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Rook on the 7th rank

A rook on the 7th rank eats pawns and traps the king.

Intermediate · Strategy · 19 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Gukesh D, Viswanathan Anand, Divya Deshmukh, Praggnanandhaa R, Humpy Koneru, Arjun Erigaisi.

Step 1

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position

The 7th rank (the 2nd rank for Black) is where the opponent's pawns start. A rook there attacks those pawns from the side and can trap the king on the last rank. Two rooks on the 7th are often winning.

Step 2

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position

E Real de Azua vs Gukesh D, Sunway Sitges Open 2019. Gukesh from Chennai became the youngest undisputed World Champion in 2024, at just 18. Gukesh D plays Black here. Look at the rook on d2: what can it do?

Step 3

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 42...Rb2

Gukesh D brings the rook to b2, on the 7th rank.

Step 4

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 42...Rb2 43.h4 g6 44.Kf1 Kh6 45.Ke1 Rh2

The moves: 42...Rb2 43.h4 g6 44.Kf1 Kh6 45.Ke1 Rh2. Watch how the position develops: Gukesh D keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

Step 5

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎♟︎
The position

Viswanathan Anand vs Veselin Topalov, WCh, Sofia 2010. Viswanathan Anand became India's first grandmaster in 1988 and was World Champion five times. Viswanathan Anand plays White here. Look at the rook on c7: what can it do?

Step 6

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 64.Rb7

Viswanathan Anand brings the rook to b7, on the 7th rank. The rook on b7 attacks both pawns at the same time: a fork!

From the game Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov, WCh, Sofia 2010.

Step 7

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rxa7 Rh3+ 66.Kg4 b2 67.Rb7

The moves: 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rxa7 Rh3+ 66.Kg4 b2 67.Rb7. Watch how the position develops: Viswanathan Anand keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Viswanathan Anand – Veselin Topalov, WCh, Sofia 2010.

Step 8

♜︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position

Divya Deshmukh vs Mary Gomes, 48th IND Championship w 2022, Hatkanangale 2023. Divya Deshmukh from Nagpur won the FIDE Women's World Cup in 2025, at 19, and became a grandmaster. Divya Deshmukh plays White here. Look at the rook on c6: what can it do?

Step 9

♜︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 40.Rc7

Divya Deshmukh brings the rook to c7, on the 7th rank.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Mary Gomes, 48th IND Championship w 2022, Hatkanangale 2023.

Step 10

♜︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♞︎♝︎♟︎♚︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 40.Rc7 Ba5 41.Rc6 Bb4 42.h4 Ba3 43.f5

The moves: 40.Rc7 Ba5 41.Rc6 Bb4 42.h4 Ba3 43.f5. Watch how the position develops: Divya Deshmukh keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Divya Deshmukh – Mary Gomes, 48th IND Championship w 2022, Hatkanangale 2023.

Step 11

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎
The position

Praggnanandhaa R vs Vincent Keymer, Julius Baer GenCup KO 2022. Praggnanandhaa from Chennai became a grandmaster at 12 and reached the World Cup final in 2023. Praggnanandhaa R plays White here. Look at the rook on a6: what can it do?

Step 12

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 45.Ra7

Praggnanandhaa R brings the rook to a7, on the 7th rank.

From the game Praggnanandhaa R – Vincent Keymer, Julius Baer GenCup KO 2022.

Step 13

♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♟︎♜︎♟︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 45.Ra7 Rb3+ 46.Kg4 g6 47.h4 Rb5 48.Ra8+

The moves: 45.Ra7 Rb3+ 46.Kg4 g6 47.h4 Rb5 48.Ra8+. Watch how the position develops: Praggnanandhaa R keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Praggnanandhaa R – Vincent Keymer, Julius Baer GenCup KO 2022.

Step 14

♚︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♜︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♜︎
The position

Humpy Koneru vs Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, World Blitz Women 2016, Doha. Humpy Koneru is one of India's greatest players and twice Women's World Rapid Champion. Humpy Koneru plays White here. Look at the rook on a4: what can it do?

Step 15

♚︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♜︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 60.Ra7

Humpy Koneru brings the rook to a7, on the 7th rank.

From the game Humpy Koneru – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, World Blitz Women 2016, Doha .

Step 16

♚︎♟︎♝︎♟︎♜︎♚︎♟︎♟︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 60.Ra7 g4 61.Rd7+ Kc8 62.Rf7 Rh6 63.Be4

The moves: 60.Ra7 g4 61.Rd7+ Kc8 62.Rf7 Rh6 63.Be4. Watch how the position develops: Humpy Koneru keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Humpy Koneru – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, World Blitz Women 2016, Doha .

Step 17

♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎
The position

Arjun Erigaisi vs Sarin Nihal, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023. Arjun Erigaisi from Warangal became only the second Indian, after Anand, to cross a 2800 rating. Arjun Erigaisi plays White here. Look at the rook on d1: what can it do?

Step 18

♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 43.Rd7

Arjun Erigaisi brings the rook to d7, on the 7th rank. It attacks the pawn on b7.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Sarin Nihal, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023.

Step 19

♚︎♟︎♟︎♟︎♜︎♟︎♟︎♚︎♜︎
The position before the moves

Moves: 43.Rd7 Re5 44.Rxb7 Rxf5 45.a4 Ra5 46.Kb2

The moves: 43.Rd7 Re5 44.Rxb7 Rxf5 45.a4 Ra5 46.Kb2. Watch how the position develops: Arjun Erigaisi keeps the advantage. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.

From the game Arjun Erigaisi – Sarin Nihal, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023.

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