Dejan Bojkov:

What Rooks Want

Lazy, clumsy, slow-this is the first
impression that one gets about the rooks
when looking at the board, and following
closely the development of a game. Indeed,
these straightforward pieces spend a lot of
time watching the others efforts in the
center and wait patiently while some files
are open to show what they can.
Rooks are unusual, this is for sure. Make a
small experiment and you will understand
why. First place your rook in the middle of
the open board. Choose any center square.
How many squares does it hit?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+R+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The total is fourteen. Now choose a corner
square for the same piece, but keep the board
open. What would be the result?

XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov

Pretty much the same-fourteen! Even

experienced players are surprised to see the
result. All our life we are thought how
important the centralization is and here
comes the rook that spoils the whole system.
In order to understand best the rooks, we
need to know what their fears are.
First and foremost, rooks suffer from
Claustrophobia:
Shavtvaladze N. : Jankovic A.
Kalamaria 2008

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mkpzp0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-trPzp-zP0
9+-tR-+P+-0
9-zP-+K+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Grandmaster Jankovic was pushing hard for
win in this game and his overambitious
approach could have ended badly. in time
trouble the game continued:
38...Rb4?!
Not yet a decisive mistake but a step in the
wrong direction.
39.b3
Forced, but now the a4 and c4 squares are
taken from the black rook.
39...g5
Black continues with the agression all over
the board. It was not late to retreat the rook
on an active position - 39...Rd4=.
40.hg5 hg5?
The last move in the time-trouble is an
authomatical recapture which could have led
to a disaster. Black could have still saved the
game with 40...Kg5!, when the line 41.Rd3
Kf6 42.Kd2 Rd4! is not losing for Black, as
after 43.Rd4 ed4 44.Kd3 Ke5 45.b4 Black
1

has reserve pawn move - 45...h5=, thus

avoiding the zugzwang.
41.Rd3!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-mk-+0
9+p+-zp-zp-0
9-tr-+Pzp-+0
9+P+R+P+-0
9-+-+K+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Rb4 walked straight into the trap! It is now
limited by both its own Pawn b5 and the
white pawns on b3 and e4 and the white
Rd3. The only way out is through the d4
square, but this is not enough. White will
spoil the pawn structure of the opponent and
will win the separated pawn on d file thanks
to the zugzwang.
41...g4
The last try which suddenly works.
42.Kf2??
Played a tempo. Right after Shavtvaladze
played the move did he realize what he had
done.
The win was trivial instead: 42.Kd2 the king
goes for the trapped rook. 42...gf3 43.gf3
Rd4 44.Rd4 ed4 45.Kd3 Ke5 46.b4+. In
this line it is all the rook to blame for the
loss.
42...Kg5!
Now everything is back to normal. The rook
got unexpected support by the black king.
43.Ke2 Kh4 44.Kf2
Alas, 44.Kd2?? is no longer winning. In fact,
it might lose the game after 44...Kg3 45.Kc3
Rd4 46.Rd4 ed4 47.Kd4 Kg2+.
44...Kg5 45.Ke2 Kh4 46.Kf2
Draw.
This example leads us to the conclusion that
if we manage to exclude the opponents rook
FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov

from the play we may have significant

advantage. This winning strategy is
demonstrated by the following game:
Pfleger M. : Tiemann C.
Germany 2008

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+p+p0
9-+-tR-+p+0
9zpr+p+-+-0
9-+p+-zPP+0
9zP-+-+-+P0
9-zPP+-+-+0
9+-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
If in the prevous example the rook went on a
passive position volunateerily, in this case it
was forced:
28.a4! Rb4
Or else 28...Rc5 29.c3, followed by
Kc1d2e3d4 when all the black pawns
fall.
29.c3 Rxa4 30.Kb1!
The rook is now locked forever on a4.
30...h6 31.Rd5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-+pzp0
9zp-+R+-+-0
9r+p+-zPP+0
9+-zP-+-+P0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+K+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Let's stop for a moment to analyze the
situation. There are two pictures on the
board. Picture one are the completely frozen
pieces on the queens-flank: the black Ra4,
2

