The first Black s move in this case was
Viacheslav Eingorn:
obligatory - otherwise White could play g4
with the folowing h4-h5, etc.
Rook vs Bishop endings
2) Olafsson F. : Larsen B.,
(pawns on the same flank)
Las Palmas 1974
XIIIIIIIIY
Concept
9-+-+-+k+0
This survey serves as the continuation of my
9tR-+-+-+-0
previous one: Rook + Pawn vs Bishop +
Pawn, same flank (2012). Here we will
9-+-+K+pzp0
examine some basic standings where each
9+-+-+-vl-0
side has two pawns on the same flank. Of
9-+-+-+P+0
course, the bigger number of pawns makes
the rook s advantage more significant but
9+-+-+-+P0
nevertheless there is an entire class of
9-+-+-+-+0
positions where draw is a probable outcome.
Pawns  g +  h
9+-+-+-+-0
We start from two well-known theoretical
xiiiiiiiiy
examples.
Draw.
1)
XIIIIIIIIY
White pawns are deprived of mobility, and
9-+-+-+k+0
the shielding barrier created by Black s
bishop along the diagonal h4-d8 cannot be
9+-tR-+-+p0
overcomed, e.g. 1.Ra1 Kg7 2.Rh1 Bh4.
9-+-+K+p+0
Positions (1) and (2) so successfully
supplement each other that it becomes
9+-+-+-+-0
possible also to carry out the judgement in
9-+-+-+-+0
the following general case.
9+-+-+-+-0
3) (after Villeneuve)
9-vl-+-+PzP0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+k+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+R+-+-zpp0
Black to move. Draw.
9-+-+-vl-+0
1& h5!
9+-+-+-+-0
Black creates the fortress. The only possible
attempt of assault leads to the pawn
9-+-+-+-+0
exchanges and draw.
9+-+-+-+-0
2.h4 Ba1!
9-+-+-+PzP0
A big mistake is 2& Bd4? 3.Rc4 (White get
the important tempo) 3& Bb2 4.g4 hxg4
9+-+-+-mK-0
5.Rxg4 Kh7 6.Kf7Kh6 7.Rxg6+ Kh5 8.Rg2
xiiiiiiii
Bc3 9.Rh2, and White wins.
Draw.
3.Rc4 Kg7 4.g4 hxg4 5.Rxg4 Kh6 6.Kf7
Kh5 7.Rxg6 Kxh4=.
FIDE Surveys  Viacheslav Eingorn 1
To begin with White has to prevent the maneuvering brings no effect: 49.Rf7+ Kb6
move & h5 in order to avoid the position (1). 50.Rf3 Bg1 51.Rf1 Be3 52.Ke4 Bg5
1.Rb5 (52...Bc5 is simpler, e.g. 53.b4? Be7 54.Kd5
Or 1.g4 g6 2.Kg2 h6 (3.Kg3 Be5+). Bg5 55.Re1 Bh4 56.Re6+ Kb7=) 53.Rf5
1...g6 2.g4 h6 3.Kg2 Bh4 Bc1 54.Rf2 Bg5 55.Kd4 (Tiviakov S. :
Now we get position (2) with white pawn on Korsunsky R., Frunze, 1989)  and here
h2 instead of h3  so White may try to use instead of the fallacious move 55& Bc1?
this difference. Black could play 55...Kc6, maintaining
4.Kh3 Be1  status quo . So to achieve his gain White
4...Bf2 is also OK, but other bishop s moves must enlarge the zone of battle activity.
are not welcome, e.g 4...Be7? 5.Rb6 Kg7 49.a4! bxa4
6.Kg3 Bc5 (6...Ba3 7.h4 h5 8.Rb7+) 7.Rb7+ After 49...Kb6 50.axb5 axb5 White s task
Kf6 8.h4, and White wins. becomes even simpler.
5.Re5 Bf2 50.Ra1 Kb6 51.Rxa4, and White wins
There are some possible alternatives: 5...Bd2 (survey 2012).
(5...Bc3; 5...Bb4) 6.Kg3 Bc3! 7.Re2 Kf7
8.h4 h5. In any case Black must not allow Other pawn configurations
white pawn to advance on h5.
