The a-Pawn on the Seventh Holds
Black to play and draw
PlayYour pawn stands one step from promotion, and that is exactly what saves you. The threat to queen keeps the enemy rook chained while you defend against the kingside majority.
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The a-Pawn on the Seventh Holds
Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
The seventh-rank passer. A pawn one square from queening forces the enemy rook into permanent guard duty. That tied-down rook is the defender's greatest asset in an otherwise difficult ending.
Spread the defense. With the enemy pawns on the far wing, the defender uses king and rook together to cover the second front while the passer handles the first.
Keep the rooks on. Do not liquidate into a king and pawn endgame you have not calculated to a draw. The rooks are what make the promotion threat and the counterplay possible.
In this drill you defend with a pawn on the seventh. Keep it alive as a threat, stay active, and the draw holds against flawless play.