Cutting the King Off: Rook Against a Runner
White to play and win
PlayRook versus a lone passed pawn is a race, and the rook wins it by fencing the enemy king away from its pawn while your own king hurries back.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Cutting the King Off: Rook Against a Runner
Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
Rook against a single passed pawn is one of the first endings every player must trust, because it decides countless simplified positions where one side sacrifices for a runner.
The core method. A pawn needs its king to promote. Place your rook so it cuts the enemy king off from the pawn, along a rank or a file. Deprived of its escort, the pawn is stuck, and you win it with the rook or by bringing your king.
The trap. Charging the pawn directly, with the enemy king alongside it, invites stalemate and perpetual-check tricks, especially with a rook-pawn. The cut comes before the capture.
In this drill the defender plays perfectly, so a lazy rook move that lets the king rejoin the pawn will be punished at once.