Everyone should know this Rook Sacrifice Endgame Tactic

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In January 2017, I gave my first lecture at the ‪@STLChessClub‬. In the lecture -- • Save Hopeless Position... -- I showed an a common endgame (rook and 2 pawns vs rook) where the winning idea involves sacrificing the rook and potentially under-promoting a pawn to knight or bishop to secure the win! 4 years, I got to use the same idea on stream in a blitz chess game.
My opponent in this video was WIM Then Nguyen (2426). The opening featured an attempted (but rejected) Stafford Gambit that turned into some version of a Scotch Opening. After I won a pawn early, my opponent fought valiantly and achieved a drawn endgame. We reached a situation where either player could have forced a draw, but then we both decided to play on and go for blood...
Thanks to the STL Chess Club for giving me permission to sprinkle some clips from the lecture into this video. Viewers can watch the whole lecture here: • Save Hopeless Position...
Analyze the game: lichess.org/vN...
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Eric Rosen
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[@nikitakucherov5028]

Lets play 3/2 its nice and chill, while Im over here panicking almost every time I play 5/5

[@TheBjossi80]

Same here 😄 actually I am back playing rapid 10 by recommendation from Eric so I don't get stuck in rating

[@tiagolimao1639]

I'm panicking at 30 min lol

[@boblackross3571]

@@severinasmeslinas7498 wtf you blundered!!!

[@MrCostantinho]

@@TheBjossi80 I manage to panic at 10+0

[@treeetres9002]

@@MrCostantinho as a 600 with a 1700 lichess puzzle rating I get really good position, get down on time, panic, and blunder away my pieces.

[@pavlestojanovic270]

move: exists Eric: I vaguely remember studying this actually

[@chris-vv1nt]

Anybody else feel like Eric has the best voice? Like he sounds so calm and mellow and i love it.

[@sread6888]

Agreed, it's like chess ASMR

[@roseffendeemusa7676]

Yeah,I agree

[@AkshayKumar-od9uo]

Yes.

[@romian988]

he should read audiobooks

[@davecoil4962]

Gay

[@arizona5249]

I really liked the flashback clip of you talking about this exact scenario in 2016.. It feels like a movie in a way.. Like the guy is about to make the play of the century but in the moment, the camera zooms into his eye and he is taken back to his childhood where his dad is like "son.. if you ever find yourself stuck and don't know what to do.. remember this" and then the camera zooms back out and the guy knows where to go from there.. Meanwhile his sick father is watching the game live from his hospital bed as he lays dying surrounded by family.. He gets one final moment of approval before succumbing to his illness..

[@BigChungus-wm8ll]

why is this so specific

[@Gamer-uf1kl]

@@BigChungus-wm8ll its a general movie plot

[@yokatta-f]

@@Gamer-uf1kl "Stafford's Gambit" dir. Ridley Scott

[@delicious_crepes]

0:05 "RookInMyAss started following IM EricRosen" that's some quality preparation by your future opponents

[@subhodeeeep]

How'd you notice !?🤣

[@kagayasama6466]

Yeah how did you?

[@paramdrall]

WTF

[@sanjeevkhurana6628]

@@subhodeeeep See in the left, in the timeline

[@subhodeeeep]

@@sanjeevkhurana6628 I mean..How did he notice !!?

[@idonthaveaname847]

I decided to sac my rook in the endgame and for some reason it said "blunder" in the analysis idk why

[@totoro7255]

it's ok stockfish just not so strong compared to your iq

[@drorraz7962]

Cant say if I don’t have the game recording edit: I just tried to help this random guy and the whole comment section turned into a Warfield wtf?

[@Modie]

@@drorraz7962 Pretty sure it was supposed to be a joke.

[@nathanlindop3004]

Follow the recommended moves down the rabbit hole and see if there was anythign different about your position that refutes it. Maybe Stockfish just cant comprehend though

[@aryananand9854]

@@Modie Pretty sure that was supposed to be a joke, too.

[@davidspitzwegerich2533]

one could expect that because there are only a few pieces in an endgame the moves should be clear, but the opposite is the case. I find correctly calculating endgame moves very hard and keep messing up. I'm looking forward to see more engame content from you. Great video, thanks!

