Endgames with Rooks on the Board GM Ioannis Papaioannou

Rook Endgames – Important Theoretical Positions

In the introduction to this lecture, GM Ioannis Papaioannou writes, ”

“Let me begin in an unusual way: by describing which endgames should (or should not) be studied.

The one you see on the board is a theoretical endgame—an endgame with very few pieces on the board that has occurred in several games and will likely appear in future games, where the correct play is already well established. Should we start our endgame training by memorizing such endgames (of which there are hundreds)? It depends on what kind of player you are.

If you are a strong amateur player (rated below 2400) who wants to improve your game, then from a practical standpoint, there is no need to memorize such positions. They will appear very rarely in your games. However, it does make sense to go through a book on endgames at least once—whatever you retain from it will become your knowledge! If you are considering becoming a professional chess player, then you should study these theoretical positions. Doing so will enhance your overall play.

In general, if your rating is below 2400, it’s more important to study practical endgames with many pieces on the board and develop the correct way of thinking.”