Checkmate with Rook and King

Previously when I continued reading my book Chess for Juniors, I was learning how I could result the match in a stalemate (in other words a tie). However I was curious if I would be able to achieve a checkmate, by just using 2 pieces. I was in luck, on chapter 15 it showed exactly that. As I went into the chapter it showed me how I could win by just using 2 pieces, a Rook and my King. However there was a catch, even though it showed me how to win it also showed me how I could result the match in a stalemate (losing my chance to win). So this mean I would have to pay close attention to my following moves and avoiding the moves that the book had listed not to do, and also to take out all of the other pieces.

Now its time to try this method out, of course I have to take all of the other pieces out and set the pieces up the same way as the book did. Then I started to follow the books directions, "As the Rook moves up one rank at a time, the Black King will have fewer and fewer squares available." So after following the books direction I became closer to checkmate. Then I followed their continuing steps "4, Kd3 Kd5, step 5 Ra5+ Kd6." by following steps you are able to reduce the amount of steps that black is able to move and being one step closer to winning. So by then following the third to last step, "6 . . . Ke6 7 Ra6+ Kd7 8 Ke5 Ke7" I was reducing the Black king to only 4 squares to move. Moving on to the next step which is the second to last move, "11 Kd6 Kb8 12 Rc7" so by doing this the Black king is even more limited to move because it would only have 2 squares left to move, which means it can only move back and fourth. Last but not least the most important move, to finally end the match, "12 . . . Ka8 13 Kc6 Kb8 14 Kb6 Ka8 15 Rc8++." However, before the match ending move the book said a move that you shouldn't do or else the match would become a stalemate, " Rb7" and you would lose your chance to win. So because I avoided the that move I was able to win with just two pieces a Rook and a King.

Starting Point 

Step 4 

Step 5 

Step 6 

Step 7 

Checkmate

Work Cited 

Snyder, Robert Michael. “Chess for Juniors: a Complete Guide for the Beginner.” Chess for Juniors: a Complete Guide for the Beginner, David McKay Co, 1991, pp. 173–178.

Question: Have you guys ever tried to win with just 2 pieces left? If you tried using only a rook and a king to win before, did you win or made the mistake of resulting it into a stalemate?