# Rook plus King vs King **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 6, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007 "2007-06-06T16:56:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/1 "2007-06-06T16:56:03Z")
Is there a general rule as to whether a Rook and King can checkmate a King? Does it end in a draw? Does it depend strongly on the configuration? Etc. I’ve got a game against the computer program Arasan where I’ve got the rook and king and the program has the king. I find I can beat the program with these pieces, but I don’t know if that’s because it’s really a winnable position or if the program just isn’t playing it correctly. An example position from which I win the game against Arasan is: White King on B8, White Rook on G5, Black King on F4, White’s turn to move. Am I supposed to be able to win from this position, or should it be a draw? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/2 "2007-06-06T17:01:55Z")
Rook and King vs. King is a pretty elementary win for the side with the rook. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/3 "2007-06-06T17:03:25Z")
Here’s a [link](http://www.finitechess.com/end2.htm) describing the strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/4 "2007-06-06T17:07:03Z")
You gotta be able to do that with your eyes closed. Especially if you play much blitz. It’s the “waiting move” that you need to make to get his kind back on the same rank/file that is tricky for a beginner. Set it up, and do it 25 times in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/5 "2007-06-06T17:24:49Z")
Queen + King vs King = Checkmate Rook + King vs King = Checkmate Bishop + Bishop + King vs King = Checkmate I can’t remember any other combinations; those are the three I know. – IG ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/6 "2007-06-06T17:26:55Z")
Bishop, Knight and King vs. King is also a checkmate, but a difficult one. There is a method and it should be learned by a serious chess player, though. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/7 "2007-06-06T17:27:27Z")
Bishop + Knight + King vs King: Checkmate, but very difficult. Knight + Knight + King vs King: Drawn barring an elementary error by the weaker side. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/8 "2007-06-06T17:30:17Z")
Good to know! I knew Knight + Knight + King vs King was a draw. – IG ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/9 "2007-06-06T17:30:21Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] Is there a general rule as to whether a Rook and King can checkmate a King? Does it end in a draw? Does it depend strongly on the configuration? Etc. I’ve got a game against the computer program Arasan where I’ve got the rook and king and the program has the king. I find I can beat the program with these pieces, but I don’t know if that’s because it’s really a winnable position or if the program just isn’t playing it correctly. An example position from which I win the game against Arasan is: White King on B8, White Rook on G5, Black King on F4, White’s turn to move. Am I supposed to be able to win from this position, or should it be a draw? -FrL- [/QUOTE] Specifically: Get your Rook away from the enemy King while you bring your own King up. After that, gradually encroach on the enemy King’s territory. Note that in some position such as Kf6 and Rd4 versus Kf4, the weaker King must retreat. Eventually you repeat this position on the edge of the board, and that’s mate. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/10 "2007-06-06T17:31:27Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] Good to know! I knew Knight + Knight + King vs King was a draw. – IG [/QUOTE] There is a position such as Ka6, Nb6, Nc6 versus Ka8 that is mate, but it is easily shown that this cannot be forced. Try it out, and if in doubt, ask. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/11 "2007-06-06T22:39:24Z")
Paging **glee**. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rook-plus-king-vs-king/407007/12 "2007-06-07T09:29:51Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] Bishop, Knight and King vs. King is also a checkmate, but a difficult one. There is a method and it should be learned by a serious chess player, though. [/QUOTE] As an exercise in piece cooperation it is excellent, but it is rare for such an ending to arise in practical play.