Chapter 07 · Early intermediate · 5 min
Mate with two rooks
Two rooks can mate like a staircase. One cuts a rank, the other takes the next one, and the king runs out of board.
Explanation
Deux tours peuvent mater comme un escalier.
One rook cuts one rank, then the other cuts the next. The opposing king moves backwards again and again, until reaching the edge. It's simpler than king + rook, because both rooks take rooks.
The main danger is leaving a rook unprotected too close to the opposing king. Keep the rooks far enough apart, advance in stages, and checkmate comes naturally.
To remember
Two rooks can mate in a staircase, cutting the ranks one after the other.
Classic error
Put both laps on the same line and lose rhythm.
Player Tip
Keep the rooks separate: one cuts, the other advances.