The Lucena Position

Overview

Rook endings decide more games than any other type, and the Lucena position is their cornerstone: the attacker's pawn stands on the seventh rank with his own king blocking it on the promotion square, while the defender's rook harasses from a distance. Knowing the win is mandatory for every player — and the winning idea is one of the most beautiful devices in chess theory.

Building the bridge

The winning method is called building a bridge. One winning plan from the diagram: 1.Rd1! Ke7 2.Rd4 (the rook takes its place on the fourth rank — the bridge) Ra1 3.Kc7 Rc1+ 4.Kb6! (walking straight into the checks, toward the checking rook) Rh1 5.Rd5, and the king escorts the pawn home. The rook on the fourth rank shields the king: lateral checks run into it, and checks from afar lose track of the king as it advances with the pawn.

The bridge stands

Once the rook is on the fourth rank and the king steps out in front of the pawn, the defender's checks run out. Every check is answered by a king step toward the checking rook or by the bridge itself, and the pawn finally promotes with the king's support.

Practice positions

Play each position out against the engine from the exact spot on the board — unrated, you take the strong side.