Rook and Bishop vs Rook: Pressing a Book Draw

White to play and draw

Play

Rook and bishop against rook stays a draw with accurate defence. You are the side pressing, and the lesson is to see exactly which defensive habits keep you out.

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Holding the Rook and Bishop Ending

White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play

Waking the engine…

The theory

Rook and bishop against rook stays a draw when the defender keeps the rook active and the king out of the losing corner.

Active defense holds you off. The defending rook pins your bishop, harasses from the side, and never sits passive, denying you the winning setup.

No corner, no mate. As long as his king avoids the corner matching your bishop, Philidor's mating position never appears.

In this drill you press without overextending against a defence that never cracks. Keep your material safe and take the draw.

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