Vibe ChessVibe Chess

Checking from a distance

Checking from a distance is a key defensive technique in rook endings. For the checks not to run out, the rook has to sit far enough from the enemy king (at least three files away): then the king cannot come near and block with an attack on it.

Here White has the king on e8, a pawn on e7 and the rook on f1; Black has the king on g7 and the rook on a2. Black to move, and it is a draw (per the tablebases): the rook on a2 is at the right distance and checks the white king indefinitely.

The «checking distance» rule (at least three squares between rook and king) is what you need to know to save rook endings a pawn down.

87654321
abcdefgh

Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.

Side to move
Castling
More
FEN of the position
Load FEN
Named mates and combinations

The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.

Puzzles: mate in one

It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.

Popular positions

Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.

How to check from a distance

  1. 1Take the rook as far from the enemy king as possible along a rank or a file.
  2. 2Check in such a way that the king cannot approach the rook and attack it.
  3. 3Keep at least three squares between the rook and the enemy king.
  4. 4Do not stop checking until the opponent finds shelter: every move he spends is a tempo lost.

Common mistakes

  • Checking from two squares away: the king walks right up and the rook has to move off.
  • Taking the rook to the short side, where it lacks space.
  • Stopping the checks and giving the opponent time to bring the king to the pawn.

Common questions

Why check from a distance?

So the enemy king cannot attack the rook. From three squares or more he cannot get across in time, and the checks can go on indefinitely.

How many squares does the rook need?

At least three files or ranks between it and the enemy king - that is the long side.

What if the checks run out?

Switch to attacking the pawn from behind, or look for a trade leading to a drawn pawn ending.

Build your own position in the board editor, read up on the rules of chess or run a tournament on your own positions in the free app.

The tournament app

The app instead of arbiter software

Pairings are computed by bbpPairings, an open-source engine implementing the Dutch system by FIDE rules: score groups, floats on an odd field, colour alternation. Free to use.

Swiss system

proper rounds with correct pairings, not random matchups

Round robin

a full circle, with the round count derived from the field

Free meetup

a light format with no tournament machinery

How the tournament runs
  1. 1The event is created in the app in a minute
  2. 2Players register themselves through the link
  3. 3The engine pairs every round, not the organizer
  4. 4The finished tournament exports as a TRF file that arbiter software accepts

Fancy the next chess evening?

Sign up to the Vibe Chess bot on Telegram - it carries the schedule of meetups and chess events across the cities we run in.