[@Airblader]

You can also see that nicely when people do puzzles. Most pieces on the board they solve it instantly, but with like two pawns they have to think. This counterintuitive aspect is always fascinating.

[@galen981]

"Ooh that's tricky... Or was it?" - Basically me every time the opponent plays a move

[@Caesar512]

If every legal move stops the mate in 1 threat, is it really a mate in 1 threat?

[@scheimong]

🤔

[@rasmussuonio3014]

Yes

[@delanmorstik7619]

No

[@linalizardi5948]

Reverse zugzwang

[@GigaHaxor333]

Gnawzguz

[@Belinera]

I got to know IM Rosen back when I watched pretty much every available lesson on Saint Louis Chess Club's channel. This was a great throwback.

[@michaelsorochev1357]

2:30 Eric: “I’m just confused. It’s a new opening position for me” Me every game: “I’m just confused...”

[@aryananand9854]

0:17 Is that name supposed to be a '3 Idiots' reference?

[@rohinbhat9424]

Yeah, I think

[@subhodeeeep]

are haaa!!🤯

[@mmahal]

yes

[@aryashetty3924]

Most probably an Indian WIM

[@ShreshtJain]

@@aryashetty3924 3 idiots is one of the most popular movies in SouthEast Asia. They needn't be Indian.

[@Coolpawn]

"Go away Windows updater" - Eric Rosen, 2021

[@geckogeico2212]

"Oh, baby. Yeah baby." -IM Rosen, 2021

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Lmao you two are perfect

[@ctriis]

The most basic principles of chess; develop your pieces, control the center, protect your king, consume less energy.

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Less energy you say? Then i'll just protect my king No... i'll just move my pawns to the center!

[@gaurichess]

12:24 Wow I learned something new today! Thanks Eric!

[@micahcraine5579]

0:53 me during every test

[@reign2029]

Can we all agree that Eric has a great voice? He's so calm and i learn a lot from him

[@boblackross3571]

Eric: D5 kinda looks attractive right now. D5pawn: Aww gee thanks!

[@aryamantewari5122]

Hahahaha love this

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Wholesome

[@audigex]

8:37: why not Rh1, winning the rook on C1? (Genuine question, I feel like I must be missing something but I can't work out what?) Rh1, K(e/f/g)2 , Rxc1

[@eric-rosen]

Rh1 would simplify things after Kg2 Rxc1 Rb8+ Kg7 a8=Q Rxa8 Rxa8. I’d be up a pawn with some winning chances. In hindsight, that’s probably better than what I played

[@kevinsholisticrecordingstu916]

I think once you capture on C1 white can check with their rook and then promote, black captures and white recaptures a rook.

[@feleciaselestin5055]

my initial thought was that the rook on b7 can go to b8 to give a check and promote the pawn in the next move. but i guess we can then take Rxa8 and would have been up a pawn....... so idk

[@audigex]

@@eric-rosen Oh yeah I see, white can use the check to take the rook back and it's actually a trade, rather than winning a rook - although you're still up a (very threatening) pawn, so I figure that's probably still good. I'm 950, and the "backline pin" idea seems very effective at my elo, I suspect most people wouldn't notice Rb8+

[@Ice_Viper]

Engine also gives this as a good move, although you don't quite win a rook. After Rxc1 there is Rb8+ Kg2 a8=Q Rxa8 Rxa8 and you end up winning a pawn but exchanging rooks. He might have wanted the rook pair since he didn't want to draw.

[@3rdsmite766]

every video: " I actually studied this recently.. I vaguely remember

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Exactly.

[@craigedginton1942]

Hi from the UK Eric, recently got into chess again after not playing for years (pass the boredom of lockdown) I remember the scotch opening from my school days 30+ years ago. Love yours and Gotham chess' videos helping me so much. Thanks.

[@MrOTcomputer]

Okay, I think I have decided that this guy's demeanor is genuinely honest and not condescending. Meaning, that's just the way he is and he is not intentionally trying to come off a certain way. SUBSCRIBED!

[@Thepippinator2]

If Eric was anymore laid back he’d fall over

[@neo85ish]

Rancho Wangdu might be an alias from a Hindi movie, 3 idiots, which is an amazing movie on engineering, life, life in India. Rook end game - Its processed to the RAM right now, might rewatch it again to send it to ROM, LOL, . thank you.

