Rook

Winning Rook Endgames

Intermediate

Step 1 of 4

White to move · Promote

1
Check the king so it goes a file further away.
2
Put your rook on the fourth rank.
3
Bring your king out from in front of the pawn.
4
Walk toward your rook. When the checks come, block one with the rook.

How to play the winning rook endgames

In the Lucena position your pawn is on the seventh rank, your king stands in front of it, and your rook cuts the enemy king off by at least one file. It is a win, but your king has to get out from in front of the pawn without being checked forever. The method is called building a bridge. Put your rook on the fourth rank, walk your king out toward it, and when the checks come close, block one with the rook. It works with any pawn except a rook pawn.

Check the king so it goes a file further away.

Put your rook on the fourth rank.

Bring your king out from in front of the pawn.

Walk toward your rook. When the checks come, block one with the rook.

Every move is checked with an endgame tablebase, which knows the exact result of every position with up to seven pieces. The computer defends perfectly, and if a move throws the result away, the trainer stops and shows you a better one.