Chess Puzzles
Play ChessMini ChessSurvivalTakesCheckSmotheredMate in 1Mate in 2Mate in 3Chess SolitaireChain CaptureKing and PawnRook EndgameZugzwangQueen vs Pawn
Top PlayersBlogThinking Three Moves Ahead in the Mate in 3 PuzzleHow to Win at the Check PuzzleMastering Chain CaptureWhat Is Zugzwang and How Do You Use It?
Play ChessMini ChessSurvivalTakesCheckSmotheredMate in 1Mate in 2Mate in 3Chess SolitaireChain CaptureKing and PawnRook EndgameZugzwangQueen vs Pawn
Top PlayersBlogThinking Three Moves Ahead in the Mate in 3 PuzzleHow to Win at the Check PuzzleMastering Chain CaptureWhat Is Zugzwang and How Do You Use It?

Rook Endgame

Cut off the king with the rook and bring your king up to deliver mate.

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Ready to play?

Timer starts on click. Solve faster for more points.

Want to go deeper? How to Win the Rook Endgame

Rules
  • You play White.
  • Deliver checkmate in 2 moves.
  • Black always plays its best defense.
  • Stalemate counts as a loss.

How to Play

1

King and rook vs lone king

You have a king and rook against the bare Black king. This is a fundamental endgame every chess player must master.

2

Cut off the king with the rook

Use the rook to restrict the Black king to an ever-smaller area of the board, pushing it toward an edge or corner.

3

Bring your king in

The rook alone cannot deliver checkmate. Coordinate your king to approach and help box in the Black king.

4

Deliver the back-rank mate

Once the Black king is trapped on a rank or file, place the rook on that rank or file with your king providing support.