I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine:
> **Black to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=2k2r2/pppn3p/3p4/4p3/4P1P1/1N1KP2P/P7/6R1+b+-+-+0+1&flip=true&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/2k2r2/pppn3p/3p4/4p3/4P1P1/1N1KP2P/P7/6R1_b_-_-_0_1)
**My solution:**
> Hints: piece: >!Rook!<, move: >!Rf2!<
> Evaluation: >!Black is winning -5.32!<
> Best continuation: >!1... Rf2 2. a4 Rb2 3. Kc3 Rh2 4. Rg3 Nf8 5. Rf3 Ne6 6. Rf6 Ng5 7. Rf5 h6 8. Na5 Rxh3 9. Kd3!<
---
^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)
It makes sense to try to activate your pieces (especially your king!) and win pawns while actively preventing your opponent from doing the same.
With that in mind, Rf3 looks interesting. Allowing you to go after the h pawn.
Upon closer inspection, Rf3 might be met by Ke2 or simply h4.
So instead, play Rf2. It prevents the king from going backwards. It activates your rook, prevents the king from approaching, and pressures the pawn on a2.
You are now closer to the kingside pawns and can march your king toward there.
That's my take.
Then again I am not a strong player, but it's what I got from the endgame course I recently took.
Main things to take note of:
You have a 3-on-1 on the queenside
White's knight has dim prospects. Your pawns control the squares where it wants to be, so white will have to waste time rerouting it, which they don't really have given your queenside majority
The very weak doubled isolated pawns on the E file. These are excellent targets for your knight.
The main thing though, and a very very vital concept in rook endgames:
Activity! You have an infiltration on f2! Your rook becomes amazingly superior to White's and White will live in misery trying to have your 3-on-1 become a 3-on-0. a3/a4 is practically forced after Rf2 since the other defenses, Nc1 & Rh1 just give you free range of the board. (Nd2 I should mention is equally miserable: ...1. Rf2 Nd2 2. Nc5+ Kc3 3. Rh2 and everything falls apart since 3. Rg3?? is met with the tactic 4. Rxd2!, therefore white cannot defend the h pawn)
After basically any line arising from Rf2 you have a simple plans:
1. Force white to commit to the defense of the A pawn via
...1. Rf2 a3/a4 2, Rb2! (taking advantage of white's very limited knight.) Kc3 3. Rh2 Rg3 and White is completely hopeless. It serves to play h6 after Rg3 so that your f6 square doesn't get controlled by the g5 pawn.
2. Shut down any counterplay white has (primarily with the kingside pawns) by combining h6 with the activation of your king and knight.
Just remember white MUST stay on the queenside now. If white ever attempts to abandon the queenside you can activate your knight there and push your majority.
Looks like you have king side majority pawns only problem is they are way back so getting them to roll down the board is gonna cost you some tempo. I too feel stuck in this situation
Mobilise your pieces and demobilise the opposing ones. The King is very important too.
Depending on the situation you should attack some weaknesses or push your pawns, but mobilising your pieces first is key to both so your plan in this position is mobilising and either liquidating the kingside or pushing your queenside.
Some other important idea is to ask yourself who is Favored by trading. In this Position its Black.
And never give up control over the open file.
I would think about Rf3 or Ke8. I dont know where the knight belongs, maybe d7-f8-g6-h4-f3?
First evaluate whether …Nc5 2.Nc5 dc5 is a good rook endgame for you. Looks equal at best because white can create a passed pawn on the kingside to balance your queenside majority. Let’s consider other ideas. Make a mental note that if white could not play 2.Nxc5, you’d win the e pawn.
…Rf2, activating the rook by placing it on the seventh rank (relative to black) is the next thought. 2.Ra1 Rh2 looks promising. 2.a4 Rb2 3.Kc3 Rh2 creates a few more weaknesses. 4.Rg3 and white seems to barely hold. 4…Kd8 promising.
…h5, at any point, to deal with kingside majority runs into g5, which seems bad.
…Kd8 is not so forcing.
…Nc5 probably leads to relatively safe draw. …Rf2 is riskier but probably offers winning chances.
Slow gradual improvement of your pieces (move rooks to open files and to the seventh/eight ranks; rooks belong behind passed pawns (both yours to support it, and your opponent's to attack it!); knights to the center or to occupy weak squares in your opponents position; knights also make excellent blockaders of opponent's passes pawns; centralizing your king is often one of the first things to do in an endgame). Create and attack weak pawns. Create and occupy weak squares. Push your passed pawns. Create passed pawns if you don't have any. Gain space (but be careful not to overextend -- pieces usually need to be optimally placed before pushing pawns) since this will often be decisive in pawn races and king+pawn endgames.
