Rook and king against king

Same situation as with the queen, but harder: a rook controls far fewer squares. Here your king does not just help, he does half the work.

Two tools, and only two.

The cut-off: your rook sits on a rank or a file and the enemy king cannot cross it. He is shut into one side of the board.

The opposition: the two kings face each other with one square between them. Whoever has to move must step back — he loses ground. Since it is the opponent’s turn, he is the one stepping back.

You alternate: I tighten the cut-off, you step back; I take the opposition, you step back again. The king ends up on the last rank, and there your rook gives one final check.

Your turn