[@PaulHobbs23]

I love how Eric goes back and explains all the key moments and looks into variations with stockfish.

[@Linus-lz4kw]

Congrats on the 300k and this hopefully beautiful Rook sac!

[@smam7667]

KZbin comment preview bugged and showed that you originally typed "beatiful stafford"

[@victorwallec2534]

11:14 thank me later

[@CV-lm7pv]

👌

[@80mbeats]

0:00 and you get 11 minutes and 14 extra seconds of good content

[@jamesmoses4066]

It's later, thx

[@victorwallec2534]

@@jamesmoses4066 i didnt wanna to spare the fun and introduction xD

[@umershaikh8012]

NO I WILL WATCH THE WHOLE VIDEO

[@oleenfernando2684]

1.a3 Eric: I remember vaguely studying this line.

[@xanthochromique]

17:18 Consume less energy? wtf is the queen hibernating now?

[@NotQuiteFirst]

He's considering his carbon footprint

[@saqiboy6409]

Ben Finegold humor

[@IowaRonin]

12:22 Eric's 1.Rxc8 is mate in 12 moves. But a7 is mate in 5 moves... 1.a7 Kb7 2.Rc7+ Ka8 3.Ka6 Rb8 4.Rc8 Rxc8 5.b7# Is it easier to remember? Is it more "aesthetic"? IDK

[@pabuttle]

Did anyone else watch this, with his St Louis video sliced in, thinking he was going to stalemate his opponent?!

[@dobexx9352]

everytime Eric is talking its like asmr

[@leo.messsi]

If the clock has less than 12 seconds, Eric unleashes the super instinct

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

Exactly

[@yoyo-tx6zg]

300k!

[@gowtham236]

9:07: White could have a winning position by reh7 followed by rb1. If black had move his rook-g to f,e,d,c files, white could have either captured the black pawn. If black had moved rook-a, white could have queened.

[@williamnacos1357]

At 8:38, Rosen had a rook sac for his opponents past pawn on a7, where he could then check the king on h1 on his next turn, winning the lost rook back and entering the endgame a pawn up.

[@Aellworld]

After NxD4 u can still go stafford with playing NC6 ! It's like a stafford with one more pawn

[@DishnVeronica]

Eric had the most aggressive eye brows back in the day lmao

[@carron979]

4:43 Kd5 and you force him to undouble your pawns

[@aquapony]

That was my gut reaction, but it leaves the rook on d2 isolated and sad

[@carron979]

@@aquapony kind of...

[@christopherblank4051]

"D4 is actually lookin kinda attractive rn ngl" Eric Rosen, 2021

[@SpencerfromEarth]

d4 be thicc

[@joeyharrington1863]

loved the intermittent flashbacks!

[@franktennant1966]

Love your wee lessons! Very informative without being turgid. Thanks 😊

[@mikebaker2436]

8:36 Question: Move 37... Why not skewer with RH1+

[@mikebaker2436]

After watching further, I must assume that our sensei skipped this move in order to remind us if this endgame tactic that we have forgotten. 🙏🏼😌

[@alejandromayorga8614]

I was looking for this comment I am a Complete noob so I wasn't sure

[@manfrom20xx13]

But then Rb8+ Ke7, white promotes to queen, and force the rook to take the queen. It should still be a draw

[@mikebaker2436]

@@manfrom20xx13 ...but there is still one more pawn move needed so Black can double up behind the pawn before it promotes. The tempo of the next moves are the same, but White is down a rook.

[@mikebaker2436]

@@manfrom20xx13 And White has to worry about checkmate threats with the rooks around it's undefended King.

