off for unsuccessful stalemate. 1:0.

Barczai : Pederson
Havana 1966

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9P+r+-zPk+0
9+-+-mK-+-0
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This position is very instructive. Activity is
more important than the extra pawns.
1.Re4?
Unnecessary decision. Now Black is already
known to use typical motif with the transfer of
the king to the edge of the Board. Right was
1.f5! Rf2 2.Re4 Rf5 3.Kd2! The activity of the
king is more important! 3...Kf3 4.Rc4+–.
1...Kf3! 2.Re3 Kg4!
2...Kf4 3.a3±, with two extra pawns, but hard to
win.
3.Re2?!
White counting three extra pawns should easily
bring victory. Only chance was 3.Rg3! Kh4
(3...Kf4 4.a3 Rb2 5.Kf1 Rb6 6.Kg2 Ra6± will
end most likely in rook ending with pawns f
and h.) 4.Rg6 Ra2 5.f5 Kh3 6.f6 Ra7 7.Ke2 h4
8.Ke3 Kh2 9.Rg7 Ra6 10.f7 Rf6 11.f4 Kh1
12.Ke4 h3 13.Ke5 h2 14.Rh7!! and there is no
stalemate.
3...Rc4 4.f3 Kh4

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa

4

4...Kf4? 5.Re4+–.
5.Kf2 Ra4 6.Kg2 Ra2! 7.Ra2 ½.
So, it is possible to draw important rule. The
motives of stalemate in rook endings are most
possible on squares h5, h4 and a4, a5 and in the
squares near to them.

Bykova : Rubcova
Moscow 1958

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1...h3??
Incorrect execution. To correct stalemate
position led 1...Kh1! 2.Kg4 h3! 3.Kh3 Rg7!
4.Rg7=.
2.Rg3!
Now the zugzwang and black lose 1:0.

Vitkowski : Rukovecki
Poland 1979

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9kzp-+-+-+0
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9pmK-+-+-+0
9+-+R+-+-0
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The position is easily winning for Black. It

remains to show small technique and see that
the white king can be in a stalemate.
1...Rg2??
To victory led 1...b3! 2.Rd4 Kb5 3.Rd1 Rg3
4.Rf1 Rd3 5.Re1 Kc4–+.
2.Ka1
Now the king is in a stalemate.
2...Rc2 3.Rd4! Kb3
3...Ka3 4.Rd3.
4.Rb4 ½.

Radulovich : Beliavsky
Yugoslavia 1972

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9-+-+-+-+0
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1.Kg1?
This move is still not lost, but gives Black good
winning chances. In any case, cut off the king is
not well for the defending side. It is necessary
to conduct the king to the edge of the
chessboard: 1.Kh3! Rf2 2.Re6=.
1...Ra6! 2.Rh6
2.Kg2 Kd4 3.Rg5 Ra2 4.Kh3 Ke3 5.Re5 Kf2
6.Re6 Ra1 7.Kh2 Kf3.
2...Kd4 3.Rh5 Ke3 4.Re5 Kf3 5.h5 Ra1 6.Kh2
Ra2 7.Kh3 Re2 8.Re2?
The error, Black had to avoid the exchange of
rooks: 8.Ra5 Re1 9.Kh2 e5 (9...Re2 10.Kh3
Re1 11.Kh2=) 10.h6=.
8...Ke2 9.h6 f3 10.h7 f2 11.h8Q f1Q 12.Kh2
Qf4 13.Kg2 Qg5 14.Kh2?!
Such a position very difficult to defend. The
Nalimov gives draw after 14.Kh3! e5 15.Qh7!
14...e5 15.Qb8 e4 16.Kh3 Kf3 17.Qb3??
The last and decisive mistake. Draw chances

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa

5

remained after 17.Qf8 Qf4 18.Qa3 e3 19.Qa8.
17...Qe3 18.Qg8
White resigned due to 18...Qh6 mate – 0:1.
18.Qf7 Ke2 19.Kh4 Qf2–+.

