Rook vs Separated Passed Pawns: The Draw
White to play and draw
PlayTwo pawns are one step from queening, and your king is far away. The rule: when four files separate the pawns, the rook stops them on its own. Keep it on the first rank, where it watches both promotion squares, and keep it out of reach of his king.
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Rook Against Separated Pawns
White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
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The theory
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The pawns stand on b2 and g2, with four files between them: c, d, e and f. Your king cannot help, and every king move loses. After Kd5 Kf2 your rook on g1 is attacked, and after Rb1 g1=Q he has a queen.
The rule for a rook against two separated passed pawns is a number: four files.
Four files, no king needed. With the pawns on b2 and g2 there are four files between them, and the rook holds them alone. Your king does not move once in the solution, and every king move loses.
The shuttle. Rb1 is the only draw. Sitting on the first rank, the rook covers both queening squares. When the black king comes for it, the rook slides to the far end with Rg1, again the only move, again covering both. The king can never attack it while it guards the distant pawn.
Closer together and it breaks. Set the pawns three files apart, on c2 and g2, and the same position is lost. The decisive factor is the gap between the pawns, not the distance of your king.
Keep going
Three Files Apart: The Rook Is Overloaded
Black to play and win
Separated Passers Overrun the Rook
Black to play and win
Shouldering Off the King
White to play and draw
All 96 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)