---
title: Endgame Bootcamp 13
description: Three Rook Endings
image: https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=jMmGMYGzVohT.webp&w=880&sig=21754dd0185282d5fa70659d9e5af555abffac83
---

### **Endgame Bootcamp 1: [Camp](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp/3VXJL7wB)[Addendum](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/re-endgame-bootcamp/wwQMDWSN)**

### **Endgame Bootcamp 2: [Part 1](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-2-part-1/aIDD7Y1x)[Part 2](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-2-part-2/JpPkX8Cz)** [Part 3](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-2-part-3/2gYhPqvg) [Part 4](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-2-part-4/c0fIh3Nl)

### **Endgame Bootcamp: [3 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-3/rmBsa8wO)[4 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-part-4/khakVb8y)[5 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-5/hiJT379m)[6 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-6-letting-wins-slip/BKRmqj1o)[7 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-7-mating-nets/5fAWVCTm)[8 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-8-exploring-a-draw/tYYs0Y0z)[9 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-9-two-rook-and-pawn-endings/MsUN2HUV)[10 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-10/cG9ffgdS)[11 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-11/zH9vbSRT)[12 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-12/M0rlUB3k)[13 ](https://lichess.org/@/Mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-13/i6FuAoar)[14](https://lichess.org/@/mradsomer/blog/endgame-bootcamp-14/fghAyh2D)**


## Only one move to Draw for Black in the position, with a sharp continuation.

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcyc1rPmr4JIMs7ZEw7pZ-uzmYj8ytaBJ2COM6bXNeicdD-XIEy-20NhRRr17Le32sSpQ_QisYik9T51A8yV-NNoxcos3qGdH07l65_7U2P7KjkIUxU3ggwegP1tXjbvxmjvb-R1APa7TXpwpKXpN54GlvY5PPmrd3od8oO1ZNw0lqhKlblrmsnTl6uNc=w396-h400)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgcyc1rPmr4JIMs7ZEw7pZ-uzmYj8ytaBJ2COM6bXNeicdD-XIEy-20NhRRr17Le32sSpQ_QisYik9T51A8yV-NNoxcos3qGdH07l65_7U2P7KjkIUxU3ggwegP1tXjbvxmjvb-R1APa7TXpwpKXpN54GlvY5PPmrd3od8oO1ZNw0lqhKlblrmsnTl6uNc)

### White has a looming threat of promoting on the d file, so Black has to stir up enough counterplay as there’s no way to stop White from promoting.

Rh3+ holds for Black, forcing Kxg5. Black’s continuation should be reflexive for most players: Rg8 Kf4 Rxh6 d8=Q Rxd8 Rxd8 and now Black could make other moves aside from Rxh2 that still draws, but it’s safest to reduce White’s pawns when possible. This also allows us to be in the coveted Tablebase territory.

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfdsAr8Ff7-266eVERI7aAJoBmek3nq8QBD8IvmaA3BnU1Cy7KlVDsxe-q0qbczR3WbQYkF9_8nDeHw3XYODIIZfKQUOeM3w7oLZ6RdAsMBxUXODqqx0NB4UIF5vAWt5179ZTXOrYcJ88SzNTSOGKcPj4cWJS4C2F_hcsFyXoqiTjWamjtqtqpDli9snY=w199-h200)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfdsAr8Ff7-266eVERI7aAJoBmek3nq8QBD8IvmaA3BnU1Cy7KlVDsxe-q0qbczR3WbQYkF9_8nDeHw3XYODIIZfKQUOeM3w7oLZ6RdAsMBxUXODqqx0NB4UIF5vAWt5179ZTXOrYcJ88SzNTSOGKcPj4cWJS4C2F_hcsFyXoqiTjWamjtqtqpDli9snY)

3R4/1p3k2/p7/8/PP3K2/8/7r/8 w - - 0 54

## There’s only one move that loses for Black in this position.....

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvwZOCaTO_hX-Jwb_6VLO4tfL0vj8gPuIdNB4j-DQBcO5ffxb70I2lqnDUHAFsU2Bs6R-8Y5QuQRHNhN0Pr078jvFkaMFuYJEHTey6iVURLoLR7M-4S6nI1hYA866RLqETdiQKzEpJNpTwjYZAQ8dCgeEZQCYYU5YEIkCLDrJw2Keu-HK0VaF0RtP06vo=w398-h400)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvwZOCaTO_hX-Jwb_6VLO4tfL0vj8gPuIdNB4j-DQBcO5ffxb70I2lqnDUHAFsU2Bs6R-8Y5QuQRHNhN0Pr078jvFkaMFuYJEHTey6iVURLoLR7M-4S6nI1hYA866RLqETdiQKzEpJNpTwjYZAQ8dCgeEZQCYYU5YEIkCLDrJw2Keu-HK0VaF0RtP06vo)

