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Learn · lesson 7 of 8 · Rook endgames

Rook checkmate

King and rook push the king to the edge rank by rank. Required from the first lesson.

White to move: White wins

Basic position: Rook checkmate – White: Ke1, Ra1; Black: Ke58a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Basic position: Rook checkmate – White: Ke1, Ra1; Black: Ke58a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

Rook endgames · Rook vs. pawns

The position and its key

King and rook push the king to the edge rank by rank. Required from the first lesson.

The verdict

White to move: White wins

The key

Shrink the box

Practice it In the endgame tree Study it on the analysis board

Rook checkmate

How to recognize it

  1. King and rook vs. king
  2. The rook cuts the king off: a rank or file as the border
  3. Your king comes closer, then the rook moves up – the box gets smaller
  4. Mate on the edge when the kings face each other

Rook checkmate

In our databases

Games in which exactly this kind of position stood on the board – recognized by material and the places of the pieces, each confirmed by the tablebase. Counted from the stronger side's view.

112games reached it
93 %won by the stronger side
7 %ended in a draw
0 %lost by the stronger side

Often comes from these openings

B22 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 5 D00 Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Accepted 3 B07 Pirc Defense 3 A45 Indian Defense 3 B91 Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 2

Examples – the great players first

Position from M. Carlsen – Ding Liren · Carlsen-Ding Showdown G5, 2017 – White: Kf3; Black: Kg5, Rg48a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Draw M. Carlsen – Ding Liren · Carlsen-Ding Showdown G5, 2017 · after move 78
Position from Viktor Kortschnoj – Anatoly Karpov · Roquebrune rapid, 1992 – White: Kc2; Black: Kf1, Rd58a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Draw Viktor Kortschnoj – Anatoly Karpov · Roquebrune rapid, 1992 · after move 63
Position from W. So – L. Dominguez Perez · Champions Showdown G20, 2017 – White: Kc3; Black: Ke4, Rh68a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Stronger side won W. So – L. Dominguez Perez · Champions Showdown G20, 2017 · after move 90
Position from Nikolai Vlassov – Michael Adams · RUS Fed Internet Cup Final 5', 2004 – White: Kd3; Black: Kc5, Rc18a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Stronger side won Nikolai Vlassov – Michael Adams · RUS Fed Internet Cup Final 5', 2004 · after move 71
Position from Veselin Topalov – Christian Bauer · Pedro Zabala mem, 2004 – White: Kb7; Black: Kd5, Rc58a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Stronger side won Veselin Topalov – Christian Bauer · Pedro Zabala mem, 2004 · after move 89
Position from Efim Bogoljubow – Rudolf Spielmann · Berlin, 1926 – White: Kg7, Re6; Black: Kc38a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h
Stronger side won Efim Bogoljubow – Rudolf Spielmann · Berlin, 1926 · after move 71

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