The long side defence in rook endings: checks from far away
Learn to hold rook against rook and pawn from the side: king on the short side of the pawn, rook on the long side, checks from far away, and the pawn taken as soon as the white king leaves it.
To the long side
You are a pawn down, and your king stands on the short side of the pawn. Your rook belongs on the other side, far from the pawn.
Play Ra2: the rook goes to the long side, as far from the pawn as it can. Ra2 e6
2. e6 e6: the pawn runs on.
Play Kg7: your king leaves the back rank. Kg7 e7
3. e7 e7: one step from queening.
Play Ra6+: the checks begin, from as far away as possible. Ra6+ Kd7
4. Kd7 Kd7: the king steps up next to its pawn.
Play Ra7+: check again. If the king goes back to d6, Ra6+ starts over. Ra7+
From the a-file the rook keeps checking, and the white king has nowhere to hide.
Checks from the side
White took the a-file, but on the b-file your rook is still three files from the pawn. That is far enough.
Play Rb6+: check along the 6th rank. Rb6+ Kd7
2. Kd7 Kd7: the king steps up.
Play Rb7+: check along the 7th rank. Rb7+ Kd8
3. Kd8 Kd8: the king steps up again.
Play Rb8+: and along the 8th. Rb8+ Kd7
4. Kd7 Kd7: the king has to come back.
Play Rb7+: the checks go on. Rb7+
The king walks up and down, and the rook follows it. A draw.
The pawn left alone
To escape the checks the white king has to walk away from its pawn. As soon as it does, the pawn is yours.
Play Ra7+: check. Ra7+ Kd8
2. Kd8 Kd8: the king steps up and still guards the pawn.
Play Ra8+: check again. Ra8+ Kc7
3. Kc7 Kc7: the king leaves the pawn and heads for your rook.
Play Ra7+: check along the 7th rank, the rank of the pawn. Ra7+ Kb6
4. Kb6 Kb6: the king attacks the rook, but it no longer guards the pawn.
Play Rxe7: nothing guards the pawn, so take it. Rxe7
The pawn is gone: rook against rook, and it is a draw.
Key ideas
- Your king goes to the short side of the pawn, your rook to the long side.
- From three files away or more the rook checks without being caught.
- To escape the checks the white king has to leave the pawn: then take it.
Common mistakes
- Checking from close by: the white king walks up to the rook, and the checks run out.
- Leaving the a-file to the white rook.
- Checking on when the pawn stands unguarded: take it.