Practical Rook Endgames
The endings that decide tournament games · by Kapilash Chess Academy
Rook endings are the most common endings in practical play. Learn the active rook, the Tarrasch rule, cutting off the king, checking distance, the a-pawn and the Vancura position, rook and two pawns, rook against pawns, rook against bishop and knight, and endings with more pawns. Every exercise has been checked with a chess engine and has exactly one move that wins or draws.
Lessons
-
1
The Active Rook — Activity is worth a pawnOpen →
Why activity decides rook endings; active and passive rooks; using the king as the pawn's shelter from checks.
-
2
Rooks Behind Passed Pawns — The Tarrasch ruleOpen →
The Tarrasch rule: rooks belong behind passed pawns; why a rook in front of its own pawn is passive; defending from behind.
-
3
Cutting Off the King — Ranks and files as wallsOpen →
Cutting off the defending king along a file or rank; why two files usually win; first cut off, then the king, then the pawn.
-
4
Defence: Checks from the Right Distance — The long side and the short sideOpen →
Defending R+P vs R: checks from the right distance, the long side and the short side, and using the king against the pawn.
-
5
The a-Pawn and the Vancura Position — The most common rook endingOpen →
The most common rook ending: the a-pawn; the Vancura position; the skewer trick every defender must know.
-
6
Rook and Two Pawns against Rook — Usually a win — with careOpen →
Rook and two pawns against rook: connected and split pawns, technique for the attacker and chances for the defender.
-
7
Rook against Pawns — When the pawns runOpen →
Rook against advanced pawns: cutting off the king, attacking from behind, and the defender's under-promotion and stalemate tricks.
-
8
Rook Endings with More Pawns — Four against three and pawns on both wingsOpen →
Four against three on one side and pawns on both wings: compact defence, the outside passed pawn and rook activity.
-
9
Rook against Bishop — The right cornerOpen →
Rook against bishop: the safe corner of the opposite colour, the wrong corner and the mating net.
-
10
Rook against Knight — Keep the knight closeOpen →
Rook against knight: keeping king and knight together, away from the edge, and bringing the knight back with checks.
-
11
Practical Rook Endings — Finding the only moveOpen →
Mixed practical rook endings where only one move wins or draws.
-
12
Test Yourself — Mixed rook endingsOpen →
Thirty mixed rook endings from every lesson: win or draw with the only correct move.