The Exchange (chess) - in The Endgame

In The Endgame

In the middlegame, the advantage of an exchange is usually enough to win the game if the side with the rook has one or more pawns. In an endgame without pawns, the advantage of the exchange is normally not enough to win (see pawnless chess endgame). The most common exceptions when there are no pawns are (1) a rook versus a bishop in which the defending king is trapped in a corner of the same color as his bishop, (2) a knight separated from its king that may be cornered and lost, and (3) the king and knight are poorly placed (Nunn 2002:9,31).

In the endgame of a rook and a pawn versus a knight and a pawn, if the pawns are passed the rook is much stronger and should win. If the pawns are not passed, the side with knight has good drawing chances if its pieces are well-placed (Müller & Lamprecht 2001:260–63).

In the endgame of a rook and a pawn versus a bishop and pawn, If the pawns are on the same file, the bishop has good chances to draw if the pawns are blocked and the opposing pawn is on a square the bishop can attack; otherwise the rook usually wins. If the pawns are passed the rook normally wins. If the pawns are not passed and are on adjacent files, it is difficult to assess but the bishop may be able to draw (Müller & Lamprecht 2001:274–79).

In an endgame with more pawns on the board (i.e. a rook and pawns versus a minor piece with the same number of pawns) the rook usually wins (Müller & Lamprecht 2001:256–91). This position is typical. The superior side should remember these things:

1. the main idea is to get the king through to capture opposing pawns
2. force as many opposing pawns as possible onto the same color square as the bishop
3. some pawn exchanges may be necessary to open files, but keep pawns on both sides of the board
4. try to keep the position unbalanced. A passed pawn almost immediately becomes a winning advantage (Fine & Benko 2003:478–79).

If the minor piece has an extra pawn (i.e. one pawn for the exchange), the rook should win, but with difficulty. If the minor piece has two extra pawns, the endgame should be a draw (Fine & Benko 2003:478ff).