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Worksheet: Rook and King Checkmate

Topic: endgame | Level: 3 | Week 8

Use the rook to cut off lines, bring your king with opposition, and mate only when the enemy king is trapped on the edge.

Why This Matters

  • A rook mate works by cutting the king off and then using your king to steal the last safe squares.
  • Do not bring the rook too close to the enemy king unless your own king is nearby, because the rook can get chased away.
  • Opposition matters: your king often stands one file or rank away so the enemy king cannot step back toward the center.

Objectives

  • Use a rook to cut the king off from part of the board.
  • Bring your king closer so the rook is not trying to mate alone.
  • Finish the rook mate with king support instead of checking too early.

Practice Tasks

  1. Why can’t a rook checkmate by itself without its king?
  2. In the mini-game, which edge is Black being pushed toward?
  3. Solve each rook-mate practice position and underline the move where the rook acts like a wall.

Board Walkthrough

Follow the lesson one board at a time. The teacher answer key includes the move list.

Board 1
Board 2
Board 3
Board 4
Board 5
Board 6
Board 7
Board 8
Board 9
Board 10
Board 11
Board 12

Practice Positions

Solve each position on paper first. Answers live only in the separate teacher/parent key.

Practice 1

White to move. Find checkmate in one.

Practice 2

Before checking, improve your king. Find the safe king move that helps the rook.

Practice 3

Now use the rook to cut the king off from one more rank.

Practice 4

Finish the rook-and-king technique from here. Find White’s full line to mate.

Mini-Game

Play this with a partner. White should cut off the king with the rook, then use the king to help. If the rook checks without a plan, talk about which escape square was missed.

Answer Key

Rook and King Checkmate

Teacher/parent key for Worksheet: Rook and King Checkmate.

Worksheet Answers

  1. Prompt: Why can’t a rook checkmate by itself without its king?

    The rook needs its own king to cover the final escape squares. Otherwise the enemy king can keep slipping away.

  2. Prompt: In the mini-game, which edge is Black being pushed toward?

    Black is being pushed toward the back rank and then toward the corner.

  3. Prompt: Solve each rook-mate practice position and underline the move where the rook acts like a wall.

    Kf5 improves the king, Ra7+ builds a wall, and the final sequence ends with Rh8#.

Model Line

  1. Kf5
  2. Kh7
  3. Ra7+
  4. Kg8
  5. Kf6
  6. Kh8
  7. Ra8+
  8. Kh7
  9. Rb8
  10. Kh6
  11. Rh8#

Practice Position Solutions

Rook and King Checkmate — Practice 1

White to move. Find checkmate in one.

Solution: Rh1#

The white king on f7 already covers g7 and g8, so the black king can't step sideways. Rh1 checks along the h-file, and since g7/g8 are covered by the white king, there is no escape.

Rook and King Checkmate — Practice 2

Before checking, improve your king. Find the safe king move that helps the rook.

Solution: Kf5

The rook alone cannot mate. Kf5 brings the king closer so it can take away escape squares later.

Rook and King Checkmate — Practice 3

Now use the rook to cut the king off from one more rank.

Solution: Ra7+

Ra7+ is a useful rook check because it also builds a wall. The black king is pushed closer to the edge.

Rook and King Checkmate — Practice 4

Finish the rook-and-king technique from here. Find White’s full line to mate.

Solution: Ra8+ Kh7 Rb8 Kh6 Rh8#

The rook first gives check from the edge, then shifts to the next wall, and finally mates once the white king covers the last escape squares.