Rook Endgame Defense: Holding Against f- and h-Pawns
Black to play and draw
PlayYou are two pawns down, but his f- and h-pawns are split by the g-file, and that is your chance. One rule comes first: never let your king be pushed to the back rank. Your rook waits far away, near the corner, ready to check from behind or from the side. And the moment a pawn reaches its sixth rank, your king steps in front of it.
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Defending Against Split Kingside Pawns
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
Defending two pawns down is a core rook-ending skill, and split kingside pawns are among the friendliest structures to hold.
Two targets. Pawns divided by a file give the attacking king no shelter, so a rook in the far corner keeps checking it from behind and from the side.
The rook pawn. An h-pawn promotes in the corner, where your rook stops it with minimal room, easing the whole defense.
In this drill you defend and prove that disconnected extra pawns on one wing add up to only a draw.
Keep going
Giving Up the h-Pawn to Push the f-Pawn
White to play and draw
Lasker's Idea: Check, Then Capture
White to play and win
Active Defence: Walk the King to the Passer
Black to play and draw
All 96 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)