Rooks and queens on the 7th is lesson 8 of 9 in Real-game tactics 10: Grandmaster calculation, a tactics course suited to players rated around 2400 (advanced players). A rook or queen on the 7th rank eats pawns and traps the king on the back rank. It has 6 interactive exercises: 6 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
Black to move and win. (3 positions)
White to move: mate in 4.
White to move and win. (2 positions)
Worked examples
Black to move and win. 1...Rh2 2.Qxh2 Nf3+ 3.Kd1 Nxh2. The rook sacrifice on h2 dragged the queen away from its duty. You come out 4 points ahead in material.
Black to move and win. 1...Bxd2+ 2.Kxd2 Qa5+ 3.Ke3 Rxc1 4.Qxc1 Qb6+ 5.Kd2 Qxf2+. The bishop on d2 attacked the king and the rook at once. You win the rook on c1 and come out 3 points ahead.
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