Ke4 is so bad, how bad is it? It lets the White King “invade” whereas Black can easily hold opposition while on the 5th rank.
The victory march for White: Kc4 Ke5 Kb5 Kd5 Kxb6 Kc4

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPMDnSiIVVuk2dVME5c84ShtyliA8EsN7nNu2WcBVStNo5RSmT7MW5HjV1X6zAhpJIzThNgRWzv85sc1TT3jK_lAuR2tSMiL4FDjeyRWV1jvcGax8HwZtCSCPSFll0WQlvhXPumV_aGxmyAOxKOZtP_wiooydoip6tNIK7STcLFE2mX6_WGyMN4ouMiMU=w200-h200)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPMDnSiIVVuk2dVME5c84ShtyliA8EsN7nNu2WcBVStNo5RSmT7MW5HjV1X6zAhpJIzThNgRWzv85sc1TT3jK_lAuR2tSMiL4FDjeyRWV1jvcGax8HwZtCSCPSFll0WQlvhXPumV_aGxmyAOxKOZtP_wiooydoip6tNIK7STcLFE2mX6_WGyMN4ouMiMU)
Kxa5 Kb3 Kb5 Kxb2 a5 and the Black King cannot stop the a pawn from promoting, or use their Kingside pawns to promote because White’s Kingside pawns easily blockade.
[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfB4P9YtnOuNhaA71qtf0S3Ju4pIlQH7ylgCQofmv5ba21AdjdECVMY33572PnX59EauHcRPgk2JhTkOzxB7CIOo5yVBiL0lcCS8i_4nH_Wp9K1DPUDm44mKO_CQS76KAJqD_y5ra5K4vBln3hN7PC4Rtbpji0ZHEm6LYIrh-sWCIae6zfAyTeLiRMV3k=w200-h200)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfB4P9YtnOuNhaA71qtf0S3Ju4pIlQH7ylgCQofmv5ba21AdjdECVMY33572PnX59EauHcRPgk2JhTkOzxB7CIOo5yVBiL0lcCS8i_4nH_Wp9K1DPUDm44mKO_CQS76KAJqD_y5ra5K4vBln3hN7PC4Rtbpji0ZHEm6LYIrh-sWCIae6zfAyTeLiRMV3k)

## Our final position is an exercise for those time crunch games, where closing the casket before the clock reaches zero is essential! Can you spot the tactic that gives ground to White’s only winning continuation?

[![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6Wt_2bXUAnMEQVxfyR7zeWmwUdhfNPcnD65Tv6KaPBNmaJRea-hpJI61a6Hpr77AhNINk0zry6sAr0I5C_YKJsDdr_io2ZnPJ0NsbQQov-YmCaS2i7qcoXgJvlhYRPfm-BCJWIQ21NFOVOeCwUDyC3XIgpRNpUNOt9yxTRiixZsJM4VQ38Ru7Zkm_b_0=w400-h390)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6Wt_2bXUAnMEQVxfyR7zeWmwUdhfNPcnD65Tv6KaPBNmaJRea-hpJI61a6Hpr77AhNINk0zry6sAr0I5C_YKJsDdr_io2ZnPJ0NsbQQov-YmCaS2i7qcoXgJvlhYRPfm-BCJWIQ21NFOVOeCwUDyC3XIgpRNpUNOt9yxTRiixZsJM4VQ38Ru7Zkm_b_0)

We have a couple things to consider for this advantage after the winning tactic:
Rh7+ Kg5 Rh5+ Kxg4 Rxb5

The Black King is already on the side of the board, let’s capitalize on the fact that it’s easy to mate with a pair of rooks this way.

The Black rook has to stay put to stop from the pair of rooks quickly pushing the King to the edge, otherwise it moves off the g file and makes the job easier for White’s pair.

If Black exchanges their rook for one of White’s we should be confident in our ability to mate with the remaining heavy piece, with or without clearing all pawns that could promote. This is most likely the “best” defense as it takes away White’s pair, and delays the inevitable. (after Rxb5 Rg5 Rxg5 Kxg5 Rxa7)

After Rxb5 if Rh6+ then Kg1 and a5 is now inappropriate, due to the following sequence: a5 Rg7+ Kh4 Rb3 Rg6 Rxg6 Kh5 Rg8 f3 Rxf3. This is the first example of the main technique White will use for securing the win, Black can draw it out as long as they can.

If a5 rather than Rh6+, White doubles with Rbf5, threatening to take on f4 with check. If Black checks with Rh6 Kg1 still follows and after whatever move by black like Re6, Rxf5 with check. When check is given and the Black King moves to g3, it’s a bit shorter mate this time: Rf3 Kg4 Rg7 Rg6 Rxg6 Kh5 Rg8

Congrats on making it to the end of this short Bootcamp. Hopefully these exercises keep you sharp for Summer games and/or contributed to your endgame knowledge.