How do I force checkmate with just a king and a rook?

Answer 1

Jessej, you are wrong. The game is a win for the player with King and Rook v King, Stalemate is not the same thing as a draw and stalemate is unlikely to occur in this ending.

What may occur is that the player with the rook repeats the position three times (by foolishly making pointless checks) and allows a draw by threefold repetition of the position or that 50 moves occur since a pawn was last moved or a piece was last captured, which would also be a draw, this time under the 50-move rule.

But in both cases the draw only happens because the player with the rook, doesn't know what to do and hasn't got a plan.

Basically the mate has to occur at the edge of the board and the aim must be to restrict the number of squares the bare king can go to, To force him there.

Never give a check unless that restricts the squares the opponent's king can go to. The only useful check is one where the two kings are opposite one another and the rook is sideways on to the enemy king: eg Black King on e7, White King on e5, White rook on a7 (having moved there from a6). The effect is to restrict the king to the 8th rank thereafter and mate won't be far off now.

eg 1. Ra7+ Ke8
2. Kd6! (don't move opposite him, make him move opposite you)

If Black obligingly plays 2 ... Kd8 then 3. Ra8 is checknate. So of course he now tries to run away:

2. ...Kf8
and you then chase him "into the corner and out again"
3. Ke6 Kg8
4, Kf6 Kh8
5, Kg6 Kg8 (forced)
6, Ra8 checkmate

Note that 6. Rg7 check achieves nothing

Note that refraining from checking Black except when you can force him back a row means he cannot escape to the centre of the board

NB You sometimes need to waste a move with the rook so as to force his king to come opposite your king, The name of the game is containment. Anyone who thinks it is about giving lots of checks will just throw away the win.

Answer 2

Hi John,

Use your King to force your opponent's King to an edge somewhere; if you can force him into a corner even better. Use your Rook to set up boundaries so that your opponent can not run away with his King. Ideally, you want you King directly facing your opponent with one row or file separating the two of you. When in that position, use your Rook to make the Checkmate. The Rook calls check and your opponent's King can not move off that rank or file since your King prevents that escape. It's very similar to Queen & King v. King but since the Rook does not have the diagonal attack, it can take a bit more to manover into the correct position.

Cheers.

Answer 3

Its NOT impossible because I've done it before. I'll try to explain this the best way I can.

The key is not where you move the rook, but the king. Use the king to constantly cut off squares while marching his king towards a corner or edge of the board. Then when his king gets into a position were it can only move eitehr up or down, slide your rook onto its row to call checkmate. His/her king won't be able to escape because kings cannot be adjacent to each other, and the rook would be calling checkmate because of the king's inability to move out of the row.

Answer 4

If all your opponent has is a king left then you can trap him in the cornor. First get your rook set so that it is at the opposite side of the board as your opponent and make it so that he can't move past THREE rows. Then just begin closing in with your king. It takes a lot of moves to get the trap but just be careful not to lose your rook in the process by letting your opponent get one space away. Its a common mistake because you feel invincible and completely let your guard down. If his king gets close then just move the rook to the other end of the board. You also must guard against a STALEMATE. When you're getting close with your king be sure that your opponent has a move that he can make. You'll eventually trap him so that he can only move in 2 squares. You must move your king so that he is 2X3 deep on the board and your rook must make the checkmate move all the way against the side. His king won't be able to move right because your king is there and can't move up because the rook will take the king. I hope I've explained the best I can. Best thing to do is to set up the scenario.

Answer 5

OK,

When King is facing a King, with one square between them, whoever has to move, has to move backwards. Whoever does not have move is said to have the opposition.

This concept is the hardest to understand, but is the basis for all Rook endings. Practice first by setting up the Kings in a random fashion until you get the idea. Basically, if a King has to move into a worse square, in this case backwards, he has the the disadvantage.

If you bring a Rook into these positions, the bare king can always be made to move backwards. When your King is facing the other King, with one square between your King and his, and its your move, check with the Rook. He will be forced to move backwards.

Move your King diagonally forward. The other King has to move. Keep moving your King so that he will eventually have to face your King once again.

When this happens, again check him with your Rook. Continue this process until the enemy King on on the edge of the board. When you check him when he is on the edge of the board, he cannot move backwards, and it is checkmate.

There is a little more finesse that is sometimes required, but you will begin to understand more as you practice.

Rob

Answer 6

King and Rook vs King is a basic mating pattern. The idea is to first force your opponent's King to the edge of the board and then maneuver your King and Rook so they cut off the opposing King's escape squares when you deliver check with the Rook.

I know that sounds pretty abstract, so here are four examples taken from "Pandofini's endgame course", pp25-28:

1. Black King: f8, White King: e6, White Rook: a7
Mate in 4: 1. Rb7 Kg8 2. Kf6 Kh8 3. Kg6 Kg8 4. Rb8 mate

2. Black King: f8, White King: e6, White Rook: d5
Mate in 2: 1. Rg5 Ke8 2. Rg8 mate

3. Black King: e8, White King: e6, White Rook: e2
Mate in 3: 1. R any move then if 1. ...Kd8 2 .R to the c file Ke8 3.Rc8 mate OR 1. ...Kf8 2 .R to the f file Ke8 3.Rf8 mate

4. Black King: e7, White King: f5, White Rook: e5
Mate in 5: 1. Re7+ Kf8 2. Kf6 Kg8 3. Kg6 Kf8 4. Re6 Kg8 5. Re8 mate

Play these patterns over a few time and it will give you a feel for the method..Good Luck!

Answer 7

first u tied up ur opponent king in the last row and bring forward ur king in such a way that ur king is exactly opposite in the next after square i.e if ur opponent king is in 8th row ur king should be in 6th row.then put a check with ur rook in the opponent kings row.

black king white rook in the same row

square left

white king

check the above once in ur board and try to practice to checkmate ok.
for more details buy an opening move by alexy socholsky.
itz a very nice book.
the author given the opening,middle game and end game strategies very well
if u practice this book well,ull be one of the rated player ok.
all the best.

Answer 8

Just to clear up one thing..

You do not have to force your opponent's King into a corner in order to checkmate with the King and Rook... you merely have to force him to the edge of the board.

Answer 9

You have to do it in 50 moves. Force the opponents king to the edge of the board. When his king is in the same row as yours and two squares away, bring your rook to the same row as his king. That's checkmate.

Answer 10

Jesse is wrong. The others are correct. Use the edge and corner of the board to force king opposition on your move and then mate with the rook from a distance.