The Lone f-Pawn Falls Short

White to play and draw

Play

You are up a bishop pawn on the sixth with your king and rook near it, but the defending king has reached the danger zone. A single f-pawn with the enemy king this close is only a draw.

No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.

The Lone f-Pawn Falls Short

Hold the draw against perfect play

Waking the engine…

The theory

A lone extra pawn wins in a rook ending only when the attacker can cut the king off or shepherd the pawn safely, and neither is possible here.

King proximity. When the defending king reaches the squares around the promotion path, a single pawn cannot force through.

Bishop pawn limits. An f-pawn gives more chances than a rook pawn, but against an active king and rook it still falls short.

In this drill you hold the stronger side and learn to accept the draw the defender has earned.

Keep going

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