and Pawns a5 and c4 as well as the white

Kb1 and Pawns b2, c3. They are not going
anywhere and we can easily neglect them
and concentrate on the other side of teh
board, where the white R + 3 Pawns is
fighting the black K and 3 Pawns. The battle
is uneven though and King has no chance.
31...Kf8
Another possible line is 31...Kg7 32.h4. The
pawns should help the rook find targets:
32...Kf6 33.Rd6 Ke7 34.Rb6 Kf8 35.h5!
(discovers the h6) 35...gh5 36.gh5 Kg7 37.f5
f6 38.Rb7 Kg8 39.Rc7 and it is zugzwang.
Black will have to give up one of the f6 or
h6 pawns.
32.h4
Not the only winning plan, but a very
convincing one.
32...Ke7 33.h5 Kf6 34.Rd6
34.g5 Kg7 35.hg6 fg6 36.Rd7 would also
win.
34...Kg7 35.Rc6
White is no hurry as he knows his opponent
has nowhere to go. The immediate 35.f5
would soon lead to zugzwang as well.
35...Kh7 36.hg6 fg6 37.Rc7 Kg8 38.f5
The R got support and the end is close.
38...gf5 39.gf5 h5 40.f6 h4 41.Rg7
A possible end would be 41...Kf8 (41...Kh8
42.Rg4 h3 43.f7) 42.Rh7 h3 43.Rh3 Kf7
44.Rf3 and Black will have sooner or later to
give up the Rook on a4 1:0.
In the previous example the white rook was
supported by an even number of pawns in
his battle against the black king. Let us now
check what happens if the rook has to handle
the situation all by itself.

FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov

Tarrasch (Theoretical Position), 1906

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+K+-+0
9+-+-zP-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White threatens to kick away the black king
and to promote his passer. Only a very active
rook can save the day:
1...Ra8
The black rook starts to torture the enemy
king until it gets away from the pawn.
2.Kd7 Ra7 3.Ke6 Ra6 4.Ke5 Ra5
Quite an enjoyable thing!
5.Kd4 Ra4 6.Kc5 Ra5 7.Kb6
Finally the king is showing teeth ...
7...Re5
but only to realize that it was outwitted by
the rook. Draw.
Black succeeded as the rook had enough
room to operate. Here is a useful conclusion:
The rooks like to attack the opponents king
(pieces) from far away.
Let us slightly change the previous position
to understand how important that conclusion
is.

Grigoriev (Theoretical Position)

The Rook is One Vertical Shorter

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+K+-+0
9+-+-zP-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-tr-+-+-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The only difference in comparison to the
previous example is that the black rook is
one vertical closer to the white king.
1...Rb8
Black lacks any other defensive resource and
sticks to the usual plan.
2.Kd7 Rb7 3.Kd8 Rb8 4.Kc7
The checks ended sooner than expected but
Black is still optimistic.
4...Ra8

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-mK-zP-mk-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
One more move and everything will end
FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov

well for the defender. Alas, this tempo is

crucial:
5.Ra1!
The rook is chased away from the active
position and White is in control.
5...Re8 6.Kd7 Kf7 7.Rf1 1:0.
Only one file difference changed completely
the evaluation of the position.
From the trainers perspective the
knowledge that we have received so far can
be used in explaining typical endgame
methods and ideas. Thus, the dry, concrete
knowledge can be supported by abstract
evaluations.
Cheron, 1944

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-tR0
9+KzP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-tr-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Kc6
1.Kb6 Rc1! 2.Kc6 (2.Rh8 Kd7 3.c6 Rc6)
2...Kb8! Lasker found this idea long time
before the analyzes of Cheron.
1...Kb8!
The main defensive method in this position.
We can use the knowledge that we have
received so far to explain it better to our
students. The Pawn c5 separates the board
into two half which are uneven. The longer
one should be kept for the more active piece,
the piece that likes to give checks from far
away. For the Rook it is all the same which
4

side will choose, but we need to make our

pieces work as a team. Thus the king goes on
the short side.
Bad is: 1...Kd8? 2.Rh8 Ke7 3.Kc7, followed
by c5c6 and White wins thanks to the
brigde method.
2.Rh8 Ka7 3.Rd8
The rook tries to shield the king from the
distant checks.
In case of 3.Kd7 Rg5! 4.c6 Rg7 and Black
starts the annoying checks from the long
side!
3...Rc1!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tR-+-+0
9mk-+-+-+-0
9-+K+-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-tr-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Now the pawn cannot be easily advanced.
4.Kd6
4.Rd7 Kb8=; 4.Rd5 Kb8!=. The familiar
method is demonstrated in case of 4.Rc8
Rh1 5.Kd7 Rh7, where the rook is once
again grateful for teh long side.
4...Kb7 5.Rd7 Kb8
Also good is 5...Kc8 6.Rc7 Kb8 7.Rh7 Rc2
8.c6 Rd2=.
6.c6 Rd1 7.Ke7 Rc1 Draw.
White cannot reinforce his position.
(Analyzes by Nikolay Minev are used.)

