[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "rook and pawn versus rook endgame"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]

{
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_and_pawn_versus_rook_endgame#King_in_front_of_pawn.2C_but_cannot_reach_the_Philidor_position

Importance

Endings with rooks and pawns are the most common type to occur in games, 
occurring in about 8 to 10 percent of all games (de la Villa 2008:18), 
(Emms 2008:6). A majority of rook and pawn endings with more pawns have 
the potential of being reduced to this type of endgame (rook and one pawn 
versus rook) (Guliev 2003:87), (Levenfish & Smyslov 1971:15). John Nunn 
wrote a 352-page book about this ending, Secrets of Rook Endings (Nunn 
2007:126). Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of Chess Endings devotes 92 pages 
to the analysis of 428 positions of this type (MatanoviÄ‡ 1985:14â€“105). 
André Chéron wrote over 150 pages analyzing 120 positions of this endgame 
in his famous book Lehr- und Handbuch der Endspiele (Nunn 1999:6), (Minev 
2004:58). In 100 Endgames You Must Know by Jesús de la Villa, 17 are of 
this type (de la Villa 2008:6â€“7).[1] John Nunn covers 100 topics in 
Understanding Chess Endgames â€“ eight are about this type of endgame 
(Nunn 2009:106).


Pawn on the sixth or seventh rank[edit]
In his 1958 book Chess Endgames, Nikolay Kopaev gave these general 
guidelines for when the pawn is on the sixth or seventh rank:

When the black king is cut off two or more files from the pawn, White 
always wins.
If the black king is on the long side of the pawn and his rook is on the 
short side, White wins with very few exceptions.
If the pawn is on the seventh rank, the only defense involves checks from 
the side. If the pawn is on the sixth rank, a defense of checks from the 
rear is possible.
The defense of checking from the side normally requires three empty files 
between the pawn and the black rook. Sometimes it is possible with only 
two files when the pawn is on the seventh rank.
In order for a defense of checking from behind to be successful, the white
king must be behind the pawn, not in front of it.
There are tactical possibilities: (1) deflecting the black rook, and (2) 
creating a shelter for the white king (Minev 2004:72).} 
*

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Black to move"]
[Black "White promotes the pawn"]
[Result "0-1"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/2R1k3/2K5/1P6/3r4 b - - 0 1"]

{Nunn, John (1999), Secrets of Rook Endings (2nd ed.), Gambit 
Publications, ISBN 978-1-901983-18-0} 
0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Winning methods"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "4r3/8/8/3PK3/7R/4k3/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{Black king is cut off along a rank

Cutting off the king. The black king is cut off along a rank, so White 
wins easily.} 
1. Kd6 Rd8+ 2. Ke6 Re8+ 3. Kd7 Rg8 4. d6 Rg7+ 5. Kc8 Rg8+ 6. Kc7 Rg7+ 7. 
d7 {and the pawn will soon queen (Seirawan 2003

When cutting the defending king off by a rank, a perfect cut is when the 
pawn is on the same rank as the defending king. An imperfect cut is when 
the king is on the rank ahead of the pawn. These general rules apply:

The defending king should be cut off on a rank on the long side of the 
pawn. Otherwise, the position is not dangerous for the defense if the 
defending rook is on the long side.
With a perfect cut, the position is always won with a bishop pawn or 
knight pawn on any rank. A central pawn wins if it is on the fourth rank 
or beyond.
With an imperfect cut, the position is a draw if the defending rook is on 
the file adjacent to the pawn. In addition, the defense has more 
possibilities against a central pawn (de la Villa 2008:141â€“45).} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "de la Villa, position 10.17"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r6/8/8/2R5/1P1k4/1K6/8/8 b - - 0 1"]

{Black king is cut off from the pawn's file[edit]
When the black king is cut off from the pawn's file the outcome depends on
where the black king is in relation to the pawn. Black's king is often cut
off from the pawn along a file. Some general rules (with exceptions) are:

