How To Checkmate With A Rook

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How To Checkmate With A Rook
How To Checkmate With A Rook

Video: How To Checkmate With A Rook

Video: How To Checkmate With A Rook
Video: Chess Endgames: Checkmating with a Rook 2024, March
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To a beginner in chess, the variations in the position of pieces and moves seem endless and immense. By practicing regularly, you can notice certain patterns and typical steps that allow you to beat your opponent. One of the mating techniques involves the rook.

How to checkmate with a rook
How to checkmate with a rook

It is necessary

chess

Instructions

Step 1

Learn to checkmate with two rooks. This combination implies that the opponent has only the king and no other pieces. Since the king can only move one square in any direction, and the rook can only move in a straight line for any number of squares, if they are free, it is necessary to "lock" the king on the edge of the board. To do this, place one rook on the penultimate one, and the other on the last line of the board (where the king is). Just do not bring the rooks close to the opponent's piece, so as not to put them under the attack of the king.

Step 2

Rook and queen checkmates follow the same principle. The situation is more complicated when you have only your king and one rook left against the enemy king. In this case, the strongest piece is directly involved in the mate. It is necessary to drive the opponent to the edge of the board or into a corner. For this, the kings must be in opposition (that is, they must be located across one square, controlling three squares between each other): for example, the attacking white king on b6 and the black king on b8. By bringing the rook to the eighth rank, you checkmate the lone king. The same applies to any other side of the chessboard.

Step 3

Position your pieces so that your opponent's king is on the extreme line between your king and rook, two lines away from him. Any movement of the king worsens his position, but according to the rules of the chess game, he cannot but make a move (this situation is called zugzwang or "forced move"). The opponent's king is in opposition with your king, and on the next move you put him under attack from your rook.

Step 4

Now learn how to drive the king to the edge of the board. The most advantageous position for the lone king is the center (d5 or d6 squares). Having overcome the temptation to immediately declare check with the rook, place it in one line from the opponent's piece (in this example, on a4). While the opponent takes steps back and forth, trying to keep the center, move your king towards him (in the described case, up, to the eighth rank). The position of the opposition (one cell opposite each other) will force the opponent to move the king away from your pieces. The king of the attacking side must be within the knight's step from the opponent. The rook in this technique only checks when the king's way down for the opponent is cut off.

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