Rook Behind the Pawn, King to e8

White to play and win

Your king is beside the pawn rather than in front of it, and the pawn needs one more square. The winning setup is the oldest rule in rook endings: the rook goes behind its own pawn, and the king takes the queening square.

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Rook Behind the Pawn, King to e8

White to play and win · Win against perfect defense

Waking the engine…

The theory

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

Only four moves keep the win: Re1, or a step with the king to d6, d7 or d8. The rook belongs behind its own pawn on e1, where it backs up every step of the advance.

Not every rook ending is a textbook diagram, but the winning arrangement repeats: rook behind the pawn, king on the queening square.

The rook belongs behind the pawn. From e1 it supports the advance and cannot be driven away. It is one of only four moves here that keep the win, and any other rook move hands back the half point.

The king takes e8. With the pawn on e6, the square that decides the game is e8. Kd7 and Ke8 walk straight through the side checks, because the black rook is too close on the b-file and the black king is stuck far away on g6.

Then the pawn. With the king on e8 and the rook behind on e1, e7 is untouchable and the pawn queens.

In this drill the defense will check and try to reach the pawn's path. Put the rook behind the pawn or march the king, and do not shuffle.

Keep going

Philidor's Defense on the Fifth

Black to play and draw

The Fifth-Rank Fortress: 1.Kf6 Does Not Win

White to play and draw

Rook Behind the Pawn, King to the Side

Black to play and draw

All 83 rook endgames positions Follow the full curriculum (free)