Defending Against Split Kingside Pawns
Black to play and draw
PlayYou are a pawn down against an f- and h-pawn pair, but the gap between them is your ally. Defend actively and the disconnected pawns never break through.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Defending Against Split Kingside Pawns
Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Defending down a pawn is a core rook-ending skill, and split kingside pawns are among the friendliest structures to hold.
Two targets. Pawns divided by a file cannot support each other, so the defender attacks one and blockades the other.
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.