Rook Endgame Draw: One Tempo Short of the Mid-Line

Black to play and draw

With White to move, his rook would cut your king off along a rank, and the pawn would win. You are to move, and only one move draws. The rule here: get your king to the fifth rank before his rook does, then check his king from the front. The pawn has not crossed the middle of the board, so your rook has room to keep checking.

Updated September 25, 2026

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One Tempo Saves the Draw: Only Kd5

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

Waking the engine…

The theory

Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.

First, the mistake. After Ke4 your king stays on the fourth rank, level with the pawn, and Rc5 cuts it off along the fifth rank. From there White wins.

The mid-line rule says a pawn that has not crossed the middle of the board draws when the defending king can reach the front of it. Here that takes one exact move.

Only Kd5. Not a check, not a waiting move. The king takes c4, c5 and c6 away from the white king immediately, and every alternative loses.

Then hold the square. After Rc4, Kd6 keeps the blockade, and the king shuttles between d5 and d6. White cannot cut the king off and advance the pawn at the same time.

The same position with White to move is a win. That is how thin the line between the two verdicts is.

In this drill you must find the saving move at once. Hesitate and the winning setup snaps back into place.

Keep going

Cut Off by Two Files: King First, Pawn Last

White to play and win

Zugzwang Against a King on the Edge

White to play and win

Knight Pawn: the Defender Checks from the Front

Black to play and draw

All 96 rook endgames positions Follow the full curriculum (free)