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.
Laszlo Eperjesi2400–Ivan Farago0–1D55Hungarian hamp, Budapest11.12.1977Stockfish 16
D55: Queen's Gambit Declined 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 b4+ 4.d2 e7 5.c3 d5 6.g5 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.c1 b7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.d3 bd7 11.0-0 c5 12.e5 xe5 12...a6 13.b1 e8 14.xd7 xd7 15.a4 equals. Sulava,N (2479)
-Cavalcanti,F (2280) Nice 2003 12...h6 13.f4 c8 14.f5 White has the
advantage. Goncalves,D (2282)-Leiva,G (2381) chess.com INT 2023 13.dxe5 e8 14.f4 c7 14...f6 15.h5 g6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.xg6+ h8 18.h5+ g8 19.h6 fxe5 White has no more than a draw. Forgacs,L-Swiderski,R Barmen 1905 14...g6 15.h6 g7 16.f4 f5 White is much better. Vidmar,M-Martinolich,G
Vienna 1907 14...f5 This is black's best move. 15.c2 g5 16.g3 f4
This loses. Correct was 16...Ng7 with equal chances. 17.xh7+ h8 18.g6 f6 19.exf6 xf6 20.h5 and white went on to win. Schlechter,C-Lasker,E
Cambridge Springs 1904 15.c2 g6 16.cd1 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. c8 17.h6 e8 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.e2 c5 20.f3 e6 21.a4 Before
continuing his attack white wants to drive the B back, but he could have press
on with his attack. e7 22.g3 b5 22...h4 was slightly better as after 23.h3 d8 white is better, but he will have to come up with a different
plan of attack. For example... 24.f3 b8 25.c3 b5 26.e2 b6 27.d4
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. xe5 24.f4 g7 24...e4 was better as
it shuts down white's attack. 25.xe4 dxe4 and black has equalized. 25.xc7 With this move white's advantage slips away...there is no longer an
attack and black now stands better. 25.c3 c5 26.h5 is promising. For
example... h8 27.h1 e7 28.fxg6 fxg6 29.xg6 hxg6 30.xg6 f7 31.f1 xe3 32.e2 f8 33.g1 White is slightly better. 25...bxa4 26.f3
A tactical error that allows black to take advantage of the undefended e-Pawn.
26.Bf4 would have been better. c5 27.fxg6 He still should have tried 27.
Bf4. After this white's attack just does not have sufficient force. xe3+ 28.h1 hxg6 29.h4 ac8 30.xa4 f6 30...xb2 would also win, but it invites
unnecessary complications after 31.g4 and noiw black's best line is e4 32.xc8 xc8 33.f1 e2 33...f4 34.xf4 xf4 35.xf4 c1+ only draws 34.gf3 g4 Black wins as white gains nothing on 35.xf7 f5 36.7xf5 gxf5 37.d1 37.xf5 xh4+ 38.h2 e1+ 39.f1 xf1# 37...xd1 38.xd1 c3
etc. 31.h5 g7 32.a5 c6 33.a3 d4 34.e1? 34.xc6 xc6 35.xe3 xe3 36.xe3 dxe3 37.c3 gxh5 withg a won ending. 34...h4+ Black’s
continuation is absolutely brilliant! 35.h3 xh3+ 36.gxh3 xf3+ 37.h2 xd1 Black has more than enough compensation for the Q. 38.g3 xh5 39.d6 c3 40.bxc3 dxc3 41.e5+ g8 42.f6 ...a very
forlorn hope. xe5! Another fine move to finish off his opponent. 43.xe5 c2 White resigned. 0–1
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