Rook Endgame: Defending Against a Pawn on the Seventh
Black to play and draw
PlayYou are a pawn down: White's pawn is on a7, and his rook stands in front of it on a8. This is a standard draw. The rule: keep your rook behind the pawn and your king on g7 or h7, and check from behind as soon as his king comes to protect the pawn.
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Rook Behind the Pawn on the Seventh: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
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The theory
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His king on b6 already guards a7, so his rook is free to leave a8. Check the king now: Rb1+ is your only move. A waiting move like Kh7 loses: Rb8, and the pawn will queen.
When a passed rook's pawn reaches the seventh rank with its own rook in front of it, the defender has one of the best-known drawing setups in rook endings.
The setup. Your rook stands behind the pawn, on the a-file. Your king stays on g7 or h7. The attacking rook is tied to a8: it cannot leave along the rank without losing the pawn, and on g8 or h8 your king takes it.
The checks. The only plan left is for the attacking king to walk over and protect the pawn. The moment it arrives on b6 or b7, check it from behind and return to a1. It cannot escape vertical checks.
The trap. Do not let your king drift to f7. Then Rh8 frees the rook, and the position is lost: if you take the pawn, Rh7+ wins your rook.
In this drill you defend: find the checks in time, wait with your king on g7 or h7, and never take the bait.
Keep going
Rook Behind the Passed Pawn
White to play and win
The Frontal Defense
Black to play and draw
Two Pawns Beat the Rook
White to play and win
All 96 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)