Rook and Pawn Endgame: The Rook Behind the Pawn
White to play and win
PlayHis rook on b2 is ready to check your king from the side, and his king on g6 is two steps from f8. The rule: put your rook behind your pawn, on e1, walk your king to e8 through the checks, push the pawn, then step aside and walk your king toward his rook while your rook guards the pawn.
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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.
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
The Vancura Position
Black to play and draw
One Tempo Too Late for Vancura
Black to play and draw
Rook Behind the Pawn on the Seventh: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw
All 96 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)