You’re Probably Misusing Your Rooks-Here’s the Right Way

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

This channel is absolutely amazing! Becoming one of my 2 or 3 favorites very quick! Between this and the knight video (and others but the knight one stands out a lot) it has helped me immensely! Thank you so much. Btw I am a new player, I learned to play June 26 and rated 1100 so far, mainly due to Alex Banzea videos and Chessable courses. Rook end games give me trouble it is one of my main weaknesses. You deserve so many more subs, I’ve binged like 30 hours of your videos the past 5 days.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is just such amazing feedback ❤️ Great achievement to reach 1100 only 3 months after your learned the game!! You can also check out my rating climb series playlist and the Chess Elevator course. Please don't hesitate sharing the channel with your chess friends so I can keep producing similar content 🙏

[@MMWGR1980]

To me it feels I learn chess secrets here

[@your_average_joe5781]

Absolutely ✅

[@Dr.CansClinic]

🙏

[@in10se777]

Indeed you do

[@ShaShaSha534]

These are the types of moves that I would see in master games and never understand. This is such a valuable lesson. Thanks!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am happy to have helped you! 🙏

[@peterintoronto6472]

A perfect video: one idea, excellent examples, and vital to one's armoury. I have all kinds of trouble with rook endgames, this was a great help, thanks.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Great to hear from you after a long time, Peter! ❤️ Thanks for your kind feedback.

[@briandwi2504]

The idea of activating your rooks is one idea that I have picked up on in your Chess crimes course on Chessable. I just love that course. I have completed it but am carrying on the repetitions as I want to commit the IDEAS that the moves elucidate to memory. I am still learning from that course by looking at the text and clickables and working out why my idea was wrong. Homework. It can't be passive defence, so 1..Rb1, threatens Rxb4+. 2 a3 Ra8 keeping a6 covered. It seems pretty fluid now but we have ideas of bringing the King over to b3 to freeup the rook from guarding a6. Absolutely brilliant lesson. You really pack it in. Best teacher out there, so clear, concise (and crispy!).

[@puzzician]

Rb6 not Ra8 else we’re back in the passivity trap no?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent feedback! Chess Crime and Punishment will truly help you. Great that you are taking your time and reading my explanations. Quality over quantity with that one! I guess you meant ...Kb6 to free up the rook! Promising defensive plan!

[@SierraItharaju]

I love the Alex Banzea videos a lot. It teaches me a lot of openings and tactics

[@henockpeterhp]

Thank u sir for this great lesson... Very helpful... Ur channel is so underrated in chess category... actually ur lessons are very valuable..🤗❤️

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice of you ❤️ I would appreciate if you shared the channel with your friends.

[@jpc812]

So much good in this video. Not just about the use of rooks, but what else you are saying. "Coordination and quality is more important than material." Us beginners (Still stuck at low 1000), don't seem to think that way, but now I am starting to, while I see others I play against only focus on that material advantage. Played and won a game yesterday where my opponent had a completely exposed king in the center of the board with my queen, knight and 2 bishops bearing down. His response was to make a counter threat against my castled rook. I basically ignored it, kept pressuring the king until a discovered check won his badly placed queen. I missed a mate in 4, but that concept is currently beyond me. Also, marshmallows. LOVE IT! Thanks for the great content!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely loving your comment! Congratulations on your game! Sounds like you are improving. Keep following and staying active while watching my videos! And be aware of those marshmallows!

[@adrianbradley3985]

Definitely my favorite chess channel Dr. Can. I love the practical lessons and puzzles. I've been playing a long time but never had any coaching and had overlooked many of the fundamentals you illustrate. Keep em coming! Thanks! I like B8 for the homework.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Such feedback means a lot to me, thank you so much!! ...Rb8 allows a3. The solution is to give the defensive task to our king, so our rook can activate.

[@adrianbradley3985]

@@Dr.CansClinic Ahh..I see it now..I was thinking wishfully assuming white would take on a6. Thanks Doc

[@lamiales1129]

I am the one who plays Rc1 in the first position because the principle of "rooks should be in the back of the pawn to support promotion" first comes up to me. This video was great to understand the importance of the rook activity.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks for the honest feedback! I am glad to have helped you change your mental models.

