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Chess/The Endgame/Endings with Multiple Major Pieces

< Chess | The Endgame
The latest reviewed version was checked on 17 August 2018. There is 1 pending change awaiting review.

Endings with more than two major pieces usually proceed to checkmate in the same way as those with just two major pieces.

Of course a tremendous advance in material allows for shortcuts.

a b c d e f g h
8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
1a1 white rookb1 white rookc1 white rookd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
a b c d e f g h
Starting position for the three rooks vs. king checkmate

1. Ra5+

This denies the fifth rank to Black. He'll have to chose between 4th and 6th rank, but both are equally doomed.

1... Kg4

The king tries to approach the rook (hopelessly).

2. Rb3

This cuts off the third rank. The black king is fixed on the fourth rank and one move away from being mated.

2... Kf4

The king, although he knows that death is imminent, continues to approach the rooks.

3. Rc4#

Checkmate! The Black king cannot stay on the fourth rank because of the rook on c4. He can't flee to the fifth rank because of the rook on a5. And he can't flee to the third rank because of the rook on b3. My, that was quick, wasn't it?


a b c d e f g h
8a8 black kingb8 black kingc8 black kingd8 black kinge8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black kingh8 black king8
7a7 black kingb7 black kingc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black kingg7 black kingh7 black king7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 white rookb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white rookd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 white rookc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 black kingb2 black kingc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 black kingg2 black kingh2 black king2
1a1 black kingb1 black kingc1 black kingd1 black kinge1 black kingf1 black kingg1 white kingh1 black king1
a b c d e f g h
Checkmate!
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