Exercise 11.1Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
11
Endgame Essentials · Kapilash Chess Academy
Rook Endings: the Lucena Position
Building a bridge
In this lesson you will learn
- What the Lucena position is
- Building a bridge to stop rook checks
- Cutting off the defending king
- How to win rook and pawn against rook
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
11.1 The Winning Position
Rook endings are the most common endings in practical play. The most important winning position is the Lucena position: the attacking king is in front of its pawn on the seventh rank, and the defending king is cut off from the pawn by at least one file.
The problem is that the white king cannot come out without facing endless rook checks. The solution is to build a bridge: the rook goes to the fourth rank, so that later it can block the checks.
Diagram 11.1White to move
Example 11.1 · The Lucena position
White's king is on b8 in front of the b7-pawn, and the black king is cut off on the d-file.
First 1.♖d1+ drives the black king one more file away. Then 2.♖d4! prepares the bridge. The white king comes out, and when the checks reach the b-file, the rook blocks on b4. The pawn queens next move.
Key ideaRemember the order: check to push the king away, rook to the fourth rank, king out, block the checks with the rook.
Diagram 11.2White to move
Example 11.2 · Rook and pawn against rook
White's pawn is on f6. Black's rook is behind the pawn. Only one plan wins.
White uses the king and rook together to protect the pawn and shield it from checks. In rook endings, the activity of the king and the rook often matters more than the extra pawn.
Remember
- Lucena: king in front of the pawn on the seventh, defending king cut off.
- Check first to push the defending king further away.
- Rook to the fourth rank: the bridge.
- King out, then block the checks with the rook.
Exercises · Lesson 11
Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine: exactly one move keeps the best result. Find it and play it on the board.
Exercise 11.2Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.3Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.4Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.5Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.6Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.7Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.8Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.9Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.
Exercise 11.10Find the move
White to move
White to move and win.