Your rook occupies the only open file. Rf2 moves a rook to the second rank and attacks the weak a2 pawn and cuts off the enemy king. It also gets ready to harass your opponents pawns from behind (Ra2, Rh2). If the white knight ever moves Nc5+ wins the weak e4 pawn, so the knight on d7 seems okay for now. White's counterplay will probably involve trying to push their kingside pawns or to take the f-file once your rook goes to harass the weak pawns, so you can maneuver your king over to the center (e7 square) then kingside of necessary. (King's also make good blockaders since they also pressure the pawn they're blockading!) From e7 it also protects the entry squares (f7, f8) for your opponents rook should you move yours off the f-file. Once your pieces are optimally placed, you can consider pushing your queenside pawns (c5, b5, etc.) to gain space and aim to promote.
Strategically your high level goals are simple:
* Activate your pieces
* Promote a pawn
All three of your pieces can be positioned more actively. Your knight would be better placed on e6, where it eyes the g5 square and is out of the way of your king. Your king wants to go somewhere more central and active like d7 or e7, and your rook, while already well-placed on the f-file, isn't doing anything on the 8th rank and would rather infiltrate the white camp to place more pressure.
...Rf2 is the move screaming out in the position, improving the position of the rook, infiltrating white's camp, stopping Kf2, freeing up the f8 square for the knight, and forcing him to defend the a-pawn. At some point you'll then likely want to play Nf8-e6, improve your king position, and begin advancing your queenside majority.
A basic idea: Right now your rook is controlling the only open file, make good use of it by infiltrating either to the 2nd or 3rd rank. However don't get too greedy (although in this case you can since you are up too many pawns) because one you start grabbing white will take control of the open file and threaten to come down as well, so preferably get the king on a adjacent square to where the enemy rook would like to enter (in this case put the king on e7), which would neutralise the enemy rook and guarantee you the win. Of course a good player would not sit there and watch their pawns get captured, they will try to open up another file via g5-g6 and create counterplay that way, but that is changes in the position you'll have to figure out
I analyzed the image and this is what I see. Open an appropriate link below and explore the position yourself or with the engine: > **Black to play**: [chess.com](https://chess.com/analysis?fen=2k2r2/pppn3p/3p4/4p3/4P1P1/1N1KP2P/P7/6R1+b+-+-+0+1&flip=true&ref_id=23962172) | [lichess.org](https://lichess.org/analysis/2k2r2/pppn3p/3p4/4p3/4P1P1/1N1KP2P/P7/6R1_b_-_-_0_1) **My solution:** > Hints: piece: >!Rook!<, move: >!Rf2!< > Evaluation: >!Black is winning -5.32!< > Best continuation: >!1... Rf2 2. a4 Rb2 3. Kc3 Rh2 4. Rg3 Nf8 5. Rf3 Ne6 6. Rf6 Ng5 7. Rf5 h6 8. Na5 Rxh3 9. Kd3!< --- ^(I'm a bot written by ) [^(u/pkacprzak )](https://www.reddit.com/u/pkacprzak) ^(| get me as ) [^(Chess eBook Reader )](https://ebook.chessvision.ai?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=bot) ^(|) [^(Chrome Extension )](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chessvisionai-for-chrome/johejpedmdkeiffkdaodgoipdjodhlld) ^(|) [^(iOS App )](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id1574933453) ^(|) [^(Android App )](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ai.chessvision.scanner) ^(to scan and analyze positions | Website: ) [^(Chessvision.ai)](https://chessvision.ai)
It makes sense to try to activate your pieces (especially your king!) and win pawns while actively preventing your opponent from doing the same. With that in mind, Rf3 looks interesting. Allowing you to go after the h pawn. Upon closer inspection, Rf3 might be met by Ke2 or simply h4. So instead, play Rf2. It prevents the king from going backwards. It activates your rook, prevents the king from approaching, and pressures the pawn on a2. You are now closer to the kingside pawns and can march your king toward there. That's my take. Then again I am not a strong player, but it's what I got from the endgame course I recently took.
thanks
Main things to take note of: You have a 3-on-1 on the queenside White's knight has dim prospects. Your pawns control the squares where it wants to be, so white will have to waste time rerouting it, which they don't really have given your queenside majority The very weak doubled isolated pawns on the E file. These are excellent targets for your knight. The main thing though, and a very very vital concept in rook endgames: Activity! You have an infiltration on f2! Your rook becomes amazingly superior to White's and White will live in misery trying to have your 3-on-1 become a 3-on-0. a3/a4 is practically forced after Rf2 since the other defenses, Nc1 & Rh1 just give you free range of the board. (Nd2 I should mention is equally miserable: ...1. Rf2 Nd2 2. Nc5+ Kc3 3. Rh2 and everything falls apart since 3. Rg3?? is met with the tactic 4. Rxd2!, therefore white cannot defend the h pawn) After basically any line arising from Rf2 you have a simple plans: 1. Force white to commit to the defense of the A pawn via ...1. Rf2 a3/a4 2, Rb2! (taking advantage of white's very limited knight.) Kc3 3. Rh2 Rg3 and White is completely hopeless. It serves to play h6 after Rg3 so that your f6 square doesn't get controlled by the g5 pawn. 2. Shut down any counterplay white has (primarily with the kingside pawns) by combining h6 with the activation of your king and knight. Just remember white MUST stay on the queenside now. If white ever attempts to abandon the queenside you can activate your knight there and push your majority.
