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Two rooks vs. two rooks endgame

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archaja

Hi!

I miss something. Can´t find a tutorial or article or lecture about two rooks vs. two rooks. But it happens regularely to me. Also nothing on youtube to find, except of one puzzle. Maybe there is something hidden. Maybe somebody can help.

Oliver_Prescott

2 rooks vs 2 rooks is very simple, don't get skewered. if u don't then it's a draw.

 

Oliver_Prescott

Yea, assuming it's black to move, he can skewer white's pieces and win the game with Re1+ or Ra5+. Yea, just be careful about that...

archaja

ah yeah, that´s not what I mean. Such Ideas are obvoiusly! I mean "real" endgames. With some pawns somewhere, with the possibility to queen or to get mated etc.

Arisktotle

There is theory about 2R vs 2R (plus pawns) endings but don't ask me where to find it. I was taught that double rook endings "always" draw even when you're up some pawns so you'd better exchange a pair if you can when aiming for a win. If nothing else, this is a concept to remember in game play.

archaja
Arisktotle hat geschrieben:

There is theory about 2R vs 2R (plus pawns) endings but don't ask me where to find it. I was taught that double rook endings "always" draw even when you're up some pawns so you'd better exchange a pair if you can when aiming for a win. If nothing else, this is a concept to remember in game play.

thanks, that was helpful. for the beginning. like more wink.png

ponz111

archaja you should have mention at the start you did not mean endings with 2 rooks vs two rooks.

You meant with pawns.  There are books on Rook endings which explain this basic ending. The theory is not easy however. 

Dsmith42

@ONLY-THE-BESTS - 1. Rxh7+ Kg8 2. Rh8# is a move faster.

@archaja - The key to rook endgames, whether each side has one rook or two, is rook activity.  This means control of the open files, attacking pawns from behind where possible, and from the side where it isn't.  In general, rook activity is worth a whole pawn.  If defending a pawn is forcing your rooks into a passive position, sacrifice the pawn immediately.  King activity is also important - the side with the more active king will want to trade the rooks off quickly, as the king & pawn endgame is almost always won for him.  Most importantly, don't overextend your pawns!

There's no substitute for experience here, unfortunately.  However, the key to strong rook play is control of the open files, and the key to strong endgame play is king activity.  In most endgames at your level, the side which activates the king first wins.

archaja

Hi! Thanks, that was helpful. Yes, I should have mentioned it, that I meant real endgames with pawns. The other thing without pawns is rather theoritical, cause it happens so very rarely. But now I've some Ideas of managing such endgames. I feel more comfortable when both sides only have one rook. Thankd for help!

Arisktotle

Actually, that is a good point. King activity matters. And it is precisely the reason why you should often exchange a pair of rooks. The king is too vulnerable when it is out in the open against 2 rooks.

dirtyfox558

just asking though I am a strong player 1900 plus elo I can't understand how to win the following positon