6.Re2 Bd4! The next two positions illustrate the possible
After 6...Bc5? 7.Kg3 Kf7 8.Rd2 Bf8 9.Rd7+ course of struggle in positions with pawns
(9.h4? h5) 9...Kf6 10.h3 (10.h4? h5)  f and  g : White wins if he has no
10...Bc5 11.h4 Black is doomed. shortcomings in his pawn arrangement.
7.Kg3 Kg7 8.h4 h5=
5)
But if we change the bishop s color then
XIIIIIIIIY
Black will need some special conditions to
9-+-+-+-+0
survive.
9+-+-+-mk-0
4)
9-+-+-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+K+p+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+k+-+-+-0
9+-vl-+P+-0
9p+-+-+-+0
9R+-+-+P+0
9+p+K+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9zP-+-vl-+-0
Black to move. White wins
9-zP-+-+-+0
1...Kf6!
After 1...Bf6 2.Ke6 Bd4 3.g3 and then Rg2,
9+-+-+R+-0
f4 and g4 Black will die without resistance.
xiiiiiiii
Not allowing White s king to occupy the key
White wins. With white pawn on b3 (b4)  square e6 Black noticeably complicates the
draw. task of his opponent. Now (as at most other
similar cases) White has to be cautious with
Black took up the best shielding position. pawn moves, e.g. 2.f4?! Kf7 3.Ra7+ Kf6
Grandmaster Averbach erroneously 4.Ra3 Bb2 5.Rb3 Ba1 6.Rb1 Bc3 7.Kc4
estimated it as a draw, assuming that White (driving out the bishop from the long
cannot make progress. Indeed, the further diagonal) Bd2, and Black get counterplay.
FIDE Surveys  Viacheslav Eingorn 2
2.Ra6+ Kf7 3.Rc6 Ba1 7)
The variation 3...Bh8 4.Rc7+ Kf6 5.Rh7
XIIIIIIIIY
Bg7 6.Kc6! Bf8 7.Kd7 speeds the things up.
9-+-+-+-+0
4.Rc1 Bb2 5.Rc2 Ba1 6.Kd6 Kf6 7.Re2
Bd4 8.Kd7 Bc5 9+-+-+-mk-0
Black builds the new defensive front. After
9-+-+-+p+0
8...Kf7 9.Re7+ Kf6 10.Ke8 Bc5 11.Rf7+
9+-+K+p+-0
Ke6 12.Rc7 the invasion of white pieces is
inevitable.
9-+-+-+-+0
9.Ke8 Kg7
9+-vl-+-+P0
Or 9...Bb4 10.Rb2 Bc5 11.Rb7.
10.Rb2 Kg8 11.Rb1! 9R+-+-+P+0
This waiting move puts Black in zugzwang.
9+-+-+-+-0
11& Kg7
xiiiiiiiiy
Also 11...Ba3 12.Rb7 Bc5 (12...Bf8 13.Rb6
Kg7 14.Rxg6+) 13.Kd7 Kf7 14.Kc6+ is
White wins
unsatisfactory.
1...Kf6 2.h4 Kf7 3.Ra3 Bb2
12.Rb7+ Kg8 13.Kd7 Kf7 14.Kc6+ Be7
Or 3...Be1 4.Ra7+ Kf6 5.Ra6+ Kg7 6.h5.
15.Kd5, and White wins.
4.Rf3 Bf6 5.Rf4
The immediate 5.h5 is possible too.
6)
5...Bd8 6.Ra4 Be7
6...Kf6 7.Ra6+ Kg7 8.h5 leads to the same.
XIIIIIIIIY
7.Ra7 Kf6 8.Ra6+ Kg7 9.h5, and White
9-+-+-mk-+0
wins.
9tR-+-+pzp-0
Practical examples
9-+-+l+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
Both players are well advised to focus
attention on the small details of position,
9-+-+-+-+0
since they can prove to be essential for the
9+-+-+-+-0
eventual result of the game.
