Rook & Pawn vs Rook — Philidor
The essential drawing method when you are the defender. Hold the third rank, then check from behind — a half point you must never give away.
What you'll learn
- The third-rank defence that holds rook-and-pawn vs rook
- When to switch to checking the king from behind
- The half-point you must never give away
The technique, move by move
Every line below is verified against an endgame tablebase — perfect play, no guesswork.
Check from the side, blockade, hold
1...Rd1+ 1.Kc5 Rb1 2.e7+ Ke8 3.Ra2 Kxe7 4.Rc2 Ra1 5.Rb2 Rc1+ 6.Kb4 …
Harass the attacking king with side checks — it can find no shelter from your rook.
King in front (e-pawn)
1...Ra6+ 1.Kf5 Kd7 2.Kg5 Ra2 3.Kh6 Ke6 4.Kh7 Kxe5 5.Kh8 Kf6 6.Kg8 …
King in front (d-pawn)
1...Ra6+ 1.Ke5 Kc7 2.Kf5 Ra2 3.Kg6 Kd6 4.Kh7 Kxd5 5.Kh8 Ke5 6.Kg8 …
King in front (f-pawn)
1...Ra6+ 1.Kg5 Ke7 2.Kh5 Kf6 3.Kh6 Kxf5+ 4.Kh7 Ra2 5.Kh8 Kf6 6.Kg8 …
Check from behind (e6 pawn)
1...Rf1+ 1.Kg7 Ke7 2.Kh8+ Kxe6 3.Kg8 Ra1 4.Kh8 Kf6 5.Rg7 Rb1 6.Kg8 …
Check from behind (e6 pawn)
1...Rf1+ 1.Kg7 Rb1 2.Kh8 Rc1 3.Kg8 Rb1 4.Kh8 Rc1 5.Kg8 Rb1 6.Kh8
Check from behind (d6 pawn)
1...Re1+ 1.Kf7 Rb1 2.Kg8 Rc1 3.Kh8 Rb1 4.Kg8 Rc1 5.Kh8 Rb1 6.Kg8
Check from behind (f6 pawn)
1...Rg1+ 1.Kh6 Ra1 2.Kg6 Rg1+ 3.Kh6 Ra1 4.Kg6 Rg1+
Drill the Rook & Pawn vs Rook — Philidor
Practice randomly served positions and play them out against a perfect tablebase until you hold the draw every time.
Open the Endgame Trainer →Related endgames to master
The first checkmate every player must own. Use the rook to cut the king off and walk your own king up to force the lone king to the edge.
King & Queen vs KingBox the lone king toward a corner with the queen a knight's-move away — and never stalemate. The fastest of the basic mates once the technique clicks.
Two Bishops vs KingCoordinate the bishops into a wall and herd the king to a corner. Trickier than it looks and a classic test of piece harmony.
Bishop & Knight MateThe hardest basic mate — the king can only be mated in a corner matching the bishop's colour. Learn the W-manoeuvre and the 50-move clock stops scaring you.