[@rizka7945]

White really makes it much easier at 12:11. Should have played Ra4 (or Rc4...) instead of Rb3. Then it's tougher to win, even though it's still a forced win of course. Then black can try a couple of things, but there is ONLY one method to make further progress. 1) h2?? would be horrendous blunder. Just Rxg4+ and it's a draw. 2) Rc1+ won't help. After Kh2 white realizes they need a new plan as the pawn is pinned. 3) Rg2 just stalemates the white king and doesn't help at all. White can just wait with Rb4. If Kg3?? then it's Rxg4+ of course, draw. And if Kg5?? to go around somehow, white has a mad rook starting with Rb5+. It keeps checking forever, even at the expense of sacrificing itself as the white king is out of moves. 4) Rf2 isn't the way, either. White can for instance attack it with Kg1 hoping for Kg3?? which intends to meet Ra3+?? with Rf3. Instead, white has Rxg4+ again. Draw. 5) Kg3 will be denied, too. White plays Ra3+ and if Kf4 then Ra4+. And if Kf2 then Kh2!. White is controlling the b3-square with two pieces, preventing the pawns from coming forwards. 6) Rd2 doesn't provide with proper shelter. After Rb4 Kg3 white can just deliver lateral checks until you hide on h4 again. If you drift too far from the g-file, the white rook might land on g3 even. Therefore, it's Re2!, the only winning resource. Lateral checks won't work now since Rb4 Kg3 and now Rb3+ can be met with Kf4 and after Rb4+ black has Re4. White is finally forced to leave the rank, allowing black to set up win with various methods, including this one taught by Eric.

[@username7016]

D'ah, 2am upload.

[@BSMerick]

Here is 10am :D

[@conordurksen6338]

Oh no my sleep schedule!

[@luckin6472]

1 pm

[@abhimanyutaldi1306]

here it is 6 pm

[@Ghanemq8]

4pm

[@vnnyvnvnstr]

You said that you vaguely remember studying something? Where or how do you study chess? Im new to chess and have been wanting to get better.

[@SrinivashM29]

Rd2!! What a fantastic move.

[@stevenboelke6661]

1:50 I kind of like the move ne6 for white here. It seems like a fun flashy move that many opponents wouldn't respond well to under time pressure.

[@mattriarchal]

*4 years earlier* "...and both opponents walked into my signature rosen stalemate"

[@Owen-bk5fc]

The bishop promotion idea is absolutely sick

[@nubofmaster]

Congrats on 300k!!!!

[@deidara_8598]

1:11 I so wanted him to go Nc3 and transpose into a Stafford

[@Samuel-dg4jv]

Nc6 puts you in a bad spot, and stops you from castling

[@deidara_8598]

@@Samuel-dg4jv Castling's for nerds, better to deliver a swift knockout before they know what even hit 'em

[@erayozsaray3526]

I like how he mentions 3|2 as nice and chill while I feel like I am in The Office fire drill scene everytime I play it.

[@anujg74]

Congrats on 300k Eric

[@alessiosalvetti8904]

11:06 Doesn't Rd2+ win on the spot?

[@Russellbeta]

it forces a rook trade, idk if there's a forced win after

[@aryashetty3924]

Lol yeah

[@alessiosalvetti8904]

@@Russellbeta yes king and 2 pawns vs king is an easier but less esthetic win

[@GeneralPet]

She can move rook to g2.

[@klaidaz01]

@@GeneralPet That's the point, you trade the rook and march your pawns

[@walterbrownstone8017]

Eric you're like a machine!

[@Azmick07]

Loved the editing of the video, really instructive

[@dyvidpittmanjr5433]

This is the first streamer/KZbinr from Missouri I have ever seen omg

[@danyaelgarcia]

"D5 kinda looks attractive" -Eric Rosen

[@thedictionary8372]

🔊 *according to preposition* 1. in conformity with 2. as stated or attested by 3. depending on

[@20jurinho]

Very informative! Thanks Eric.

[@alextting]

16:17 If the Black King doesn't capture the Rook but instead moves away can't black still win? The White rook cannot take the pawn on H2 either as the exchange of rooks would lead to a pawn promotion win for Black.

[@josefryan5445]

Oh no ! My free time

[@kurumilover6999]

I had a Stafford gambit where I missed one of your queen traps instead I lost a bishop then I ended up doing a tactic to win a Rook and knight because my opponent blunder then forced a queen trade to win the game

[@Campaign2024]

Nice!

[@quinten6541]

Eric with 5 seconds left: *that’s kinda scary* Also Eric when his opponent makes a move: *OoOoh* that’s a move

[@mattmiller1179]

Before this video, I used to not worry about long distance checkmates. I still don't, but iused to not care also.

