In this lesson we're looking at

ROOK ENDIN

GS.

Rook endin

gs occur more often than any

other sort of endin

g.

There's a lot you

need to

know about them, so, if

you're ready, step

inside. 

The first thing you need to know is that QUEEN

AGAINST ROOK is a win - but it's often very hard to

prove it.

Here's a typical example, with Black to move.

Wherever he moves his Rook, White will be able to

play a series of checks ending up with a QUEEN

FORK.

For example:1...Rb7-b1

2.Qa5-d8+ Kb8-a73.Qd8-d4+ Ka7-a84.Qd4-h8+ Ka8-a7

5.Qh8-h7+ 

Now, a quick look at what happens with Rook

against Pawn.

Sometimes the Rook can stop the Pawn and win, sometimes it's a draw.

It all depends where the Kings are and how far advanced the pawn is.

These positions are not always easy to play - they need a bit of thought and a bit of calculation to get

them right. 

Take this position, for instance.

Although the White King is stuck in the corner he can still win by

cutting off the enemy King. Given that clue, can you find the

winning move?

   

Yes, White can cut off the Black King with Rg8-g5.

Now if Black pushes his pawn - c4-c3 - Black

continues with Rg5-g3 and Rg3-c3, winning the

Pawn.

The idea of using the Rook to cut off the enemy King is very important in King

and Rook endings.

Many players make the mistake of using their

Rook to CHECK the enemy King - which just drives him up the board where

he wants to go. 

Next IMPORTANT FACT ABOUT ROOKS AND

PAWNS:

In the absence of Kings, two connected pawns on the 6th rank will beat a

Rook.

Take this position, for example.

If it's Black's move he can win by pushing either

pawn - the best White can hope for is a position with

Rook against Queen.

Check this out for yourself before moving on. 

So in this position, if it's Black's move he wins.

But if it's White's move he can win. Can you see how he does

it?

RR

   

Yes, the only move to win is Ra6-g6.

(Ra6-a7+ would only draw - it would bring the Black King one square nearer the pawns - remember

what I said about useless rook checks.)

All other moves lose.

Notice how the White Rook stops BOTH Black Pawns from advancing. 

So Black has nothing better than to move his King to d7, reaching

this position.

Again, White must act quickly, before the Black King gets near enough for him to draw. How

can he win a pawn here?

   

Here's the position after the winning move: Rg6-

g4.

White will now win a pawn and the game.

For example, if Black plays g3-g2 we continue Rg4xg2 Kd7-e6 Rg2-g5, CUTTING OFF THE KING. 

We're now going to move onto the most important part of the

lesson.

We're going to consider some positions with ROOK AND PAWN

AGAINST ROOK.

If you have ROOK AND PAWN against ROOK and you want to

win you should ask LUCY!!

And if you want to draw with ROOK against ROOK AND PAWN

you have to consult PHIL!! 

Having said that, what are you going to play for White here? 

   

Yes, the easiest way to draw is to play Rb1-b3.

Again, notice the idea of using your Rook to stop your opponent's King

advancing.

Now the only way for White to make progress is to push his Pawn, which

leads to the next question. 

OK, it's White's move. This time you've got a choice.

Which of these do you prefer?

 Rb4-b1   Rb4-b3

 Rb4-b8   Kf1-g1

 

Rb3-b1 and Kf1-g1 are both passive - Black can win most easily by Ra2-

h2.

Rb3-b4+ is another useless check - Black plays Kg4-g3, forcing

White's Rook back to b1, when again Ra2-h2 will win. If White wants to

draw he must be able to check Black from behind, so, of your four choices, Rb3-b8 is the only move

to draw. 

So White plays Rb3-b8 and Black moves his King up to threaten

mate - Kg4-g3.

What next for White?

   

Yes, the only move to draw is Rb8-g8+ - this time a useful check!

You see what's going to happen, don't you?

White keeps on checking Black from behind. If the

Black King every approaches the Rook White just moves the

Rook back to the f-file and wins the f-pawn. 

This example, the PHILIDOR position, is REALLY IMPORTANT. All serious chess players MUST

know it.

If you're defending the ending with Rook against Rook and Pawn

this is what you try to do:

1. Move your King to the QUEENING SQUARE.

2. Keep your Rook on your 3rd RANK to keep the enemy King

out.

3. When your opponent's pawn reaches its 6th RANK (your 3rd RANK) move your Rook to the

back of the board.

4. Then, when his King moves to his 6th RANK keep on CHECKING

from behind. 

Another important word of advice.

It's almost always correct to use your Rook ACTIVELY in ROOK

AND PAWN ENDINGS.

Get your Rook up the board into your opponent's position to

attack his Pawns and, if his King advances up the board, to check

him from behind. 

Well, we've seen how PHIL can help us draw when we've got Rook against

Rook and Pawn.

Now let's see how LUCY can help us win with Rook and Pawn against Rook.