Tabattoni : Barlov
Valletta 1979

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1.Rg5??
White does not find the correct stalemate
maneuver. Correct was 1.Re6! Rg2 2.Kh1!
(The main defensive idea is to put the king into
the corner!) 2...Rg3 (2...Rf2 3.Kg1=) 3.Rg6!=.
1...Rg2 2.Kh1 Rf2 3.Kg1 Rf6!
Zugzwang.
4.Ra5 Rf3 5.g4 Rg3 6.Kh1 Kg4 7.Ra4 Kh3
0:1.

Blazhok : Govljakowski
Poland 1952

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9R+-+-+-+0
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1.Kd3?!
A common mistake in such positions. Correct
was 1.Ke3! Rh3 (1...Kc4 2.Ra5 Kc3 3.Kf4+–)
2.Kf4 Rc3 3.h6 Rh3 4.Ra6 Rh1 5.Kf5+–.
1...Rh3 2.Kc2?
Falling into the typical stalemate idea. It was
not too late for 2.Kd2 Rh2 3.Ke3 – as in the
previous line.
2...Rh5! 3.Ra5 Kc4 4.Rh5
On the board is a typical stalemate position.
This position is necessary to remember. ½.

Matanovic : Minev
Belgrade 1956

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In many cases the stalemate is not a result of a
blunder, but is an active defensive tool for the
weaker side.
1.Rc6
White gains nothing with either 1.Rb5 Kf6, or
1.Kh3 Kf4 2.Rf6 Ke5, and White must either
lose one of the pawns with a clear draw, or
repeat the position.
1...Kg5 2.Kh3 Kh5!
Also possible was 2...Kf4, but Black wanted to
demonstrate the thematic defensive idea.
3.f4
Hoping for 3...Ra3? 4.Kg2 Kg4 5.Rf6 and
White wins.
3...Ra6!
3...Ra3? 4.Kg2 Kg4 5.Rf6+–. If now 4.Ra6, it
is stalemate. White played:
4.Rc5 Kg6 5.Kg4
and draw was agreed a few moves later ½.

FIDE Surveys – Oleksandr Sulypa

6

Khiut : Alalin
USSR 1952

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1.Kf4 Kf7
The only chance. Black would lose easily after
1...Kh7 2.f6+–.
2.Rh8??
The typical blunder as in the previous eample.
Instead White would win by 2.f6! followed by
3.Rh8!
2...Ra7 3.Rh7 Kf6 4.Ra7
White captures the rook, but Black is
stalemated - ½.

Gufeld : Bronstein
Kislovodsk 1968

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1...Kg4! 2.Rh2
Gufeld was forced to give one extra pawn. The
main idea is in a stalemate. 2.Rd4. This move
makes a draw only because in the variation

2...Kh5 3.c4 Rc4! 4.Rc4 is nice stalemate
again!
2...Kg3 3.Rh1 Rc2 4.h5 Rc7 5.Kf6 Rc6 6.Kf7
Rc7 7.Ke6 Rc6 8.Kd5
In order to avoid the checks, White's king is
forced to abandon its favorable position.
8...Rh6 9.Ke4 Kg2!
Black must be alert to the end! If 9...Kg4, then
10.Rg1! Kh5 11.Kf5 and White wins.
10.Rh4 Kg3 11.Rh1 Kg2 ½.

Pokoewczyk : Doda
Poland 1971

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1...Kf7??
Passive defense. This position is a draw due to
forced stalemate: 1...Rd1! 2.Ke8 Re1 3.Kf8
Re8! 4.Ke8=.
2.Rg7 Kf6
2...Kf8 3.Rh7 Kg8 4.f6 Kh7 5.f7 Rd1 6.Ke6
Re1 7.Kf5+–.
3.Ke8! Kf5 4.Rf7 Kg6 5.h7 Ra1 6.f5 Kg5
7.Kf8 1:0.