C.J.S. Purdy pointed out that one of the goals in the opening should be to connect R’s. Most players beyond the beginner level know that. They know the rules about open files, but in many cases find difficulty in answering the question, which R? How do you decide which R goes on the open file? How often have moved the wrong one? They also know the importance of R’s on the 7th (or 2nd) rank and Rooks belong behind passed Pawns, etc.
Ludek Pachman wrote that R handling requires a great understanding of the strategy suited to a particular position. There’s that word, strategy...something that seems despised by many average players these days.
Another part of Rook handling is the R-lift where Rooks are actively placed in front of its own Pawns to attack the opponent’s King.
In fact, sometimes the Rook can even be placed in front of its own Pawns even when there is no thought of attacking the King. The reason for this is that Pawn advances are generally necessary to open files and in a closed, positional type of game players often try to keep Pawns on their original squares as long as possible. So, if the Rools are to operate they must do so in front of their own Pawns. This is a good idea to keep in the back of your mind when the normal methods of using them on open files is ineffective or not available.
I was looking for some examples of Rooks in front of its own Pawns and came across the following game in which Eperjesi did just that. However, when I saw that he lost, I was going to move on to another game, but this game has redeeming qualities. Just check out Farago’s 35th and 42nd move.
The game also illustrates the point that even after you have established a good position, the game will not win itself. After about 25 moves Eperjesi had a really great position but a series of weak moves let the game slip away. We all know from experience how easily that can happen!
Laszlo Eperjes (born May 16, 1943) is an International Master and International Arbiter. Ivan Farago (Aoril 1, 1946 – December 12, 2022) was born in Budapest. The Hungarian Chess Federation declared him a master in 1964. He was awarded the IM title in 1974 and the GM title in 1976.
[Event "Hungarian hamp, Budapest"]
[Site ""]
[Date "1977.12.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Laszlo Eperjesi"]
[Black "Ivan Farago"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 16"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1977.??.??"]
{D55: Queen's Gambit Declined} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Nc3
d5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1 Bb7 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. O-O c5 12. Ne5
Nxe5 (12... a6 13. Bb1 Re8 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Na4 {equals. Sulava,N (2479)
-Cavalcanti,F (2280) Nice 2003}) (12... h6 13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Bf5 {White has the
advantage. Goncalves,D (2282)-Leiva,G (2381) chess.com INT 2023}) 13. dxe5 Ne8
14. Bf4 Nc7 (14... f6 15. Qh5 g6 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19.
Bh6 fxe5 {White has no more than a draw. Forgacs,L-Swiderski,R Barmen 1905}) (
14... g6 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. f4 f5 {White is much better. Vidmar,M-Martinolich,G
Vienna 1907}) (14... f5 {This is black's best move.} 15. Qc2 g5 16. Bg3 f4 {
This loses. Correct was 16...Ng7 with equal chances.} 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Qg6 Nf6
19. exf6 Rxf6 20. Qh5 {and white went on to win. Schlechter,C-Lasker,E
Cambridge Springs 1904}) 15. Qc2 g6 16. Rcd1 {The R has no future on c1 and so
White places it on a square from which it is in line with the Black Q.} Qc8 17.
Bh6 Re8 18. f4 {The attacking method in this game has been known since the
days of Pillsbury. White is going to play a R-lift, placing it in front of his
P’s and attacking Black’s K.} c4 19. Be2 Bc5 20. Rf3 Qe6 21. Na4 {Before
continuing his attack white wants to drive the B back, but he could have press
on with his attack.} Be7 22. Rg3 b5 (22... Bh4 {was slightly better as after}
23. Rh3 Bd8 {white is better, but he will have to come up with a different
plan of attack. For example...} 24. Bf3 Rb8 25. Nc3 b5 26. Ne2 Qb6 27. Nd4 {
and now strive to play g2-g4.}) 23. f5 {Pressing on with his attack at the
cost of a P. However, more preparation with moves like Ng4 and Nc3 would have
offered better chances of success.} Qxe5 24. Bf4 Qg7 (24... Qe4 {was better as
it shuts down white's attack.} 25. Qxe4 dxe4 {and black has equalized.}) 25.
Bxc7 {With this move white's advantage slips away...there is no longer an
attack and black now stands better.} (25. Nc3 Bc5 26. Bh5 {is promising. For
example...} Kh8 27. Kh1 Re7 28. fxg6 fxg6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Rxg6 Qf7 31. Rf1
Rxe3 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Ng1 {White is slightly better.}) 25... bxa4 26. Bf3 {
A tactical error that allows black to take advantage of the undefended e-Pawn.
26.Bf4 would have been better.} Bc5 27. fxg6 {He still should have tried 27.
Bf4. After this white's attack just does not have sufficient force.} Bxe3+ 28.
Kh1 hxg6 29. h4 Rac8 30. Qxa4 Qf6 (30... Qxb2 {would also win, but it invites
unnecessary complications after} 31. Bg4 {and noiw black's best line is} Re4
32. Bxc8 Bxc8 33. Rf1 Qe2 (33... Bf4 34. Bxf4 Rxf4 35. Rxf4 Qc1+ {only draws})
34. Rgf3 Bg4 {Black wins as white gains nothing on} 35. Rxf7 Bf5 36. R7xf5 gxf5
37. Qd1 (37. Rxf5 Rxh4+ 38. Bh2 Qe1+ 39. Rf1 Qxf1#) 37... Qxd1 38. Rxd1 c3 {
etc.}) 31. h5 Kg7 32. Ba5 Bc6 33. Qa3 d4 34. Be1 $2 (34. Bxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxe3
Rxe3 36. Qxe3 dxe3 37. Bc3 gxh5 {withg a won ending.}) 34... Qh4+ {Black’s
continuation is absolutely brilliant!} 35. Rh3 Qxh3+ {[%mdl 512]} 36. gxh3
Bxf3+ 37. Kh2 Bxd1 {Black has more than enough compensation for the Q.} 38. Bg3
Bxh5 39. Qd6 c3 40. bxc3 dxc3 {[%mdl 32]} 41. Be5+ Kg8 42. Qf6 {...a very
forlorn hope.} Rxe5 $1 {Another fine move to finish off his opponent.} 43. Qxe5
c2 {White resigned.} 0-1
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