This is known (mistakenly) as the LUCENA POSITION.

(Someone called Lucena wrote a chess book in

1497 which didn't include this position. It first appeared in a book

written by Salvio in 1643. So it should really be

called the Salvio position - and you should consult Sal rather than Lucy!) 

You will see that this time White has moved his King to the Queening square.

There are several ways to win this position, but the one discovered by Salvio is the easiest and best

one to learn.

It's also called BUILDING A BRIDGE - you'll see why in

a minute.

White needs to bring his King out again while

finding a way to shelter from the Black Rook's

checks. 

At the moment the Black King is too close - we need to drive him

away.

How do we do this?

   

Correct! White plays Re1-d1+ (a useful check

because it drives Black further away from the

pawn) and let's say Black goes Kd7-c7 (Kd7-e6

allows Kf8-e8 when Black has no good checks).

This is where we BUILD A BRIDGE.

We need to find a move which will enable the Rook to block a check while the White King still defends the Pawn, and, at the

same time is far enough away from the Black King.

To do this we are going to move the Rook to the 4th RANK. DON'T FORGET! 

So tell me, what is White's next move here?

   

Fine! White plays Rd1-d4 and Black plays a WAITING MOVE:

Rg2-g1.

It's now time for your King to emerge and find shelter from

the Black checks. Go ahead and play the move.

   

Yes, the King emerges via e7. Now White's

threatening to Queen so Black has to check.

You might like to play these moves out on your

board.

...Rg1-e1+Ke7-f6 Re1-f1+Kf6-e6 Rf1-e1+Ke6-f5 Re1-f1+ 

Here's the position. How are you going to get out of check this

time?

   

Now you see the idea, don't you?

The Rook helps the White King avoid the checks.

There's now no way Black can prevent White getting

a Queen.

Again, this position is VERY IMPORTANT. Make

sure you KNOW, REMEMBER and

UNDERSTAND it. 

The PHILIDOR and LUCENA positions are the basis of

understanding most endings with Rook and Pawn against Rook.

You will see from these positions that the player who gets his King to the Queening square usually

gets the result he wants.

There's one other position with King and Rook against King which

is well worth learning off by heart.

Let's have a look. 

In this position it's BLACK's move - which of

these moves is best?

 Kg7-f7   Kg8-f6

 Kg7-g6   Kg7-h7

 

In this position Black can draw by playing Kg7-h7

(or by moving his Rook up the a-file).

If he plays his King to f6 or g6 (or h6) White can win by checking with his Rook, then queening his

pawn.

But do you see what's wrong with moving the

King to f7? 

Here's the position after the Black King moves to f7.

Select your move for White.

   

The winning move is Ra8-h8.

You see why, don't you?

If Black takes the pawn White wins the Black Rook with a SKEWER - Rh8-h7+.

To draw this sort of position Black has to keep his King on either g7 or h7

- nowhere else will do.

Another piece of essential endgame knowledge for

you! 

Bearing that in mind, what should White play here?

Be careful!!

   

Don't think I've gone mad when I tell you the answer is Rb8xb2!

Yes, White is walking straight into a SKEWER - but there is

method in his madness. What should he play now?

   

Yes, White should play Ke2-f3, reaching this

position.

Now if Black takes the White Rook, guess what,

it's STALEMATE!!

And if, for instance, Black plays Rh2-h4 to defend his Pawn, one way for

White to draw is to offer the Rook again - Rb2-h2.

Just a little joke to finish with - but these things really do happen. This came from a game in a

Grandmaster tournament played back in 1946. 

A few words of advice about endings with more pawns:

1. With TWO extra pawns you should expect to win. There are two exceptions, though. Many

positions with f- and h-pawns, or a- and c-pawns are drawn. Some positions with a- and h-pawns are

drawn.

2. In Rook endings, 3 pawns against 2 on the same side is

usually drawn. 4 pawns against 3 on the same side is often drawn.

You will have more winning chances with an extra pawn if

you keep pawns on BOTH sides of the board.

3. Keep your Rook active - using it from behind to attack enemy

pawns. An active Rook is usually worth a pawn in Rook endings.

4. Use your Rook to keep the enemy King out of play - don't check him to force him up the

board.

5. If you have a PASSED PAWN the best place for your Rook is

usually BEHIND it. If your opponent has a PASSED PAWN

again the best place is BEHIND it. REMEMBER: ROOKS BELONG

BEHIND PASSED PAWNS (RBBPP!). 6. BEFORE you exchange off into a ROOK

ENDING you must ASSESS the position - work out whether you

think you are winning, drawing or losing.

7. Likewise, if you are in a Rook ending and you have the chance

to offer or make a Rook exchange, you must CALCULATE

what's happening in the KING AND PAWN ending BEFORE you

decide whether or not to exchange Rooks. 

Congratulations!!

You have now completed the ROOK ENDINGS assignment.