[@norbertdrust9009]

This lesson was my missing link! I never knew this about my ROOKs! I cannot thank you enough fo your lessons! I’m becoming better at my chess every time I watch a lesson! This amazing ROOK lesson sold me on getting your Chessable course! 😊 Homework: If we do like you just taught us, then we go to a semi-open file, so either b8 or e8. E8 looks more hopeful since he has no rook there! So, I move my Rook to E8!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am soo happy to hear your kind words. Thank you for getting my course as well. Please ask me anything along the way. Homework: you are on the right track! But first we will guard the a6-pawn with ...Kc7-b7, and then release our defensive rook for active duties! This was a challenging exercise, given by Dvoretsky.

[@adrianbradley3985]

It's been a couple weeks since I watched this video. Believe it or not, I've played well over 100 games since. Playing for rook activity particularly during endgame and avoiding defending with my rook has completely changed things for me. I feel like I am crushing opponents now and am noticing them going for the passive options. I've played tens of thousands of games over the years and endgames have always been where I shined due to my experience. Now I'm on a whole new level though, Thanks Doc!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

This is such amazing feedback, so happy to hear it as a chess coach. Will tell this to my own students too! :)

[@Marik0]

Great video once again! Your videos are both informative and practical. So much better than focusing on opening tricks and gimmicks. Thank you!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so motivating to hear, thank you so much!

[@roytwinberrow7956]

Yeah,these stupid gambits you fall for them once and then know how to deal with them.

[@piyushpkurur78]

What a master class. Amazing content, impeccable delivery and top it all the passion in the words.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Lovely feedback. So motivating!

[@danhayes1306]

This is a very valuable lesson Dr Can As someone who often blunders such positions up 1-2 pawns, this lesson was clear, direct and communicates the fundamental concepts and mindset required for these endgames Your approach to teaching inspires how i teach my students in science too Thanks Dr Can

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Such motivating feedback, thank you so much!! I am sure you are a great science teacher too.

[@althompson3085]

Nice referral back to this rook endings video. Both recordings are valuable at my level.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you, Al! Hope they will serve you nicely.

[@ioannisyapitzakis4677]

One more excellent presentation dear collegue! Keep up the nice effort!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so nice to hear, dear collegue! :)

[@in10se777]

Such high level chess instruction - beautiful video and so instructive, your videos are like finding gems in the sand. For the homework I'd bring my king over to b7 to guard the a6 pawn freeing up my rook for activating to go to the d file to put pressure on blacks position

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Such motivating feedback! Thank you. Excellent answer to the hw position!

[@moosewild4239]

Another great instruction video. Thx so much.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure, thank you!

[@fishnets007]

This and the knight video are the best two chess videos I have seen this year.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is amazing to hear. So motivating. So do you think the secret is to focus on a particular piece like I did for knights and rooks?

[@MarkPersoonlijk]

Yes, you share a crucial chess concept PLUS insightful examples. I know I keep repeating myself by giving compliments about your quality material in your KZbin videos and courses. But it needs to be said, thank you! Bu the way, I am happy that I see the effects of taken your Chess Crime and Punishment course. Now it seems obvious haha. Although, I still need more practice in the end game. Unfortunately too many online chess players give up when they have the slightest idea they are losing (and sometimes they evaluate the position wrong eh). I noticed I am matched with more strong chess players lately who are not that easily giving up anymore. So more end game practice will come 😀

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for your continuous support Mark, never hesitate leaving comments as it is good for the algorithm :) Good that Chess Crime and Punishment had an impact on you. Heard similar things from other people.

[@VRNocturne]

In the last position, I would want to get my king to B7 so he can defend the a-pawn and move my rook to E8. Then push f-pawn (f4). I'm thinking that would either give me a semi-open e-file (they push by then dxe4 or do nothing there and fxe3) or an open e-file (white does exf4).

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Beautiful!

[@DeCamJ]

great lessons on this channel. my pieces are so much happier now!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ The Art of Making Your Pieces Happy ❤️

[@PepJuice]

Thank you Doc your advises have already tremendously helped me to improve my chess. Now I don’t exchange any good bishop for my opponent weak knight. I still have problems in my endgame and blunder winning positions as i am clumsy in using my knights and castles. Have a good day Doc.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So happy to hear your thoughts. Glad that this channel has helped you improve your game.

[@SierraItharaju]

Thanks a lot Dr Can I learned a lot from you

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So nice of you, thanks!

[@rv706]

Very instructive video! 👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad it was helpful! 🙏

[@SierraItharaju]

This is one of the most amazing channel in the world to help me know how to use my rooks and learn Jobova Londen eaiser because my dad want to to learn Jobova londen

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So humbled by your kind words, thank you!

