Rook vs Rook-Pawn: The Defender's Tempo
Black to play and draw
PlayThe very same position with Black to move flips the verdict: a single free tempo lets the pawn and king coordinate just enough to hold the draw.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Rook vs Rook-Pawn: The Defender's Tempo
Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Being a whole rook up is usually decisive, yet a far-advanced rook-pawn with its king alongside is the great exception, and whose move it is often settles the result.
Why the tempo matters. With the defender to move, the pawn and king advance in step and reach the drawing corner before the attacker's king arrives. One tempo the other way and the rook wins.
The rook-pawn's gift. The a-file corner is riddled with stalemate resources: capture the pawn at the wrong moment and the defending king has no legal move. That is the fortress you steer toward.
In this drill you hold the half-point, so keep the king welded to the pawn and refuse every invitation to let them drift apart.