Rook Endgame: Single f-Pawn Draw
White to play and draw
PlayYour f-pawn has reached f6 with your king and rook beside it, but his king is close on h7 and his rook stands on a8, on the long side. This is a draw. The rule that holds it: his rook checks from far away the moment your king steps out, and his king stays near the pawn without being trapped in the corner.
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The Lone f-Pawn Falls Short
White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
First the trap he must avoid. After Kf7, Kh8 shuts his own king in the corner: Re8+ Rxe8 Kxe8, and the pawn ending is won for you.
A lone extra pawn wins in a rook ending only when the attacker can cut the king off or shepherd the pawn safely, and neither is possible here.
King proximity. When the defending king reaches the squares around the promotion path, a single pawn cannot force through.
Bishop pawn limits. An f-pawn gives more chances than a rook pawn, but against an active king and rook it still falls short.
In this drill you hold the stronger side and learn to accept the draw the defender has earned.
Keep going
Outflanking: The Réti Study
White to play and win
Pawn on the Seventh: Building the Bridge
White to play and win
Where the Side Checks Run Out
White to play and win
All 96 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)