Rook7th-1 - Black

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1. White mates in 4


Rooks belong on open files. Later in the middlegame players should use the Rooks to seize the 7th (and 8th) rank. This is normally catastrophic for the opponent. Here the Rook may create havoc amongst the pawns which are still standing on the 2nd rank, and will often create mating threats against the King. Occasionally a Rook or Rooks on the 7th may enable a draw through perpetual check or through Rook and Knight combining.

1. Qf1+ Ke8 2. Qb5+ Kf8 3. Qxc5+ Ke8 4. Qe7# 1-0


Rook7th-2 - Black

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Illustrates Rook on the 7th and Back Rank mate


1. Qxf7+! Rxf7 2. Re8+ Rf8 3. Rexf8# 1-0


Rook7th-3 - Black

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2. White forces mate


1. Nf6+ gxf6

1... Kh8 2. Qxh6+ gxh6 3. Rh7# an example of how the Rook on the seventh and Knight can combine.

2. Qe6+ Kh8 3. Qxf6+ Kg8 4. Qf7+ Kh8 5. Qh7# 1-0


Rook7th-4 - Black

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3. White forces mate again


1. Rxg7+! Kxg7

The Rook has to be taken

2. Rc7+ Kf8 3. Qh6+ Ke8 4. Qxh7

and Black cannot prevent mate - Note that 4. Qf7?? loses as Black's Queen covers this square.

1-0

Rook7th-5 - Black

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Black is threatening mate and the Queen. How does White win ?


This example illustrates the power of the discovered check, Rook on the seventh, and how a Rook on the 7th and a Knight can combine.

1. Rxb7+ hxg5 2. Nc6+ Ke8 3. Re7# 1-0


Rook7th-6 - Black

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Illustrates the power of Rook on the 7th together with a passed pawn.


1. Qxh3+ Rh6 2. Qxh6+ gxh6 3. b6

Now Black will have to sacrific his Rook for the passed pawn.

3... Rb2 4. b7

Threat Ra8+ and b8 Queening -Black has no defence as K to the seventh allows White to Queen with discovered check.

1-0

Rook7th-7 - Black

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Black has just played pawn to d2 and is about to Queen, but White has the R + N drawing apparatus


1. Rd7!

sets up the perpetual check

1... d1=Q 2. Nh7+ Kg8 3. Nf6+

Now Black will have to move about on e8,f8,g8 when White checks with the Knight, as he cannot go to h8 as he is mated. Drawn by pepetualcheck.

1/2-1/2

Rook7th-8 - Black

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A more difficult example of Rook on the 7th with passed pawns. Nimzowitsch - Bernstein


Nimzowitsch played

1. Bc5 Rc8

1... Rf7 2. Rb7 Rxb7 3. axb7+ Kxb7 4. exf6 and the Bishop cannot stop both pawns.

2. exf6 Rxc5 3. f7 Rc8 4. Rb7

returning to the 7th

4... Bd3 5. Re7 Bb5 6. Kf4! Rh8 7. h7 Ba4 8. Ke5 Bb5 9. Kf6 e5 10. Kg7 1-0


Rook7th-9 - Black

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White utilises Rook on the 7th to save the game


1. Kc6! c2 2. Re1! b2 3. Kd7!

Now after Black queens White will execute perpetual check on e6,e7 and e8 with his Rook.

1/2-1/2

Rook7th-10 - Black

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Doubled Rooks on the seventh allow White to win easily.


1. Rh7+ Kg8 2. Rag7+ Kf8 3. Rh8+ Kxg7 4. Rxb8

and White wins

1-0

Rook7th-11 - Black

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White wins


1. Rh7+ Kg8 2. Rag7+ Kf8 3. Rf7+ Kg8 4. Rxf1

White wins the Bishop and should win the game with his k-side pawns.

1-0

Rook7th-12 - Black

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Doubled Rooks on the 7th with a passed pawn are often deadly.


1. e7+ Ke8 2. Rh8+ Kd7 3. e8=Q+

DISCOVERED CHECK and wins

1-0

Rook7th-13 - Black

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This time a Knight joins the fun!


1. Rh7+ Kg8 2. Rcg7+ Kf8 3. Nf5

Black will get mated.

1-0

Rook7th-14 - Black

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White can force mate.


1. Rg7+ Kf8

1... Kh8 2. Rh7+ Kg8 3. Rdg7+ Kf8 4. Ng5! Re8 (4... fxg5 5. f6 and Black cannot avoid mate) 5. Ne6+ Rxe6 6. fxe6 Re8 7. e7+ and wins

2. Ng5! fxg5 3. Rh7

threatens mate

3... Ke8 4. Rdg7

threatens mate

4... Kf8 5. f6

and Black will be mated

1-0

Game(s) in PGN