Suppose you're playing a game and winning easily.

You've got lots more pieces but you can't find a way to get CHECKMATE.

Here's a plan you can use which ends up with a sort of BACK RANK CHECKMATE.

We'll start with this position.

We are going to use our two rooks to drive the Black King to the back of the board and get CHECKMATE.

The two White Rooks are going to force the Black King to the side of the board one row at a time.

The first White Rook checks the Black King.

The Rooks are then going to take it in turns to say 'CHECK'.

Now the other Rook checks the Black King.

The King cannot move down the board into the line of the first Rook.

He cannot move sideways either so he must move up the board.

Now it's the first Rook's turn again.

See how the Rooks take it in turns to move.

Again the King must move up the board.

The second Rook checks again.

This time the King has no choice but to move to the top of the board.

He won't be around very much longer!

The first Rook now takes his turn again. This time it's CHECKMATE!

If the King tries to escape back down the board he runs into the other Rook's fire.

Now we'll go through it again, but this time Black will make it a bit harder for White.

The King is going to try to attack one of the White Rooks

Let's see what happens.

Again, the second Rook checks the Black King.

The King approaches him.

White must be careful. If the first Rook checks again, the Black King will CAPTURE the other Rook. What should he do?

The White Rook runs away to the other side of the board.

Not too far though, or he'll get in the way of his colleague.

Now the Black King tries to get back across to menace the Rooks again. Will he be in time?

The first Rook checks again.

The Black King tries to head towards the Rooks.

But he's going to be too late.

The second Rook checks again.

It's nearly all over. The Black King has no choice but to go to the top of the board.

Next move it will be CHECKMATE. Do you see how?

Again, the King is trapped on the side of the board.

If he tries to move sideways the first Rook gets him. If he tries to move back the second Rook gets him.

Again it's CHECKMATE.

Practise this CHECKMATE at home, or with a friend.

If you've got no one to practise it with, try it against DEEP RED.

Of course this CHECKMATE works just as well with a Queen and a Rook.

If you're winning a game and can't think how to finish it off try to get CHECKMATE by using two Rooks or a Queen and a Rook.

That's the end of the lesson.

What do you want to do now?

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