If the pawn is a rook pawn, the position is usually a draw.
If the pawn is on the fifth rank (or sixth or seventh rank) with its king 
near, and the black king is cut off from the pawn's file, White has a won 
position.
If the pawn is on the third or fourth rank, (a) if it is a bishop pawn or 
central pawn, White always wins if the black king is cut off by two files 
for a fourth rank pawn and the black king is cut off by three files for a 
third rank pawn (see "The Rule Of Five" below) (i.e. White's rook is two 
files over from his pawn and the black king is on the other side), and (b)
if the pawn is a knight pawn, White always wins if the black king is cut 
off by three files.
If the pawn is on the second rank and the black king is on the fourth or 
fifth rank, White wins only if the opposing king is cut off five files 
from the pawn.
In some cases White wins even if the black king is closer (Fine & Benko 
2003:298â€“305).} 
1. ... Ra8 2. Rc6 Rb8 3. Ra6 Kd5 4. Ka4! Kc4 5. Rc6+ Kd5 6. b5 Ra8+ 7. Kb4
{This is the same position but advanced one rank. Now the process is 
repeated:} 7. ... Rb8 8. Rc7 Kd6 9. Ra7 Kd5 10. Ka5 Kc5 11. Rc7+ Kd6 12. 
b6 Ra8+ 13. Kb5 Ra1 {White threatened Rh7, b7, and Kb6 so Black tries 
checks from the rear. However, play will soon lead to a Lucena position 
(see below), which easily wins for White (de la Villa 2008:141â€“42).} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rule of five"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "3r4/8/8/6k1/3P4/3K4/8/5R2 w - - 0 1"]

{The rule of five is for positions in which the pawn is protected and the 
opposing king is cut off by files: Add the number of rank of the pawn to 
the number of files the defender's king is cut off. If the sum is more 
than five, it is usually a win. Otherwise it is normally a draw. (Soltis 
2003:138), (Mednis 1998:41â€“42). For example, in the diagram, white wins 
by:} 
1. Kc4 Rc8+ 2. Kb5 {(the white king must have this file available)} 2. ...
 Rd8 3. Kc5 Rc8+ 4. Kb6! Rd8 5. Rd1! Kf6 6. Kc7 Ra8 7. d5 {and White will 
win.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cheron 1923"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "1r6/8/4k3/8/1P6/1K6/8/3R4 w - - 0 1"]

{The rule of five seems to apply, but Black draws because the pawn is a 
knight pawn The position by Chéron is basically the same, except moved 
over two files. Now the white king has less room to maneuver on the left 
of the pawn's file, and Black can prevent the advance of the pawn and 
draw. If White starts with 1. Ka4, the rook checks the king, and the king 
is forced back to b3. White can try:} 
1. Rd4 ( 1. Rd2 Ke5 2. Rd7 Ke6 3. Rc7 Kd6 4. Rc5 Kd7 5. Ka4 Ra8+ 6. Ra5 
Rb8 7. Ra7+ Kc6 8. Ka5 Rb5+ 9. Ka4 Rb8 {and the position is drawn. If the 
pieces are moved one file to the right, White has a win (Korchnoi 
2002:12â€“13).} ) 1. ... Ke5 2. Kc3 Rc8+ 3. Rc4 Rb8 4. Rc6 Kd5 5. Ra6 Rc8+
6. Kb3 Rc6! 7. Ra8 ( {or} 7. Ra7 Rc1 ) 7. ... Kd6 {and the black king 
reaches the pawn's file, for a draw. Another try for White is:} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/8/8/2k5/8/4K3/3R1P1r/8 w - - 0 1"]

{White wins because Black's rook is not in position for frontal checks.


 In the discussion above about the defending king being cut off by files, 
it is assumed that the defending rook is already in position to check the 
attacking king along files (usually from his first rank). In this position
by José Capablanca, White wins because the white pawn can reach its fourth
rank before the black rook can check along files. If the black rook were 
already at h8 and it were Black's move, Black would draw by checking the 
king and by playing ...Rf8 when the white king moves to f1 (Capablanca & 
de Firmian 2006:121). With White to move in the diagrammed position:} 
1. Rd1 Rh8 2. f4 Re8+ 3. Kf3 Rf8 4. Kg4 Rg8+ 5. Kh5 Rh8+ 6. Kg6 {, etc, 
and White will win. } 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Capablanca"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/8/8/2k5/8/4K3/3R1P1r/8 b - - 0 1"]