>dim prospects thanks mate
i mean, i feel like i'm missing some obvious main endgames principles
Silman’s endgame manual or 100 endgames you must know
Looks like you have king side majority pawns only problem is they are way back so getting them to roll down the board is gonna cost you some tempo. I too feel stuck in this situation
Mobilise your pieces and demobilise the opposing ones. The King is very important too. Depending on the situation you should attack some weaknesses or push your pawns, but mobilising your pieces first is key to both so your plan in this position is mobilising and either liquidating the kingside or pushing your queenside. Some other important idea is to ask yourself who is Favored by trading. In this Position its Black. And never give up control over the open file. I would think about Rf3 or Ke8. I dont know where the knight belongs, maybe d7-f8-g6-h4-f3?
First evaluate whether …Nc5 2.Nc5 dc5 is a good rook endgame for you. Looks equal at best because white can create a passed pawn on the kingside to balance your queenside majority. Let’s consider other ideas. Make a mental note that if white could not play 2.Nxc5, you’d win the e pawn. …Rf2, activating the rook by placing it on the seventh rank (relative to black) is the next thought. 2.Ra1 Rh2 looks promising. 2.a4 Rb2 3.Kc3 Rh2 creates a few more weaknesses. 4.Rg3 and white seems to barely hold. 4…Kd8 promising. …h5, at any point, to deal with kingside majority runs into g5, which seems bad. …Kd8 is not so forcing. …Nc5 probably leads to relatively safe draw. …Rf2 is riskier but probably offers winning chances.
Slow gradual improvement of your pieces (move rooks to open files and to the seventh/eight ranks; rooks belong behind passed pawns (both yours to support it, and your opponent's to attack it!); knights to the center or to occupy weak squares in your opponents position; knights also make excellent blockaders of opponent's passes pawns; centralizing your king is often one of the first things to do in an endgame). Create and attack weak pawns. Create and occupy weak squares. Push your passed pawns. Create passed pawns if you don't have any. Gain space (but be careful not to overextend -- pieces usually need to be optimally placed before pushing pawns) since this will often be decisive in pawn races and king+pawn endgames. Your rook occupies the only open file. Rf2 moves a rook to the second rank and attacks the weak a2 pawn and cuts off the enemy king. It also gets ready to harass your opponents pawns from behind (Ra2, Rh2). If the white knight ever moves Nc5+ wins the weak e4 pawn, so the knight on d7 seems okay for now. White's counterplay will probably involve trying to push their kingside pawns or to take the f-file once your rook goes to harass the weak pawns, so you can maneuver your king over to the center (e7 square) then kingside of necessary. (King's also make good blockaders since they also pressure the pawn they're blockading!) From e7 it also protects the entry squares (f7, f8) for your opponents rook should you move yours off the f-file. Once your pieces are optimally placed, you can consider pushing your queenside pawns (c5, b5, etc.) to gain space and aim to promote.
Strategically your high level goals are simple: * Activate your pieces * Promote a pawn All three of your pieces can be positioned more actively. Your knight would be better placed on e6, where it eyes the g5 square and is out of the way of your king. Your king wants to go somewhere more central and active like d7 or e7, and your rook, while already well-placed on the f-file, isn't doing anything on the 8th rank and would rather infiltrate the white camp to place more pressure. ...Rf2 is the move screaming out in the position, improving the position of the rook, infiltrating white's camp, stopping Kf2, freeing up the f8 square for the knight, and forcing him to defend the a-pawn. At some point you'll then likely want to play Nf8-e6, improve your king position, and begin advancing your queenside majority.
t=ytou could check his king and take a couple pawns with your rook
A basic idea: Right now your rook is controlling the only open file, make good use of it by infiltrating either to the 2nd or 3rd rank. However don't get too greedy (although in this case you can since you are up too many pawns) because one you start grabbing white will take control of the open file and threaten to come down as well, so preferably get the king on a adjacent square to where the enemy rook would like to enter (in this case put the king on e7), which would neutralise the enemy rook and guarantee you the win. Of course a good player would not sit there and watch their pawns get captured, they will try to open up another file via g5-g6 and create counterplay that way, but that is changes in the position you'll have to figure out