[@stayinspired1271]

Superb sir i suck at this and you explained it correctly with beutiful clean examples❤

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️

[@anthonyjaglal]

Really spectacular 🎉wow this is too much 🎉we spend soooo much of our chess tactics based on knight forks, and good or bad bishops that we completely miss rooks and the strategy they can impose on a game, rooks are probably the least studied piece on the board 🤔 what a video!!!!!🎉👏👏💯💯💯💯👏

[@Dr.CansClinic]

🙏 Glad that I managed to help.

[@BobLoblowLawFirm]

Great video lesson!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@Crelids]

So the main things I took from this video is to get behind the passed pawn and to look for more drawing positions rather than winning. Another great video, thanks!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you 🙏

[@faznaz7455]

In position no.6 after your solution Rc1, f4 is an option for black that should be explored and discussed

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes indeed. I did that in my Chessable course which featured this position. Black gains equality in that line.

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

Really enjoyed and very instructive lesson, would welcome more of these end game techniques. Homework, this looks incredibly difficult for black but I think from what we can take from the lesson we would need to play Rb8, I couldn't see white wanting to give up e5 square for our king so a3 to defend the pawn, then I think we threaten the e file with Re8, Rxa6 f4 trying to create pressure exf4, Re2 infultrating? b5 Rxg2, Rxc6+ Kd7 and hopefully we can queen at a similar time as it doesn't look straight forward for white to push his pawns

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you soo much for your kind feedback! That is a very interesting idea, which was also my first thought when I was reading Dvoretsky's book. But ...Kc7-b7 is the best plan: we give the defensive duty to our king so our rook can break free from its chains...

[@GaryWalters-tk2lp]

@@Dr.CansClinic thank you. I really should look at the kings function more, especially in the end game and that makes a lot of sense now you have pointed it out, I think I was concern about the white king getting through via e4 but in reality I know see it has to get to g7 before it's a real danger and our rook is activated in time, nice idea which I'd totally overlooked as an option

[@davidmchugh7264]

Thanks Dr Can...important information

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure!

[@mrnelgin]

Well, why haven't I heard about this before? More great insight, thank you.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

🙏 I am very late to YT, so I thought other KZbinrs must have given you similar insights before...

[@mrnelgin]

@@Dr.CansClinic I don't follow many chess content creators so maybe I missed something somewhere, but every couple of videos you're introducing me to new concepts.

[@greatdanelegend7001]

Homework: I really struggle with rook endgames so I actually have no clue what to do here. I thought for a few minutes and came up with 3 ideas but they were all bad. My first idea was Rb8 with the idea that if he takes on a7, I take on b4 with check and then go to b1 and a1. However, he doesn't have to take. He can just play something like a3. Then my rook is staring at a very non-weak pawn and probably has to go back to a8. Idea 2: Walk the king to, like, b7, and then move the rook. This also doesn't work because it lets the white king infiltrate. Ke5 is not a problem because of Re8+ forcing the king back to defend the e pawn. But Kc5 is really nasty. If I ever lose my a pawn, I will also lose the c pawn since he would be attacking it twice. The third idea was something like g5-g4 to open up either the f or the g file. The issue is that he can just push the f pawn once I get to g4. Then the only thing I vaguely "achieved" is a backwards pawn on the e file for White which I cannot really exploit. So, sorry, I couldn't do it this time. I recently drew a rook endgame up 2 pawns in a tournament game, and even knowing all the principles of an active rook being good etc doesn't always help me find a good plan

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! The best defensive plan is to defend the weak pawn with our king and activate the rook with ...Re8. You can set that position on a study and play through few lines. It is not easy at all for White.

[@greatdanelegend7001]

@Dr.CansClinic thank you

[@timm439]

My plan would be Rb8, sacrificing my a pawn to capture their b pawn with check, then move to the 2nd rank forking their pawns. If their king defends the b pawn, I’d infiltrate the king with Ke5. The problem with helping with my king on the a pawn is their king can infiltrate and gobble up the f-h pawn chain.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I hear you. The problem is ...Rb8 allows a3 and they prevent your plan (captures are not forced and we should not expect captures from the opponents).

[@sincity7890]

great as always

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️

[@michaelf8221]

Tough endgame position. I'm thinking about f4!? If they take it then Re8 gets quite active. We're an inch away from the dream e2 square. I think the critical move might be f4 e4 after which maybe dxe4 fxe4 Rb8 might give us some activity. Im trying to meet Rxa6 with Rxb4. But also to meet a3 with Rb6, going for counterplay against white's king.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Interesting idea! Perhaps it does not work move by move. That is why ...Kc7-b7 plan is the best: we defend the pawn with our king so our rook can be free for active duty!

