NOTE: Generally connected pawns are superior to isolated pawns in rook endings.
Though I am obviously making quite a lot of them in these lessons, usually I am wary of making generalizations, as it is nearly always possible to find exceptions to the rule. Clearly, two connected passed pawns on their home squares aren't going to be as worrying to someone as two isolated ones on the seventh rank, and the above note refers to pawns of similar advancement.
I will return to the isolated versus connected pawns debate with rooks present in future lessons but for now let me talk about situations involving a rook against connected pawns
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Nobody can deny that Black's pawns look like a tasty duo. It is amazing, though, how weaker players can overestimate their value in situations such as this.
WARNING: Never underestimate the value of pieces in endgames.
TIP: Pawns frequently become more relevant in endgames but never forget that a rook is worth five points.
If we shuffle everything up the board one rank then obviously the same procedure would be applicable. Bringing all the pieces down one rank, though, requires White to employ more subtlety. See below.
That Sixth Rank Myth
We have just seen an example where a king and rook defeat a king and two connected pawns on the sixth rank. What then should we make of the frequently touted remark that 'two connected passed pawns on the sixth rank always defeat a rook'. Clearly that refers to instances where the defending king (i.e. the one paired with the rook) isn't on hand to help. Check out this following example.
TIP: Two connected pawns on the sixth rank will defeat a rook provided the rook can't win one of the pawns immediately, the king partnering the rook can't have a significant input and the king with the pawns isn't detrimentally placed.
One would imagine that 'a significant input' would refer to the king being instantly active in the role of stopping the pawns. However, there is another way in which it can have an influence, as illustrated below.
The following example is very similar to the previous one. Here Black has the option of running his king to the queenside but, as seen in the note to Black's first move, this doesn't actually help his cause.
So in this lesson we have learnt quite a lot. Now things gets a little complicated when more pawns come into the picture. Well there is nothing to worry. We will take that issue in the next lesson. Until then Goodbye & Stay Tuned !.
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