Rook vs Rook and Bishop: Defending a Book Draw

Black to play and draw

You have a lone rook against rook and bishop, and this is a draw if you defend well. Your king is on the edge, on e1, and your rook on e7 has been pinning the bishop on e5 to White's king: that is the Cochrane defence. The rule: when his king comes closer, step your king the other way, so that it never stands opposite his with your king on the edge. Later you switch to a second setup, with king and rook together on the file next to the edge.

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Rook Against Rook and Bishop: the Defender Holds

Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play

Waking the engine…

The theory

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His king just left e4 for d4, so the pin is gone. Kd1, toward his king, would lose: Kd3, and your king stands opposite his, on the edge. Step the other way.

Rook and bishop against a lone rook is a book draw, but the defender has to know how to hold it. This drill puts you on that side.

The first setup: Cochrane. Your king is on the edge, and your rook pins the bishop against the attacking king, so that king cannot come closer. In this setup, never let your king stand opposite his: then the attacker can reach the Philidor position, which wins. When his king comes closer, step yours the other way.

The second-rank defence. Your king and rook stand together on the file or rank next to the edge, the rook two squares from the king. Then a check gives the attacker no time to bring his king closer, and when a waiting move seems to leave you in zugzwang, a stalemate saves the game.

In this drill you defend until the stalemate. Many moves lose along the way: step away from his king, and keep your rook out of reach.

Keep going

Rook against Rook and Bishop: Off the Edge

Black to play and draw

Rook Against Rook and Bishop: Holding the Draw

Black to play and draw

Driving the King to the Dangerous Corner

White to play and win

All 30 rook vs minor positions Follow the full curriculum (free)