1. ... Kc6 2. Rd8 Rh7 3. f3 ( 3. f4 {draws after} 3. ... Rd7 ( {or} 3. ...
 Kc7 ) ) 3. ... Re7+ 4. Kf2 Rf7 5. Kg3 {etc, and White wins.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lucena position"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1K1k4/1P6/8/8/8/8/r7/2R5 w - - 0 1"]

{The Lucena position is one of the most famous and important positions in 
chess endgame theory. It is a win for the side with the pawn. The 
essential characteristics are that White's king is on the queening square 
in front of his pawn, the pawn is on the b through g files, and the black 
king is cut off on a file.

White wins in the position in the diagram by} 
1. Rd1+ {forcing the black king one file farther away, then bringing his 
rook to the fourth rank to make a "bridge" to protect the king, then 
bringing out the king, which will be checked by Black's rook. White 
maneuvers his king to the fifth rank (without giving up the pawn) and then
when the black rook checks, White interposes his rook and has a winning 
position. See Lucena position for more details (Fine & Benko 
2003:297â€“98).} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Defending rook"]
[Black "prevents the bridge"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "2k1K3/4P3/8/8/5r2/8/8/3R4 w - - 0 1"]

{If the defending rook is in the superior side's fourth rank, it prevents 
the rook from making a bridge on that rank. In that case, the win is 
straightforward.} 
1. Rc1+ Kb7 2. Kd7! {The black rook is not far enough away from the white 
king to keep safely checking.} 2. ... Rd4+ 3. Ke6 Re4+ 4. Kd6 Kb6 {Other 
fourth moves by Black are no better. If 4... Rd4+ then 5. Ke5 wins, as the
rook cannot stop the pawn. If Black tries a different move, say 4...Re2 
then White moves 5. Rc5 and builds a bridge on the fifth rank.} 5. Rd1 Kb5
6. Rd5+ Kb6 7. Re5 {and Black cannot stop the pawn (Hawkins 2012:69â€“70).
} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alternate method"]
[Black "for bishop pawns and central pawns"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "4K3/2k1P3/8/8/8/8/3R4/5r2 w - - 0 1"]

{The Lucena position is a win for White if the pawn is not a rook pawn. 
There is another way of winning if the pawn is a bishop pawn or central 
pawn. In the diagram, 1. Rc2+ would start the process of winning with the 
process above. However, White also wins by} 
1. Rh2 Rf3 2. Rh8 Rf1 3. Rf8 Re1 4. Kf7 {(Emms 2008:17â€“18). Now either} 
4. ... Kd7 {wins, or the white king can approach the black rook on the two
files next to the pawn's file until it can no longer check:} ( {and the 
black rook can no longer attack and the pawn promotes.} ) 5. e8=Q+ {wins, 
or the white king can approach the black rook on the two files next to the
pawn's file until it can no longer check:} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alternate method for bishop pawns "]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "5R2/2k1PK2/8/8/8/8/8/4r3 b - - 7 4"]

4. ... Rf1+ 5. Kg6 Rg1+ 6. Kf5 Rf1+ 7. Kg4 Rg1+ 8. Kf3 Rf1+ 9. Ke2 +- {and
the black rook can no longer attack and the pawn promotes.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Other methods"]
[Black "Horowitz and Kling, 1851"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "4K3/2k1P3/8/8/8/8/3R4/4r3 w - - 0 1"]

{It may not be necessary to build a bridge to win, if the king is on its 
pawn's promotion square. White wins in this position:} 
1. Rc2+ Kb7 ( 1. ... Kd6 2. Kd8 Rxe7 3. Rd2+ Ke6 4. Re2+ {wins the rook} )
2. Rf2 Rh1 3. Kf7 Rh7+ 4. Ke6 Rh8 5. Kd7 Rh7 6. Kd8 +- 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Philidor position"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "4k3/7R/1r6/5K2/4P3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{Philidor's position, or third rank defense. Black is defending the 
Philidor position, and draws, even if White is to move.

third rank defense and works when the defending king is in front of the 
pawn and the attacking king and pawn have not reached their sixth rank. 
Black keeps his rook on his third rank to keep the white king from 
reaching that rank. If White advances the pawn to its sixth rank (Black's 
third rank), then the king is deprived of shelter, so Black moves his rook
to the eighth (or seventh) rank, and keeps checking the white king from 
behind. It is very important that the defender keep his rook on his third 
rank, and move to the far side of the board only after the attacking pawn 
has moved to its sixth rank. (An exchange of rooks will result in a drawn 
position, see king and pawn versus king endgame.) See Philidor position 
for more details (Fine & Benko 2003:294).

