Most efficient checkmate with a King and a Rook!!

In some tight games i am usually down to a Rook and King against the opponent's King. I am wondering if there are any good reliable tips for a quick checkmate!

See yeres' post #4 for proper (fastest) technique http://www.chess.com/forum/view/endgames/regarding-rooks

Read the whole thread for the different ways, some taking longer, some just illustrating the idea.

Thank you orangehonda. Some very useful material here!!!

Using white as an example i find having the two pawns placed as shown particularly after the opponent castles seems to cause alot of development problems for the black knight and bishop etc. I think this is a good example of how pawns can be used as an effective blocking force and a good way of weakening the king's pawn defence! This also applies to more complex highly developed games!

Hi Simon,

for a reliable method to checkmate with Rook and King against King, see my latest blog post:

http://chesstrainerapp.blogspot.fr/2013/12/how-to-checkmatewith-king-and-rook.html