Queen versus Rook endgame, Harassment part 1

[@Malvegil357]

Note to self (for future reference), the correct winning method starts at around 11:03

[@DoctorHomunculous]

the non-winning variations are potentially even more important to know to avoid losses when u have the rook v queen

[@lawlietkeito]

Easily the best source to understand queen vs rook endings, you are amazing!

[@RUFFRIDE]

priceless video, i know all of those theoretical positions in the books, philidor, second rank third rank, but this was is essential and somehow its not mentioned in the books!

[@queenvrook]

Thank you! This was exactly why I devoted a thousand hours to this endgame in 2009 and 2010. The books gave pieces of the answer but not the whole answer.

[@RUFFRIDE]

@@queenvrook but i wanted to ask you, what is the "distant defense" i couldnt find a video on that, is it Javelin defense?"

[@queenvrook]

@@RUFFRIDE The Javelin is the obvious example of a Distant defense. The idea is that the defending King and Rook are at opposite sides of the board, but on the same rank (or file) or neighboring ranks (or files). This only works well in the center of the board, where the Queen has less room to maneuver and create a fork. In those cases, the Javelin videos described the best method for breaking down the defense, ending in the Triple-Threat position. I thought I put up a distant-defense video, but could be remembering shadows. The Javelin videos are the key to those positions, as the Harassment videos are the key to all positions where the defender puts his Rook on the diagonal of the attacking King.

[@nekp2034]

good job on all of your videos!!!!! but your link doesn't work.. could you help me, please?

[@AbouTaim-Lille]

Can you write an algorithm of how to force a checkmate the defender from different positions ?

[@isaacyoung1868]

At 11:27.. black maintained opposition. But had another option.. move to f3... What then? It seems very different..

[@queenvrook]

I'm not sure I see a move to f3, if you mean ...Kc3, then Qc6+ would win the Rook. In general, if you get familiar with these position types, and your opponent deviates from them, look for an immediate fork. The best defense in these positions is "best defense" because it avoids forks. If this wasn't your question, let me know, thanks!

[@vignesh7742]

Can you please share, PGN file for all the Videos of Q vs R Endgames?

[@kushalreddy8991]

Sir if I open the database on Android it says it is corrupt what should I do

[@kudabalayogi5494]

Thank you sir nice teaching nice voice sir I want two knights one pawn queen end game basics sir please sir I am poor man no books ownly you tube videos learning

[@ig2d]

at 11:19 what if black plays on one of the two available dark squares?

[@queenvrook]

I believe you are talking about this position: White Kd5, Qc5; Black Ke3, Ra8. Black is in check. The two black squares available would be d2 and f4. To answer your question, remember that Harassment defenses make it hard for the defender to advance his King, in part because the Rook can attack vertically or horizontally, but also because the defending King is trying to body-check the attacking King. The two together are a very effective defense. So if Black played …Kd2, White would advance the King: Ke4 Re8+ Kf3 and the checking square is controlled by the Queen. In fact, …Re1 is more or less forced, certainly the best move, after which Qa5+ Kd1 Qb4 produces the Trapezoid position, and the Rook will have to be sacrificed to prevent mate. If Black plays …Kf4 this at least maintains some level of body check. White just takes the opposition with the King: Kd4. Now, on …Rd8+, Kc3 and the Rook is extremely vulnerable to a fork. Here is one example of how White hunts down the Rook: …Rd7 (to take away the check from c7), Qc6 (when in doubt, attack a hanging Rook), …Ra7 Qd6+ Kf3 Qd3+ and now if the Black King moves up the board there’s an immediate fork on the a7-g1 diagonal, so White can hunt the King down: Kg2 Qe2+ Kh1 Qf1+ and fork next move. If the sequence instead is ...Kf4 Kd4 Ra4+, then Kd3 and again the Queen controls the next checking square. I certainly hope that no one thinks that this explanation makes the ending EASY to play. It isn’t. My guides are not intended to make this ending EASY to play, because it isn’t. They are meant to make it POSSIBLE to play, even against stubborn opposition, and they are also intended to teach stubborn opposition, because there is a 50% chance that you will be the person with the Rook. Remember this position if you should ever be on the defending side of this ending. Your excellent question, and the complex answer, shows why the Harassment defense is, in my opinion, the most tenacious, and the easiest for the attacker to mis-play. Aim for it whenever you can. Thanks!

