Practical Rook Endgames
Introduction and Free Preview
The Practical Rook Endgames workshop is already a digital product. This product includes all the videos from the workshop as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Additionally, we include the PGN files from the lectures Rook vs Pawns and Rook and a Pawn vs Rook by GM Petar Arnaudov and GM Grigor Grigorov. These two lectures have been released on our YouTube channel.
Overall, the material consists of approximately 7 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 115 files!
You will find the following lectures:
Extra Pawn in Rook Endgames - Pawns on the Same Wing - GM Grigor Grigorov
Extra Pawn in Rook Endgames - Balance on One Wing and an Extra Pawn on Another - GM Petar Arnaudov
Typical Positional and Tactical Ideas in Rook Endgames - GM Ioannis Papaioannou
Activity in Rook Endgames - GM Davorin Kuljasevic
In this article, we will briefly present some interesting moments taken from the lectures.
Extra Pawn in Rook Endgames - Pawns on the Same Wing - GM Grigor Grigorov
In this lecture, GM Grigor Grigorov covers one of the most typical scenarios in rook endgames - having an extra pawn on the wing (with all pawns on the same wing). Here is how GM Grigor Grigorov introduces the topic:
When all the pawns are on the same wing, an extra pawn is not enough to wing the game. Every one of us has heard this phrase at least once in our career. Even though such statements can not be 100% true, they serve as a reference point. Indeed, drawish tendencies in such endings are considerable. That's why before starting my preparation for the current lecture, I was afraid that I will deal with more or less evident stuff. While selecting the material, however, I was surprised to see how often top-level grandmasters lose such endgames. This was an indicator that things are not that simple. After presenting the basic must-know classical positions, I tried to illustrate some statistically common mistakes. In this way, you will get a complete overview of the possible dangers. While I tried to keep the theoretical overload as limited as possible, I strongly advise you to take a look at my introductory class "Rook and Pawn vs Pawn". In this way, you will be better prepared for this lecture. I hope that the current material will drastically increase your practical level in rook endgames with pawns on one wing. Enjoy!
Below, you can see one of the examples:
Extra Pawn in Rook Endgames - Balance on One Wing and an Extra Pawn on Another - GM Petar Arnaudov
This lecture features maybe the most important and difficult to study type of rook endgames. During the lecture, GM Arnaudov confessed that he has learned a lot of new stuff while preparing the material. The reason is that in the latest decades, thanks to the powerful engines, the theory of this endgame has dramatically developed.
In his lecture, GM Arnaudov starts from the most basic principles and goes to very complicated cases. In his analysis, he illustrates the latest theoretical developments. Therefore, this lecture provides you with world-class knowledge of this very important endgame.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the training examples:
Typical Positional and Tactical Ideas in Rook Endgames - GM Ioannis Papaioannou
Providing extensive coverage of the typical positional and tactical ideas in rook endgames might be a topic of a book. Nevertheless, GM Papaioannou managed to illustrate some of the most important concepts in 1.5 hours! As an experienced trainer, GM Papaioannou knows in which positions people are prone to make mistakes.
In the lecture, he covers the following tactical and positional ideas:
1) Umbrella Technique
2) Stalemate
3) Tying Opponent's Pieces
4) Two Connected Passed Pawns vs 1 Single Passed Pawn
5) Chain Technique
Below, you can take a look at one of the examples.
Activity in Rook Endgames - GM Davorin Kuljasevic
The vast majority of the grandmasters will probably tell you that there is nothing more important than the activity in the endgame. This principle is even more valid when we are talking about rook endgames.
In his latest lecture, GM Kuljasevic explains how to play for activity in complex rook endgames. Besides the simple piece activation, he discusses complicated topics such as playing with and against connected passed pawns, timing, and so on. The lecture includes 11 model games. Below, we shall take a look at one of them.