There are three errors that Black must avoid:

Immobilizing the rook
Allowing the king to be driven away from the queening square
Playing the king to the wrong side
Philidor's defense can also be used with the black rook on the fourth 
rank, if White's king and pawn have not reached that rank. If this defense
is used, the black king should be on the second rank. The principle is the
same: Black keeps his rook on the fourth rank, keeping the white king from
advancing to that rank. If the pawn advances to that rank, Black moves the
rook to the eighth rank and checks the king from behind.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Back rank defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r4k1/R7/5KP1/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{The back-rank defense always works if the pawn is a rook pawn or knight 
pawn and the defending king is in front of the pawn. The defending king 
blocks the pawn and the rook is on the first rank preventing checks by the
rook. In the diagram, Black draws. If 1. g7 then 1... Rb6+ draws and if 1.
Rg7+ then 1... Kh8 draws. White's best attempt is:.} 
1. Kg5 Rc8 {waiting passively, also known as the passive defense)} 2. Kh6 
Rb8 3. Rg7+ {the only trick for White} 3. ... Kh8! {If} ( 3. ... Kf8? {
then} 4. Kh7 Rb1 5. Rf7+ Ke8 6. Rf4 {and White gets to the Lucena 
position.} ) 4. Rh7+ Kg8 5. Ra7 Rc8 {and White makes no progress. The 
defense fails for other pawns (if the attacking king has reached the sixth
rank) because White has another file available to go around the pawn (Emms
2008:20).} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Averbakh and Kopayev"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r3k2/R7/5P2/6K1/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{White to move wins. Black to move draws.

If the attacking king has not reached the sixth rank, the defense works 
for any pawn. In the second diagram, White to move wins by getting his 
king to the sixth rank so the defending rook can not leave the back rank 
because of the threat of checkmate. This illustrates how the defense fails
for a bishop pawn or central pawn:} 
1. Kg6 Rd8 2. Rh7 Kg8 3. f7+ Kf8 4. Rh8+ Ke7 5. Rxd8 +- 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Averbakh and Kopayev"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r3k2/R7/5P2/6K1/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]

1. ... Rb1! {which neutralizes the threat of Kg6, because Black can check 
from behind and there is no immediate threat of checkmate by White 
(Averbakh & Kopayev 1987:115). Black checks from behind, as in the 
Philidor defense.

If neither the pawn or king have reached the sixth rank, Black can 
normally draw by reaching the Philidor position, above} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "King in front of pawn"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/5pk1/1r6/R5K1 b - - 0 1"]

{
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_and_pawn_versus_rook_endgame#King_in_front_of_pawn.2C_but_cannot_reach_the_Philidor_position

Sometimes the defender's king is in front of the pawn, but the rook can 
not get to its third rank to reach the Philidor position. Thus he has two 
choices: try to attack from behind, or retreat to the back rank with his 
rook to guard the mating threats. The diagrams show such back-rank 
positions. For a bishop pawn (see the first diagram) or central pawn, if 
the defending rook is tied down to the back rank, he loses:} 
1. ... Rg2+ 2. Kf1 Rh2! 3. Kg1 f2+ 4. Kf1 Rh1+ {winning the rook} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "King in front of pawn"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/6pk/1r6/R5K1 b - - 0 1"]

{But the defender can hold the draw with an accurately conducted "active 
defense" from behind the pawn while it is still on the fifth rank, with 
the king moving to the short side (see next section).

But with a knight pawn (see the diagram on the right), the attacker has no
file equivalent to 2... Rh2, so he can not make progress. Here, the 
defender should avoid the active defense (attacking the pawn from behind 
while it is on the fifth with the rook). It fails because his king will be
forced to the long side (stepping the other way would lose immediately 
because of the corner, allowing immediate mate).

