Endgame Bootcamp 19

I used to not know how to checkmate with King and Rook, I would stalemate, or draw via repetition, or lose the rook. I had learned as a kid and then forgotten. What helped me re-learn was Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals. I have heard that other books also devote a small portion of space to this idea, or rather the idea of ending the game with a few pieces left on the board.

Sound familiar? It should if you've read Endgame Bootcamp 10.

One should be 100% confident they can end the game quickly with one heavy piece (queens and rooks), and the King against a lone King. So rather than going over the approach towards a winning position we shall discuss the finishing moves this time.

My hopes with this Bootcamp is you start the process of fine tuning your mating methods, because time scrambles will eventually occur, and so will time advantage. Use the time you have to your advantage for a quicker win, don't sloppily rush if it's not needed. Save the sloppiness for when the clock is near 0.

I am providing multiple starting positions for you to set up OTB or online (fen provided). Solutions will be towards the end. Breakdowns of techniques/ideas to solve these positions are next, and may be used prior to peeking at the solutions!

We are not worried about best moves, we are worried about proper technique in time scrambles, that will guarantee a pre-move frenzy win.

Techniques and Ideas: Exercising Fundamentals

Backrank: When a King is on the 1st or 8th rank of the board (same rank as their starting position) and has no escape square, i.e. if you could place a checking piece on the same rank as the King without the King being able to recapture, it's mated.

Black blundered back rank with RxR or Rxd8.

Ladder mate: When two rooks or two queens, or a rook and queen mate by moving one square at a time in coordination to continuously check the King until mate. Walking the King from one part to another like a room with the wall coming down and no escape hatch.

Queens ladder

Queen and rook Ladder

Note how the Queen protects the Rook so even if the Black King had approached there wouldn't be a capture. This is important to understand when mating with two rooks ladder style, because they cannot protect each other during the process.

Rooks ladder

Compared to the shorter mates possible, we still get the job done.

I specifically wanted display the ideas of connecting and disconnecting the pair of rooks for ladder mate when under attack by the opposing King.

Surprise Drill: Mate in six

k7/8/r7/r7/1K6/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

You have four options which will be provided in the solutions section.

Key Concepts

You don't have to ladder with Queens/Rooks/or combinations of the two, there are other ways to finish the game.

The idea is to restrict the King, imagine a box around the King as big as all the squares it can go to, if there's a way to restrict those squares to two options you won't stalemate, just approach while the King juggles back and forth between those squares, to deliver the end.

Use your King as one edge of the box, and when you are directly across from the opposing King you usually follow whichever direction unless a rook move is needed to expedite the process.

Use your rook to section the board off, making a line the opposing King cannot cross, and when they approach your Rook keep it on the same line but as far away from their King until you've approached with your King.

Once your King and rook are connected, and the opposing King has been restricted to some section of the board, you are able to work in conjunction to further close the "box" around the King.

Let's take a look at some King and Rook positions.

Part 1

Black should confidently mate White using the restrictive ideas discussed above. 4kr2/8/8/8/3K4/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Part 2

Again, Black should confidently mate white. 8/8/2k5/2r5/1K6/8/8/8 w - - 9 6

Now a lengthier look into a Queen Ladder (surprise M11 drill for some)

4q3/8/8/1k4P1/4KQ1P/8/8/8 w - - 13 62

First you will force the opposing queen off the board with a check from your own. Then you position your King to eliminate the Black King from invading the Kingside where you'll promote those pawns. There's a ton of space for the Black King to walk around without you worrying that Queens promoting will cause stalemate. After promotion it's ladder time! But for those who want a harder challenge, they'll find the fastest mate in 11, and of course there's plenty of variations with the Black King having options for squares in the Net.

Solution Time!

Mate in six Drill options 1-4

Mating with King and Rook pt.1

Mating with King and Rook pt.2

Checkmating with two Queens!

A Mate in 11

Congrats on making it to the end of this Bootcamp. Have a safe spooky HALLOWEEN!