The Exchange Threat and the Rook Sacrifice
Black to play and draw, after Marshall - Capablanca, 1909
PlayYou are a pawn down and White's rook guards both of his pawns from one rank. Passive defence loses. Two named methods save this ending, and you will need both: evicting the rook with the threat of an exchange, and giving the rook up for a pawn.
New to this ending? Learn the method first: Rook Endgames
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
The Exchange Threat and the Rook Sacrifice
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Only active defence saves the weaker side in rook endings. Two methods carry most of the load.
The exchange threat. When the enemy rook is placed on the rank from which it defends both pawns, drive it away by threatening to trade rooks. If the pawn ending after the trade is drawn, he cannot accept, so he must abandon the rank and with it a pawn.
The rook for a pawn. Give the rook up for a pawn, take the other pawn with the king, and hold the resulting pawn-versus-rook ending. Your own passer, far enough advanced and far from the enemy king, is enough.
In practice they combine. The exchange threat wins the first pawn, the sacrifice deals with the second.
Keep going
Winning the Rook for the Pawn
White to play and win
The Check That Buys a Tempo
White to play and win
Three Files Apart: The Rook Is Overloaded
Black to play and win
All 83 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)