Rook Endgame Guide
A practical study page focused on the most common and most important rook
endgame techniques.
Core Principles
- Activate your rook first. Passive rook positions lose many drawable endings.
- Place rooks behind passed pawns whenever possible.
- King activity and rook activity usually matter more than pawn count.
Essential Positions
- Lucena: Build a bridge to convert rook + pawn vs rook.
- Philidor: Use side checks and third-rank defense to hold draws.
- Cutoff king: Restrict the enemy king before pushing your pawn.
Training Plan
- Memorize Lucena and Philidor from both colors.
- Practice rook activity puzzles with limited time control.
- Review your games for passive rook mistakes and king inactivity.