Cutting the King Off by a File
White to play and win
PlayYour pawn is short of the mid-line, but the enemy king is stranded far away behind your rook's cutting file. With the defender too distant to blockade, king and pawn advance to a win.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Cutting the King Off by a File
Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
Cutting the enemy king off is one of the sharpest weapons in rook endings. A king stranded behind the rook's file often cannot save the game.
The cutting file. Your rook holds a file the enemy king cannot cross. The further that king is from the pawn, the less the mid-line rule helps the defender.
Escort to queen. With the defending king boxed out, your own king and pawn advance together toward promotion. The enemy rook checks but cannot conjure a blockade.
In this drill the defense will fight to bring its king back. Hold the cutting file, march the pawn, and win.