Rook Behind the Passed Pawn
White to play and draw
PlayNow you are the one without a pawn, defending against a passer that has not crossed the mid-line. The classic method holds: rook behind the pawn, king rushing to the queening path.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Rook Behind the Passed Pawn
Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
The oldest rule of rook endings is to place the rook behind a passed pawn, whether yours or the enemy's. On defense it is often enough to draw.
Behind the pawn. Your rook restrains the passer from the rear and never has to retreat as it advances. The enemy rook is tied down guarding it.
King to the front. With the pawn short of the mid-line, your king reaches the queening path in time to blockade. Rook behind, king in front, the pawn is stuck.
In this drill the attacker will try to escort the pawn. Keep the rook behind it, hurry the king across, and hold.