It's ENDGAME time!! In this lesson you'll learn how to get CHECKMATE with just a KING and a ROOK. It's easy - if you know how. |
First of all this is what a KING & ROOK CHECKMATE looks like. The enemy King is on the edge of the board and your King is exactly two squares away. |
If the King is in the corner the CHECKMATE can also look like this. So, just as with KING & QUEEN against King you have to drive the opposing King to the edge of the board. |
We'll start with this position. Get out your chess set, set up the position and play it through yourself. Start with these moves: 1. Ra1-a4 Ke5-d5 |
See how the White Rook cuts off the Black King. Black is trying to keep his King in the center. Now White moves his King towards the center: play the moves Ke1-e2 for White and Kd5-e5 for Black. |
With any luck you should have reached this position. Again White moves his King in while Black stays in the middle: play Ke2-e3 for White and Ke5-d5 for Black. |
Now the King is in a box. What we do is make the box smaller and smaller until he has nowhere to run. |
White now plays a move which confines Black to the North West quarter of the board. Is it...
Ra4-a5+
Ra4-e4
Ra4-a1 Ra4-a8 |
In this position you can play a ROOK move to make the box smaller. Which of these moves would you choose?
Re4-e5+
Re4-a4
Re4-c4+ Re4-d4 |
Which of these moves should White play next?
Rd4-d5
Rd4-c4+
Ke3-e4 Ke2-f2 |
Yes, White's King approached: Ke3-e4 and Black's King went back from c6 to c5. It's your move again.
Ke4-e5
Ke4-e3
Rd4-c4+ Rd4-d8 |
White still can't make the box smaller so his King approaches the enemy: Ke4-e5 and Black's King goes back to c6. Can you make the box smaller this time?
Rd4-d7
Rd4-d6+
Rd4-d5 Ke5-e4 |
Yes: White played Rd4-d5 (the box is now 9 squares) and Black played Kc6-c7. Can you make that box even smaller?
Rd5-d6
Rd5-d7+
Rd5-c5+ Rd5-b5 |
Again White makes the box smaller - 6 squares - with Rd5-d6 and Black plays Kc7-b7. What next?
Ke5-f4
Ke5-d5
Rd6-d7+ Rd6-c6 |
White's King approaches again: Ke5-d5 - and Black's King returns: Kb7-c7. Now what?
Rd6-c6+
Rd6-d7+
Kd5-e5 Kd5-c5 |
Again the White King moves nearer - Kd5-c5 and the Black King returns - Kc7-b7. Over to you - you should have the idea by now!
Rd6-a6
Rd6-b6
Rd6-c6 Kc5-d5 |
White's move, Rd6-c6, confines Black to a box of just FOUR squares. Black replies with Kb7-a7. What are you going to do next?now!
Rc6-b6
Rc6-a6+
Kc5-d4 Kc5-b4 |
White's last move, Rc6-b6, confines the Black King to a box of just TWO squares. Black has no choice but to play Ka7-a8. It's time to move in!
Rb6-b7
Rb6-a6+
Kc5-d4 Kc5-c6 |
White's King comes one square nearer: Kc5-c6 and Black can only play Ka8-a7. You're nearly there now.
Rb6-b7+
Rb6-a6+
Kc6-c7 Kc6-c5 |
The White King advances again: Kc6-c7, and the Black King returns to the corner: Ka7-a8. Over to you for the winning move.
Rb6-b7
Rb6-a6+
Rb6-b8+ Kc7-c8 |
There you are: it's CHECKMATE. When you've finished the lessson try it out for yourself. |
You reached this position with BLACK to move. He had to play Ka7-a8, allowing CHECKMATE. Now suppose it's WHITE's move. Which of these moves is the quickest way to win.
Rb6-b1
Rb6-b7+
Kc7-c6 Rb6-h6 |
In this position there's only ONE way for White to FORCE checkmate in TWO MOVES. Can you find it? |
The White Rook controls the FOURTH RANK to stop the Black King escaping. His only move is Kh5-h6, when Rd4-h4 is CHECKMATE!! |
Again, White has to FORCE CHECKMATE in TWO MOVES. |
Black has no choice - Kb1-c1, when Ra8-a1 is CHECKMATE. Other moves take longer - try them out for yourself if you don't believe me. |
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