Bojkov, 2008
Open File

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9zp-zp-+pzpp0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9P+P+-zPPzP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rb1
In the diagrammed position, the side that is
about to move will certainly occupy the open
b-file. In its initial position the rook controls
only five squares, while on the b-file the
number of squares within its reached
increases to 12. From here it can penetrate
the opponents camp. The seventh rank is an
especially juicy target, as there are several
enemy pawns on this rank. A further typical
benefit of putting a rook on the seventh rank
is that this tends to restrict the enemy king.
Here is a summary of some useful general
pointers for play with open files:
1. Get control over the open file.
2. Double rooks.
3. The best place for a rook is on the 7th (2nd)
rank.
4. Penetrate the enemy position and destroy
it.
The utility of the seventh rank is
demonstrated in a beautiful way by A.
Nimtzowitsch in the book My System:

Then what is the really big thing that the

rooks like?
It is the open file.
FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov

Nimtzowitsch, My System

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-mk0
9snpzpp+RtR-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9p+-+-+-mK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Rh7 Kg8 2.Rfg7
White loads the winning mechanism.
2...Kf8 3.Rd7
And starts the harvest!
3...Kg8 4.Rdg7 Kf8 5.Rc7 Kg8 6.Rcg7 Kf8
7.Rb7
Three black pawns disappeared in no time,
but there is still a lot of prey on the seventh
rank.
7...Kg8 8.Rbg7 Kf8 9.Ra7
White wins the Pawn a2 and the game 9.Ra7 a1Q 10.Rh8# 1:0.
However, it is not only the seventh rank that
might be handy for a rook. The back-rank
checkmate is yet another reward for the
active rook:
Lellek Coenen, 1962

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9zp-+rzP-+-0
9-zp-zP-+-+0
9+-wq-+PzP-0
9P+-tRQ+KzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov

The only open file allows White a chance to

win the game:
1.Rc2 Qd4 2.Rc4!
This spoils teh coordination of the black
pieces.
2...Qb6
2...Qd2 3.Rc8 Rd8 4.Qd2 nets the queen for
White.
3.Rc8 Rd8 4.Qb5
With multiple threats, that Black cannot stop
1:0.
Do not forget that even when attacking on
the files the rooks do not mind (and
sometimes even prefer) to work from far
away.
Neikirkh O. : Botvinnik M.
Leipzig (ol) 1960

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+qtrk+0
9zpl+-+-zpp0
9-+-wQpzp-+0
9tRp+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-zPP+-+PzP0
9+-vL-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
24...Qd8!
The queens are also partially rooks and have
the natural desires of their cousins.
24...Qg6 is less accurate as White can
prolong the battle with 25.Qd2 (But not the
greedy 25.Qe6, when White is spectacularly
mated after 25...Kh8 26.Qe2 Re8 27.Qf2
Qg2 (27...Re1 would also do) 28.Qg2 Re1#).
25.Qe6
Or 25.Qd2 Qd2 26.Bd2 Rd8 27.Be3 Rd1+.
6

25...Rf7 26.Qe1 Re7

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-+k+0
9zpl+-tr-zpp0
9-+-+-zp-+0
9tRp+-+-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9-zPP+-+PzP0
9+-vL-wQ-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
The final positions deserve a diagram. All
the black heavy pieces work from far away,
but nevertheless White is helpless.
26...Re7 27.Qd2 Rd7 0:1.
This is almost everything you need to know
about your second best pieces. They are very
modest and everything they want from you
are some open files and enough working
place.
Threat them well, and they will be as
grateful as the ones that we have seen in the
examples above.

FIDE Surveys Dejan Bojkov