Active Defence: Walk the King to the Passer
Black to play and draw, after Reshevsky - Alekhine, AVRO 1938
PlayYour a-pawn is one square from queening and White's rook is chained to it. The saving method is not to sit and wait. You march the king across to support the pawn so that it will eventually cost White a whole rook.
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Active Defence: Walk the King to the Passer
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
The active method. Instead of defending passively, the weaker side walks his king up to support his passed pawn. The pawn then becomes so dangerous that the stronger side must give up a whole rook to stop it.
The price. The march costs tempi, and the opponent uses them to advance his own pawns. Two connected passers with the king behind them beat a rook, so the plan can rebound.
The criterion. Active defence of this kind has practical chances only against less advanced pawns and misplaced pieces. Check both before you commit the king.
In this drill the criterion is met and the king march holds the draw.
Keep going
The Rook at the Side of the Pawns
Black to play and win
The Exchange Threat and the Rook Sacrifice
Black to play and draw
Winning the Rook for the Pawn
White to play and win
All 83 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)