Rook and Pawn vs Rook: Drawing on the Sixth
Black to play and draw
PlaySame pawn on f6 and same white king on g6, but your rook stands on a7 and it is your move. The rule: check at once, before his rook reaches the seventh rank. Then keep your rook far away and check his king every time it walks back to the pawn.
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Holding the Sixth-Rank Pawn
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
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The theory
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Waiting loses. After Ra8 Rb7, his rook is on the seventh rank and the position is lost for you.
With the attacker's pawn on the sixth and his king on g6, the defender is a single tempo from being lost. That tempo is worth a check.
Only Rg7+ draws. Everything else loses. Kxg7 is illegal, because your own king on g8 guards that square, and fxg7 does take the rook but leaves you stalemated. So the check is safe, and it kicks White's king off g6.
Then get distance. After Kf5 play Rg2. The rook needs room behind the enemy king to keep checking, and a rook sitting next to the pawn has none.
Why the hurry. Leave White alone for one move and he plays Rb7, Rg7+ and Rh7, and the pawn check on f7 wins your rook on the back rank.
Keep going
The Wrong Side of the Pawn
White to play and draw
A Drawn Pawn on the Sixth
White to play and draw
Pawn on the Sixth: the King Steps to e8
White to play and win
All 96 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)