The defender can draw against the rook pawn either way, because most king 
and pawn versus king positions are drawn with the rook's pawn (see King 
and pawn versus king endgame#Rook pawn), (Mednis 1982:15â€“19), (Dvoretsky
2006:144), (Ward 2004:37â€“42).} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Siegbert Tarrasch, 1906"]
[Black ""Short side" defense"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "4K3/4P1k1/8/8/8/8/r7/5R2 b - - 0 1"]

{The short side defense. Black to play draws. White to move wins.

Not all positions similar to the Lucena position above are wins for the 
superior side â€” it depends on the position of Black's rook and king 
(relative to White's pawn), and which side is to move. In positions such 
as the position in this diagram, the defending rook must be at least four 
files away from the pawn on the "long side" for the defense to work (the 
"checking distance"); otherwise the white king can support its pawn and 
approach the black rook to drive it away. The black king needs to be on 
the "short side" so it will not block checks by its own rook.

As an example, Black to move draws in this diagram. The reason is that 
Black can check the white king from the side with his rook, and the rook 
is just far enough away from the white king that if it tries to approach 
the rook to stop the checks, the rook can get behind the pawn and win it, 
resulting in a drawn position. For example:} 
1. ... Ra8+ 2. Kd7 Ra7+ 3. Kd6 Ra6+ {(if 5 ... Ra8 6. Ra1! (either black 
takes the rook and the white pawn queens, or it forces the enemy rook off 
the vital a-file that has "checking distance", the rook moves on the back 
rank, followed by 7. Kd7, and the pawn promotes)} ( 3. ... Ra8 4. Ra1! Rb8
( 4. ... Rh8 5. Kd7 +- ) 5. Kc7 +- ) 4. Kd5 Ra5+ 5. Kc6 Ra6+ 6. Kb7 Re6 {
with a draw after winning the pawn, which can no longer be defended by its
king} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Siegbert Tarrasch, 1906"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "3K4/3P1k2/8/8/8/8/r7/4R3 b - - 0 1"]

{If White's king and pawn are moved to the left, White wins as in the 
Lucena position above. With a few exceptions, the defending rook must be 
at least four files over from the pawn for this defense to work (which is 
why the defending king should go to the short side, to not block checks by
his rook).} 
1. ... Ra8+ 2. Kc7 Ra7+ 3. Kc8 Ra8+ 4. Kb7 Rd8 5. Kc7! { and White wins 
(Emms 2008:21â€“23). The rook was too close to the pawn, so White's king 
could both approach the rook to prevent checks and return to protect the 
pawn.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short side defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "5k2/R7/8/5PK1/8/8/8/1r6 w - - 0 1"]

{Black to move should play 1...Rb6 with an easy Philidor draw. But White 
to play can prevent that, and Black must be careful.} 
1. Kg6 {This threatens 2. Ra8+ Ke7 3. f6+ driving the black king far from 
the pawn. See the Lucena Position next section for White's winning 
method.) 1... Rb6+ is too late because of 2. f6, forcing Black to retreat 
to the back rank, which is a loss as shown in the previous section. The 
point of Philidor's third rank defense is to prevent White from moving the
king to the sixth rank before the pawn.} 1. ... Rf1 {Tarrasch rule, rook 
behind pawn)} ( 1. ... Rb6+?? 2. f6 Re6 3. Ra8+ Re8 4. Rxe8+ Kxe8 5. Kg7 )
2. Kf6 D {Black (to move) is at a crossroads: he must move his king to the
side to avoid mate, but which square?} 2. ... Kg8! {going to the short 
side is vital, as will become clear} 3. Ra8+ Kh7 4. Rf8 {Other moves make 
no progress because of Black's obeying the Tarrasch rule. E.g. 4. Ke6 Kg7 
and 5. f6+ is impossible. The main move protects the pawn and threatens 5.
Ke7 followed by f6)} 4. ... Ra1! {Now Black threatens to check from the 
side to keep White from making any progress. He needs space to do this, 
which is why the king must move out of the way to the short side. There 
must be at least three files between Black's rook and the pawn, otherwise 
White's king can protect his pawn while attacking Black's rook and gain 
time necessary to advance the pawn.} 5. Re8 {one try, to use the rook to 
block the checks from the side} 5. ... Rf1! {Black moves behind the pawn 
again, so 6. Ke6 is answered by 6... Kg7, as per note to move 4 (Emms 
2008:22).} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Long side blunder"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "5k2/R7/5K2/5P2/8/8/8/5r2 b - - 3 2"]

