Step 5: Finish the Game · about 35 min
King and Rook Checkmate
Goal: Kids can checkmate with king and rook: cut the king off, bring your king, and check when the kings face each other.
You need: One board per pair · A rook and two kings per pair
1 · Teach it (20 min)
Read these out loud, or put them in your own words. Show each board on screen or set it up on a demo board.
1.“King and rook can checkmate too, but it takes teamwork. Step one: use the rook to make a wall that cuts the enemy king off.”
2.“Step two: walk your king up toward the enemy king, staying behind the wall.”
3.“Step three, the key idea: when the two kings stand face to face, with one square between them, check with the rook. The enemy king has to step back one row.”
4.“If the kings aren't facing each other, make a quiet rook move along the wall, a waiting move, and let the enemy king walk into position.”
5.“Keep going until the enemy king is on the edge. When the kings face each other there, check on the edge. Checkmate!”
- Checking when the kings aren't facing each other (the king just steps sideways).
- Leaving the rook where the enemy king can take it.
- Stalemate in the corner.
2 · Play it: King and Rook vs. King (15 min)
Set up: White: king e1, rook a1. Black: king e5.
- White tries to checkmate. Black tries to survive or capture the rook.
- Stalemate is only a draw, not a win. Try again and checkmate!
- This takes practice! Count your moves and try to beat your record.
- Swap roles each game.
🎮 Kids with an iPad can also play this against the computer in student mode.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 5 → Rook and King Team Up. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S5-L3-PW.
Practice (4) with answers
1.The kings are face to face. Checkmate in one. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Ra8#
2.Checkmate in one on the side of the board. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rh1#
3.When is the best time to check with the rook?
- Whenever you can
- ✓When the two kings face each other
- Never
4.Checkmate the king in the corner. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rh1#
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Checkmate in one. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rh8#
2.Checkmate in one. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Ra1#
3.The kings aren't facing each other yet. What should you do?
- Check with the rook anyway
- ✓Make a waiting move with the rook along its wall
- Move the rook next to the enemy king
Topic order based on: Chess for Children, Part 4 (winning your first games); How to Win at Chess, ch. 4 (ladder, king-and-queen and king-and-rook mates); How to Win at Chess, ch. 5 (checkmating with pieces working together). All wording is original.