Knight and Rook Pawn vs Knight: The Deflecting Sacrifice
White to play and win
PlayA rook pawn is the passed pawn a lone knight fears most, and White uses that right away. Give up the knight to drag the defender onto g7, then the h-pawn simply runs.
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Deflect the Blockader, Run the Rook Pawn
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
The closer a passed pawn stands to the edge of the board, the harder a knight finds it to cope. Rook pawns are the most dangerous of all, because the edge takes away half the squares the knight would use to keep coming back.
Do not prepare, deflect. Patient play does not win here. 1.h6 is only a draw. The one winning move is 1.Ng7+, giving up the knight to force the defender onto g7.
The pawn attacks the blockader. After 1...Nxg7, the advance 2.h6 hits the knight, and whatever Black does the pawn goes to h7 and h8. The knight on g7 never controls h8.
In this drill the defender will try to sit on the blockade squares. Strike at once with the check, and count the race: the pawn is faster.
Keep going
Stopping the Rook Pawn With Check
Black to play and draw
Sacrifice to Clear the Pawn's Path
White to play and win
Defend the Passed Pawn From Behind
White to play and win
All 21 knight endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)