[@naveenkumarvadla3005]

Another great video sir This is one of my weaknesses in my games & I lost a game when playing online which I was about to make draw. Now I understood how should not we disappoint our rooks by making them protect our weak pawns. Homework: 1. ... Rb8 2. Kc3/Ra5 protecting the pawn on b4, Rb5 will get black some advantage Sir can you give online coaching?? If yes, Can you please say what is fees taken for it??

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your excellent feedback. Please contact me on [e-mail]

[@naveenkumarvadla3005]

Sir the coaching fee??

[@samuelsiltanen4949]

At first, I must say that this topic brings back some painful memories. A little over a year ago, I was playing the game of my life in an OTB tournament. My opponent was a 2150 FIDE-rated master. I had played almost perfectly in the opening and in the middlegame, and we had an equal position. It was a rook endgame with lots of pawns still on the board. My opponent attacked my weak a-pawn, and I had to choose between a passive move Ra1 and an active move, which required a little calculation, but nothing that I couldn't handle. I played the passive move, thinking that I'll keep it simple. The position was still objectively drawish, but the passive rook made my work a lot harder, and eventually I lost after a 5-hour battle (we were the last two persons in the playing hall). I will never forget the lesson: rooks must be active! Then the homework. I can see that the rook on a8 is passively defending the a6-pawn. Obviously, we want to activate it. Two ideas come to my mind: either bring the king over to defend the a6-pawn (Kd6-c7-b7) or ditch it while activating the rook. There are two semi-open files the e-file and the b-file, and white has two weaknesses e3 and b4. The b-pawn is not protected at the moment, so 1...Rb8 would attack it. If 2. Rxa6 Rxb4+ looks already much better. I don't think that white will allow that. Then 2. a3 would keep the b-pawn protected. It cuts off the rook's path to a3, but I am not sure how to utilize that, because the a-pawn is still hanging. The other idea is to bring the king to help the a-pawn. We could try 1...Kc7. Here I am worried that it lets the white king to come forward: 2. Ke5, but perhaps 2...Re8+ is enough, because the e3-pawn is hanging. Then 3. Kd4 would allow repetition or 3...Kb6. If 3. Kf6 Rxe3 4. Kg7 Re7+ 5. Kf6 Re2 6. Rxa6 Kb7 and we have exchanged the a-pawn for the e-pawn and activated the rook. And after 2. Kc5, I am unsure about 2...Kb7 because of 3. Kd6, but think that 2...Rb8 works here, because 3. Rxa6? Rb5+ 4. Kd4 Rxb4+ is good for black. And if 3. a3 then 3...Kb7 4. Kd6 Re8 5. Rc5 Rxe3 6. Rxc6 d4 and black has counterplay. There is also 2. e4 idea, eliminating the weakness on e3. Then 2...fxe4 3. fxe4 dxe4 4. Kxe4, but I think that just helps black, because the rook has plenty of open file to roam about. So I don't have a clear-cut solution, but my idea is that the king can come to help the weak pawns to b7 or b6 and if the white king tries to come forward, the black rook can create counter-play on the e- or b-files with checks or threatening the e3- and b4-targets.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback, Sam! It sounds like you learned the lesson in a painful but instructive way. Those games really have long-term effect on you. I also lost similar games before by keeping my rook passive. Great answer to the hw position: the idea is to give the defensive task to our king so our rook can activate. So ...Kc7! is correct. Then there are several different ways to activate the rook, with ...Re8 being the most natural. Dvoretsky nicely annotated it too.

[@roytwinberrow7956]

It's a cliche but we learn more from our defeats than our wins.

[@manuelfuentes4509]

Rook end games are so difficult... surprisingly I only got 1 wrong 🎉. Homework: help out the poor rook with your king to defend the a6 pawn? Or counterplay with g5 and open lines that way? (My favorite channel years ago was Robert Ramirez Chess4All and I studied his rook endgames to learn #1 thing: your rook/s need/s to be active! What another great lesson. Thank you for this rooks endgames lesson 🙏 😊

[@Dr.CansClinic]

So glad to hear your kind feedback! Excellent answer to the hw position!

[@khangaid.5368]

best teacher. thank you

[@khangaid.5368]

even super grandmasters calculation not shows why he chose this strategy. skill of teaching

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure, thank you for your kind words :)

[@AniketVerma-yt]

The most underrated chess channel

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is motivating to hear. Please share the channel so we can reach more people. I really appreciate your support 🙏

[@AniketVerma-yt]

@@Dr.CansClinic Sure

[@DadWisdomBites]

I was struggling with blitz before watching your videos. Blitz rating way lower than rapid. It has been catching quickly. All of these principles are great!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

It is super interesting feedback! So your intuition is probably developing as you watch my videos! I will share that news with my own students :)

[@DadWisdomBites]

@Dr.CansClinic I'm also closer to 40 so my speed is not like it once was. But I think your correct.

