Rooks and queens on the 7th is lesson 8 of 9 in Real-game tactics 9: Master calculation, a tactics course suited to players rated around 2200 (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: mate in 5.
Black to move and win.
White to move: mate in 6. (2 positions)
White to move and win.
Black to move: mate in 6.
Worked examples
Black to move: mate in 5. 1...Rc3+ 2.Ka2 Rd2+ 3.Ka1 Ra3+ 4.Kb1 Rb2+ 5.Kc1 Ra1#. The king was trapped on the back rank behind its own pawns. Mate in 5.
Black to move and win. 1...Nxe4 2.Nxe4 Rxe2+ 3.Kxe2 Qxe4+ 4.Qe3 Qc2+ 5.Qd2 Qxb1. The rook sacrifice lured the king to e2. You win the rook on b1 and come out 6 points ahead.
chessGM