Rook and Two Pawns Versus Rook
(Levenfish & Smyslov 1971), diagram 124| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 | 8 | ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
A rook and two pawns generally win against a rook, but there are exceptions. In actual games, the side with the pawns wins 82% of the time (Emms 2008:29).
- Positions with doubled pawns are usually a draw if the defending king can get in front of the pawns. If the defending king cannot get in front of the pawns, the outcome depends on which file the pawns are on and where the defending king is cut off. If the defending king is cut off by more than one file, the pawns win, except if they are rook pawns. If the pawns are on the c through f file then they win if the opposing king is cut off by one file (or more) on the long side, otherwise they draw.
- Positions with two connected pawns are usually won easily, but there can be difficulties if one pawn is a rook pawn. There are also positions where the defender can draw by blockading the pawns and some other drawn positions (Nunn 2010:108–52).
- Positions with isolated pawns have fewer changes to win than with connected pawns. Positions with two rook pawns are often a draw. A position with a rook pawn and bishop pawn on the same side of the board is usually a draw if they are not far advanced, but the defense is difficult. Overall, the rook pawn and bishop pawn win in 61% of games (Emms 2008:35). The rook pawn and bishop pawn almost always win if they both reach their sixth rank. Other drawn positions exist (Nunn 2009:122–27), (Müller & Lamprecht 2001:192–204).
Read more about this topic: Rook And Pawn Versus Rook Endgame