Lesson 1 Simple Mates Rook and King - 1

The first thing a student should do, is to familiarize himself with the power of the pieces.
This can best be done by learning how to accomplish quickly some of the simple mates.

Simple Mates

Rook and King

Example 1



1.Ra7

In this position the power of the Rook is demonstrated by the first move, which immediately confines the Black King to the last rank, and the mate is quickly accomplished.

1...Kg8 2.Kg2

The combined action of King and Rook is needed to arrive at a position in which mate can be forced. The general principle for a beginner to follow is to keep his King as much as possible on the same rank, or, as in this case, file, as the opposing King. When, in this case, the King has been brought to the sixth rank, it is better to place it, not on the same file, but on the one next to it towards the center.    

2...Kf8 3.Kf3 Ke8 4.Ke4 Kd8 5.Kd5 Kc8

On move 5 Black could have played 5...Ke8 and, according to principle, White would have continued  6.Kd6 Kf8 (the Black King will ultimately be forced to move in front of the White King and be mated by Ra8)  7.Ke6 Kg8 8.Kf6 Kh8 9.Kg6 Kg8 10.Ra8#

6.Kd6

Not 6.Kc6 because then the Black King will go back to Kd8 and it will take much longer to mate.

6...Kb8

If now the King moves back to  6...Kd8 7.Ra8#

7.Rc7 Ka8 8.Kc6 Kb8 9.Kb6 Ka8 10.Rc8#

It has taken exactly ten moves to mate from the original position.

Learn chess the right way! Visit   https://bit.ly/chess_forkids


You may practice the checkmate. Choose the level Grandmaster.


Lessons from "Chess Fundamentals" by J R Capablanca

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