Pawn on the Seventh: Building the Bridge

White to play and win

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Rook and pawn versus rook with the pawn on the seventh and your king shielding it: this is the classic win, delivered by building a bridge.

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Pawn on the Seventh: Building the Bridge

Win against perfect defense

Waking the engine…

The theory

The pawn on the seventh with the king in front of it is the winning heart of rook endgames, the position all the technique funnels toward.

The problem. Your king shelters on the promotion square, but the defending rook checks it forever from a distance, and stepping out invites more checks.

The bridge. Place your rook on the fourth rank. When the king walks out and the checks come, the rook drops in to block, forming a roof of rook and king under which the pawn queens.

In this drill the defender checks with perfect timing, so set the bridge before you march the king; abandon the plan and the checks never end.

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