Rook vs Rook and Bishop: The Cochrane Defence

Lutz held this against Timman in 1995, and the two techniques he used are the ones worth memorising.

The Cochrane defence. Line your rook up so that the attacking bishop is pinned against its own king along a rank or a file. A pinned bishop cannot help build a mating net, and the attack stalls.

The second-rank defence. Put your rook on the rank directly in front of your king. It walls off the squares the mating net needs, and the attacker cannot dislodge it.

Aim for the safe corner. That is the corner of the colour opposite the enemy bishop. The dangerous corner is the one that matches it, where Philidor's mate lives.

Two details that make it hold. The Cochrane pin keeps the kings one file, or one rank, farther apart than in the losing Philidor picture, so the attacker can never quite oppose your king. And when you are shoved to the very edge, the second-rank wall plus a stalemate saves you, but only on your own second rank or the knight file, where a rook check beside your king cannot be captured.

In this drill the attacker presses for Philidor's position. Check from a distance, keep your rook active, and hold.