9-+-+-zPP+0
Nguyen Duc Hoa : Huschenbeth
9+-+-+-mK-0
39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
White wins
9-+-+-+-mk0
The change of bishop s color in this
situation leaves Black with no real hope for 9vL-+-+-zp-0
salvation as any of possible defensive
9-+-+-+-zp0
schemes (f6+g7; f6+g5; f7+g5+Kf6) does
9tr-+L+-+-0
not work, e.g. 1.Kf1 f6 2.Ke2 Bd5 3.g3 Be6
4.Ke3 Bd5 5.Kd4 Be6 6.Kc5 Bb3 7.Kd6
9-+-+-+-+0
Bc4 8.Rc7 Bb3 9.Rc3 Ba2 10.f4, following
9+-+-+-zP-0
by g5, fxg5, fxg5 (survey 2012).
9-+-+-+KzP0
Let us also mention situations with
9+-+-+-+-0
asymmetrical pawn disposition  here White
xiiiiiiiiy
also has no any particular difficulties in
realization of his advantage.
Black wins. With black pawn on g6 or g5 -
draw
FIDE Surveys  Viacheslav Eingorn 3
 Rg3, and the White s king will be inevitably
42...Rxd5! drived away.
This choice is not very complicated: after 72...Rc3+ 73.Kg2 h3+ 74.Kh2 Kh4 75.g5
42...Rxa7? 43.h4 the drawish position (1) Rc2+ 0:1.
comes to the board.
43.Bb8?!
Bologan V. : Bouchet N.
Similarly to (4) by playing 43.g4! White
France 2007
could start a much more persistent defense.
XIIIIIIIIY
After 43& h5! 44.gxh5 Rxh5 or 44.h3 hxg4
9-+-+-+R+0
45.hxg4 Rd3! Black wins in both variations
only because his pawn is still placed on g7.
9+-+-+p+-0
43...h5 44.g4 h4!?
9-+-+-mk-+0
Now Black makes use of alternative.
45.Kh3 g5 46.Bc7 Kg7 47.Kg2 Rd3 9+-+l+-zp-0
48.Be5+ Kf7 49.Bb8 Ke6 50.Bc7 Rd4
9-+-+-+P+0
51.Kh3 Rd2 52.Ba5 Rd3+ 53.Kg2 Ke5
9+-+-+PmK-0
54.Bc7+ Ke4 55.Bb8 Rd7 56.Kh3
This move leads to immediate defeat. The
9-+-+-+-+0
continuation 56.h3 Rd8 57.Bc7 Rd2+
9+-+-+-+-0
58.Kg1 Rd7 59.Bb8 Kd5 60.Kg2 Rb7
61.Bh2 Rb2+ 62.Kg1 Rxh2 63.Kxh2 Ke4
xiiiiiiiiy
was more instructive.
Black to move. Draw.
56...Kd5! 0:1.
This position is very similar to the previous
Moisieev O. : Botvinnik M.
example, but a little shift to the left changes
Moscow 1952
the whole picture.
37& Bb7?
XIIIIIIIIY
Very unlucky choice. Black had to secure
9-+-+-+-+0
the possibility of further move & f6 by
9+L+-+-+-0
means of 36...Be6 (36...Bc4 or even
36& Ba2 are also good). Then after 37.f4
9-+-+-+p+0
gxf4+ 38.Kxf4 Ke7 39.g5 (39.Ra8 f6) f6
9+-+-mk-+p0
Black is safe as 40.Rg7+ Kf8 41.gxf6 Bd5
leads to Del Rio theoretical draw.
9-+-+-+-zP0
37.f4 gxf4+ 38.Kxf4 Bc6 39.g5+ Ke6
9+-+-+-mK-0
40.Rh8, and White won.
9-+-+-+P+0
Conclusion
9+-+-+-+r0
xiiiiiiiiy
In the majority of such endings the player
Black wins with the rook may rely on victory only if he
has a favorable pawn configuration and the
To create a fortress White needs the pawn confident technics to perform the basic
on g3, but unfortunately he is obliged to  R+p vs  B+p positions.
occupy this square by king.
65.Bc8 Kf6 66.Bd7 g5 67.hxg5+ Kxg5
68.Bc8 h4+ 69.Kf3 Rc1 70.Bd7 Rc2
71.Be6 Rc7! 72.g4
White has got into zugzwang, the possible
continuation could be 72.Bh3 Rc3+ 73.Ke4
FIDE Surveys  Viacheslav Eingorn 4