[@jimmccann3856]

Another memorable Can"ism: "Say No to the Marshmallow!" (I wrote in my notebook to immortalize it...)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That comes from my readings of Walter Mischel and his book The Marshmallow Test! It is all about self-control ☺️

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

Sir please create a content How to Approach the complex Rook endgames with your easy techniques which are easy to fix in our memory.. Give some most complex Rook endgame positions and decode and break in to most simpler blocks which already the knowledge have in our brain

[@ashrisambe8152]

Thank you 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure!

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

King c7 then Kb7 so u can shift the rook to E or maybe F file and push g5 f4 or just f4 right away

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely! Thanks.

[@brainfellow5140]

Thank you Dr. Can for an instructive video! Re: Homework The only thing I see here is to ditch a6 and play Rb8, threatening Rxb4, and white will either have to passively retreat the king Kc3 or Ra4 to defend it, but I'm not sure how to proceed from here. I really don't want white getting their rook to a7.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! The problem with Rb8 is that White can defend with a3. The plan is to defend the weak pawn with our king to release our rook.

[@brainfellow5140]

@@Dr.CansClinic This one is pretty challenging. I never even considered king move, as I don't want white to bring their king into my side of the board. I'm not sure what the best way to proceed is. Perhaps you can discuss in a later video?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

@@brainfellow5140 This was a tough one indeed. I may discuss it in a future video indeed!

[@xandermadria1624]

I hate trading peices

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

You are really making us to think our real potential..!!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That would make me so happy as a teacher - to help you reach your true potential.

[@YogiKuda-cb5pe]

Thank you brother💐💐💐💐 God bless you 🙏

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️🙏

[@althompson3085]

Rb8, if white takes a6, I take b4÷, then slip behind white's a pawn.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Rb8 a3 and we face similar issues :)

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

Home work position starts with Rg1. If Rook takes h3 then our Rook takes on f5. If h6 then our Rook on g3

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You meant ...Rb8? They will play a3.

[@sasthanatarajan4760]

Ya ya sorry I wrongly said in White perspective

[@natalyawoop4263]

lol, the pawn is like a marshmallow, like that famous psychology experiment.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Absolutely! The Marshmallow Test! Testing your self-control skills :)

[@adnanghaleb2196]

Great

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you!

[@SierraItharaju]

c2

[@Crelids]

First comment! About to watch the video

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@SierraItharaju]

d6

[@mwatkins0590]

Re4 instead of e5 seems better to me? @ 5:40

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is also a good idea!

[@Mal1234567]

..f4 exf ..Re1 Rxa6 ..Re2 ..f4 e4 ..Re1 Rxa6 ..dxe fxe ..fxe

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Interesting thought! ...Kc7-b7 is probably the best, defending the pawn with the king to free our rook.

[@Mal1234567]

@@Dr.CansClinicSF17 is the ultimate judge. ..Rb1 is its top choice. ..Kc7 is second. Mine aren’t even listed.

[@Mal1234567]

Digging deeper, SF says, ..Rb1 - ..Ra1 - ..Kc7

[@faznaz7455]

@@Mal1234567f4 exf, Re8 Rxa6, Re2 and b5! Looks like disaster to me, those pawns on the queenside seem rather quite fast And the final fxe in your second line is impossible because your pawn is on f4 but the opposing pawn is on e4 so there is no fxe

[@Mal1234567]

@@faznaz7455 Dr. Can, is there a way to turn in my homework without people bugging the shit out of me?

[@briandwi2504]

I take your point but I don't want the rook breaking through. I can still move the rook later...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes, you will move it later. So tell me the defensive plan.

[@briandwi2504]

​@Dr.CansClinic You are pushing me now! 1..Rb8 2 a3 Ra8 Say White does something non committal like h4 3 h4 Kc7 4 g3 Kb6 So, that's my idea get the King to b6 to free the rook from defence of a6. If the white King tries e5 then you can push it back by Re8+ You can also waste a move by Ra7. If white tries a pawn break we can take with our pawns. There's lots going on.... Regards to you.

[@timm439]

4:28 Why not Re4 to attack the other pawn as well?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is also good. It allows ...b5 and likely transpose to the other line i showed.