Self-Propelled Pawns Against a Counter-Runner
White to play and draw, after Grigoriev, 1936
PlayYour a- and b-pawns are self-propelled: connected passers that walk up the board without any help from the king. They are strong, and they are slow. Black's h-pawn generates counterplay just in time, and this is a draw.
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Self-Propelled Pawns Against a Counter-Runner
White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Self-propelled pawns. Connected passed pawns can walk up the board unaided, each covering the square in front of the other. No king escort is needed, which is what makes them dangerous.
But they are slow. Promotion still costs many tempi, and with pawns on opposite wings the defender's own runner is counting the same tempi.
Two pawns against a rook. Connected passers on the sixth and seventh hold a rook by themselves. That is why giving up the rook for the enemy runner is the right transformation here, not a concession.
In this drill you play the stronger side and learn where the win is not.
Keep going
One Tempo for the a-Pawn
Black to play and draw
The Same Position, One Tempo Better
White to play and win
Active Defence: Walk the King to the Passer
Black to play and draw
All 83 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)