[@alb9520]

Love how the queen saving energy by moving less is a factor in what the best move is

[@hichamhabboub3818]

Really cool game and congrats for 300k on youtube❤

[@moikel888]

Congrats on 300k my dude!!

[@Hitfan045]

Congratulations on 300k

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

I've literally just had this ending and spent half of it trying to remember how to initiate the rook sacrifice. Thankfully my opponent resigned as I was trying to figure it all out.

[@finab8006]

Congratulations on 300k Eric

[@taifour2593]

Why is it bad to consume more energy? Does your queen get tired? Is that why i always lose?

[@weapo187]

Love the editing (#17)

[@justincrosby1483]

Love the content. Top notch. Two thumbs up my brother.

[@r.t.5767]

4:11 I knew he'll go Rf4 and that Eric will respond (4:27) with Rd2 :D

[@soloq8603]

Great strategy! Will I remember to apply it? Absolutely not, but nonetheless it’s nice knowing it’ll be somewhere in my brain.

[@kokilagupta6732]

Could you make a video on the top ten chess books, like for learning and improving in the game. I am new to your channel and so far I really like it!

[@nex3500]

Congrats on 300k man you deserve it

[@thakurrajneeshpundir6262]

eric rosen : 3/2 nice and chill me : 10 minute and mind bursting

[@riggdan]

7:16 rook takes f6 would lead to a rook fork while winning at least a pawn and ruining blacks structure

[@iplay9s]

Around turn 35 I was really expecting you to find a way to put your rook on the back row, check, and take your opponents rook from the reveal

[@dchall8052]

Wait... isn't it stalemate if white's King moves to H2 instead of G1? pawn would capture rook on F1 and it would end in stalemate.

[@dannyluvskatnip8940]

I’m from stl too that’s so cool. I just got into just so I’m glad to see that someone near me is a chess star!

[@toiryelhsa]

I've had "marching pawns and rook" end game today. I was pooping myself about stalemate. Probably took longer than I should to close it, but better be safe. Easy does it.

[@magicmaddness5827]

Old Eric is more Eric than new Eric ! Hope make sense!

[@jvcmarc]

that's amazing, I had a rook vs rook and 2 pawns once, I managed to win, but I think that neither I nor my opponent new the theory behind it, as we were both 1100s

[@LEGEND6666_]

12:51 She can easily draw by playing rock to f2 and then the only move you black to end this is g3 then she take the pawn in g2 with her rock and then it's force stalemate cause you can't move you king cause she wiil take your pawn and then white is winning and if you took the rock with your pawn and this probably what would you play then the king is stuck and it's stalemate.

[@shaashwatsingh3207]

Lol, Eric, that RanchoWangdu guy may be from Vietnam, buut he might be an Indian(Rancho is a famous character from the bollywood movie 3 idiots and its definitely worth a watch).

[@JimmyBoosterCrate]

That RanchoWangdu guy is, interestingly enough, a Woman International Master.

[@adampressley6629]

Hey great trick, thanks for sharing

[@mmmWasTaken]

8:36 missed mate basically move rook up and the mate with it going up

[@wateredmilk6089]

Not mate

[@griffisme4833]

I dirty flagged a titled player for the first time yesterday. 100% win rate against titled players so far

[@lengiojef]

3:01 juan:you know what i want to be a pawn

[@alastairjones7261]

why no rook h1 at 8:27 ?? surely that just winning a rook no? am I missing something?

[@johnprice3341]

Yes, moving your queen three squares wastes so much energy...

[@IHateCraccers]

4:36 Eric remembers knights can move backwards! 😱

[@SolosHighlights]

At 16:02 cant the king move to g5 the rook takes on h2 then rook takes then king takes then black can win with extra pond.

[@jordangoodman77]

Could you not have taken that rook on the back rank with a check? You move your rook to the back rank check, they move the king and you take rook?

[@morgan7gaming859]

Bro I have exams tomorrow and have studying to do and this guy's made me sleep for 6 hours😭

[@ngoctnq]

It's Tien Nguyen btw, not Then. Did you transcribed her name instead of just copying from her bio lol