rookeindspelen

Rookeindspelen is not a standard term in most chess lexicons. It appears to be a Dutch-language construction that would translate as rook endgames, the phase of the game in which only rooks (and kings, and pawns) remain after material exchanges. In Dutch chess terminology the traditional label for this phase is toreneindspelen. The usage of rookeindspelen is rare and mostly found in informal writing or as a direct translation from English.

Rook endgames are characterized by the high activity of rooks, the importance of king activity, and the creation and defense of passed pawns. The side with the active rook often seeks to place the rook behind a passed pawn on the seventh or eighth rank and to create threats that force concessions from the opponent. Typical techniques include aiming for the Lucena position to convert a win with a rook and pawn versus rook, or using the Philidor position to hold a draw when the defender's rook creates perpetual checks or a fortress. Endgame specialists emphasize rook activity and avoiding passive rook placements, as rooks excel in cutting files and ranks and in controlling key squares.

Historically rook endgames have been a central topic of endgame theory. They recur frequently in master games and world championship matches, and are covered in standard endgame manuals by authors such as Suba, Silman, and Dvoretsky. In practice, mastering rook endgames gives players a reliable path to convert advantages or salvage draws from otherwise equal positions.