[@ig2d]

@@queenvrook many thanks for your answer much appreciated... I've just downloaded your data base and chessbase reader and am really enjoying studying this ending further. Even if I never play it in a game it is just great fun... (By the way - there was a Q v R ending played today between Nepo and MVL) Although the transition into the ending was really interesting and well played by MVL I'm not sure the ending itself was that impressively played (or commentated!)

[@jasonc0065]

Your website does not exist. Your link does not work.

[@queenvrook]

Yeah, I eventually abandoned the web site. And another person said that the link to the database didn't work, but it worked for me, and when I said so, the other person re-tried it and said, well I'll be. Now it works. Try it again, I have no idea what Google might be doing behind the scenes, but clearly it works sometimes and not others.

[@Malvegil357]

What is the difference between a Harassment defense and a Distant defense?

[@queenvrook]

In a Distant defense, the defending pieces stand on opposite sides of the board, but either on the same rank (or file) or one apart. All distant defenses have one property in common: The King and Rook can re-unite in one Rook move. So, Kd8 and Re1, the Rook can play Re7 and come under the King's protection. The Harassment defense also has the King and Rook widely separated, but the Rook cannot return to the King in one move. Normally, if the King and Rook are far apart and cannot re-unite in a single move, the Rook can be forked. But in the Harassment defense, the Rook hides behind the attacking King, on the same diagonal as the attacking King, making forks very difficult. As you can see, when the attacker breaks the Harassment defense, the King and Rook must follow a very strict path in order to re-unite safely in the corner of the board without falling prey to a fork. Come to think of it, this would be good material for another video I've been pondering. Thanks!

[@jono5744]

What app do I use to open the .cbv file?

[@queenvrook]

Download Chessbase Reader. It should unpack the file into a full Chessbase set of files and indices.

[@ig2d]

@@queenvrook thank you for your wonderful content... is the chessbase reader for PC only or is there a mobile (android) app version. I couldn't see it on the play store

[@Malvegil357]

What program opens cbv files?

[@queenvrook]

ChessBase Reader, which is a free download from ChessBase. Also, full ChessBase will open such files.

[@Malvegil357]

@@queenvrook I installed CB Reader and looked inside the cbv file. Are all the files visual with no audio?

[@Glicerol]

I could not find your website :(

[@queenvrook]

Here is the full database: drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwd3qrHq0s1pbHdMSWFSS2d3QWc/view?usp=sharing

[@Glicerol]

@@queenvrook yep I noticed your link in description. Thank you.

[@MaverickVersusEverything]

You are setting the bar high for creators. MVE gives likes where likes are due - take it. --Mav's bodyguards

[@alaaranga2765]

This comment makes me laugh :D

[@mozartiano123]

Great lesson

[@sharansivadas3678]

On 11:22 what if black king Plays kc5 ?

[@queenvrook]

At 11:22 Black can't play Kc5, because the White Queen is on c5. I'm going to assume you are asking about 1...Kf4. (The first rank is at the bottom of the board and the eighth rank at the top.) The key is that Black is trying to keep the Rook on the same diagonal as the White King. So White should take the opposition with 2. Kd4!. The result is complex, but if Black tries to maintain harassment through 2...Ra1, then 3.Kd3 and suddenly it's very difficult to reunite the Black pieces. For example, 3...Ra4 4.Qd6+ Kg5 and now a common trick for the attacker, 5.Qd8+ Kh6 6.Qb6+ and now, checking from behind the diagonal of the Rook, White forces the Black King to the edge of the board and into a fork: Kg7 Qc7+ Kg8 Qd8+ and next move Qd7+. If instead, Black plays 2...Ra4+, then again White plays 3.Kd3, because the Queen covers the checking square a3. Black's best is 3...Kg3 4.Ke3 Rg4, when 5.Qe5+ forces either a Wishbone, which White turns into a Thorn, or else 5...Kg2 6.Ke2 Rg3 7.Qe4+ and Black's tricky option is 7...Kg1, when White needs to know to play 8. Qd5! with zugzwang. It's a complex option, which may be covered in more detail in the second Harassment video, it's been so long that I don't recall if I put it in there. Thanks!

[@sharansivadas3678]

@@queenvrook Thanks and sorry for the confusion