Rook Behind the Pawn, King to the Side

Black to play and draw

The white king already stands in front of its pawn, so there is no Philidor rank left to hold. Your rook on e1 is doing the whole job from behind, and it must not move.

New to this ending? Learn the method first: Rook Endgames

No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.

Rook Behind the Pawn, King to the Side

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

Waking the engine…

The theory

Philidor's defense needs the rook on the third rank. Once the attacking king has crossed to the sixth, that resource is gone and the defense changes shape completely.

Rook behind the pawn, king to the side. Your rook on e1 attacks the pawn on e5, which is defended only by the king on e6. So the white king cannot step aside to let the pawn run. That is why only the king moves Kd8 and Kf8 hold, and why any rook move loses at once.

Wait for the file to be blocked. White's one way forward is to put his own rook in front of the pawn on e8. Only then is your rook free.

And then, distance. After 1...Kd8 2.Ra8+ Kc7 3.Re8, the only drawing move is 3...Rh1. The rook has to land as far away as the board allows; a1, b1, c1 and d1 all lose. Checking distance is measured, not felt.

In this drill the move list is short. Two king moves draw. Everything else loses.

Keep going

Knight Pawn: The Long Side or Nothing

Black to play and draw

The Umbrella: Hiding Behind an Enemy Pawn

Black to play and win

The Frontal Attack: A Pawn Short of the Mid-Line

White to play and draw

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