Rook Against Connected Pawns
White to play and draw
PlayTwo connected passed pawns are the rook's nightmare, but they are not yet winning: with the pawns on the sixth and seventh the rook holds by keeping one permanently blockaded.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Rook Against Connected Pawns
Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Connected passed pawns are the classic answer to a rook, but their strength depends entirely on how far they have advanced and where the kings stand.
The holding method. Blockade the leading pawn with the rook so it cannot promote, then look to give the rook for both pawns and reach a drawn king ending.
The danger line. Two connected passers side by side on the sixth rank, with their king close and the enemy king far, beat a rook, because the rook cannot stop both.
In this drill you defend, so keep one pawn frozen and time the rook sacrifice; a careless move lets the pawns advance together and win.