Rook Endgame Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 rook endgames rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2056. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

Rook endgames are the most common endgame in chess and the least intuitive. Activity beats material more often here than anywhere else — a rook on the seventh is frequently worth a pawn or more.

These are pitched at 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Rook Endgame puzzles rated 2000

  1. Rook Endgame puzzle 1, rated 2087h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2087 · Black to play after d4
    Show solution

    a2 Ra3 cxd4 Ke4 d3 Ra5 d2

  2. Rook Endgame puzzle 2, rated 2049a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2049 · White to play after Kg6
    Show solution

    Rxc4 dxc4 Ke4

  3. Rook Endgame puzzle 3, rated 2002a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2002 · White to play after Rg2
    Show solution

    Kh6 b1=Q Rxb1 Rh2+ Kg6 Rd2 Rb8+ Rd8 Rxd8#

  4. Rook Endgame puzzle 4, rated 2083h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2083 · Black to play after Rf7+
    Show solution

    Kg4 Ra7 Rd2+ Kg1 a2

  5. Rook Endgame puzzle 5, rated 2031h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2031 · Black to play after Kf1
    Show solution

    Ra1+ Ke2 h3

  6. Rook Endgame puzzle 6, rated 2024h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2024 · Black to play after b5
    Show solution

    Kg3 Kf1 Rb1+

  7. Rook Endgame puzzle 7, rated 2057a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2057 · White to play after Kf7
    Show solution

    Rh8 Rb1 Kxf2

  8. Rook Endgame puzzle 8, rated 2178h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2178 · Black to play after gxh6
    Show solution

    Rxe4 Rxe4 f5+ Kh4 fxe4

  9. Rook Endgame puzzle 9, rated 2028a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2028 · White to play after f6
    Show solution

    Rh7+ Kd8 Rh8+ Kd7 Rxc8

  10. Rook Endgame puzzle 10, rated 2016h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2016 · Black to play after Kf7
    Show solution

    Rf4+ Kg8 Re4 Rxe4 Kxe4 g7 e1=Q

Train rook endgame puzzles at your rating →

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Frequently asked questions

What is a rook endgame in chess?

Rook endgames are the most common endgame in chess and the least intuitive. Activity beats material more often here than anywhere else — a rook on the seventh is frequently worth a pawn or more.

What does a puzzle rating of 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2056, so they suit 2000-rated players.

Are these rook endgame puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.