2. ... Kg8! ( 2. ... Ke8?? 3. Ra8+ Kd7 4. Rf8! Rh1 5. Kg7 Ke7 {there is no
room to check on the side. If 5...Rg1+ then 6.Kf7 followed by f6} 6. f6+ {
he point of 4. Rf8} 6. ... Kd7 ( 6. ... Ke6 7. Re8+ Kd7 8. Re2 {and 
converts to Lucena position, next section} ) 7. Kf7 {followed by Ra8 then 
Ra2-d2+ (or any other safe check on the d-file).
After this, and the same if Black prevents the check by placing his own 
rook on the d-file, White plays Kg7 Rg(any)+; Kf8 then f7, reaching the 
Lucena position.

If the pawn is a central pawn, going to the long side with the defending 
king will sometimes give the rook just enough checking distance if it is 
on the rook file on the opposite side of the pawn (Ward 2004:42). 
Defending this way is a far more arduous task, so moving the defending 
king to the short side is always recommended (Emms 2008:2). With the 
defending rook three files over from the pawn, the attacker usually wins, 
but there are exceptions, depending on the location of the attacking rook 
(Seirawan 2003:79).} ) 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Last-rank defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "1r6/R2KPk2/8/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]

1. ... Re8! 2. Kd6 Rb8! ( 2. ... Rg8 3. Ra1! ) ( 2. ... Kf6 3. Ra1 Rb8 4. 
Rf1+ Kg7 5. Kc6 Ra8 6. Ra1 {a winning position} ) 3. Kd7 Re8 {and White 
can not make any progress (} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frontal defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r6/4k3/8/8/6P1/6K1/5R2/8 w - - 0 1"]

{Frontal defense. If White is to move, Black draws using the frontal 
defense. Black to move has an alternate drawing defense.


Chessboard480.svg b8 black rook e7 black king g4 white pawn g3 white king 
f2 white rook

The Frontal Defense is a way that Black may keep White from getting to the
Lucena position, even if the defending king is cut off from the pawn's 
file. Black's rook is well-placed on its first rank and can check the 
white king or offer itself for exchange when the resulting king and pawn 
versus king endgame is a draw. The farther back the pawn is, the more 
likely the defense is to be successful. To have good drawing chances, 
there should be at least three ranks between the pawn and the defending 
rook (called the rule of three). The file of the pawn matters too: a 
bishop pawn gives the best winning chances, followed by a central pawn, 
followed by a knight pawn, with a rook pawn having little chance of 
winning (Mednis 1998:40).

If White is to move in the diagram, Black draws by using the frontal 
defense:} 
1. Kh4 Rh8+ 2. Kg5 Rg8+ 3. Kh5 Rh8+ 4. Kg6 Rg8+ 5. Kh5 Rh8+ = 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frontal defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r6/4k3/8/8/6P1/6K1/5R2/8 b - - 0 1"]

{Frontal defense. If White is to move, Black draws using the frontal 
defense. Black to move has an alternate drawing defense.} 
1. ... Rf8 {to bring the king over to the pawn. If} 2. Rxf8 Kxf8 3. Kf4 
Kg8! {avoids losing the opposition. 3. Kh4 is met the same way} 4. Kf5 Kf7
5. Kg5 Kg7 = 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frontal defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r6/3k4/8/8/5P2/5K2/4R3/8 w - - 0 1"]

1. Kg4 Rg8+ 2. Kh5 Rf8 3. Kg5 Rg8+ 4. Kh6 Rf8 5. Re4! Kd6 6. Kg7 Rf5 7. 
Kg6 Rf8 8. f5 {and White will reach the Lucena position.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frontal defense"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "1r6/3k4/8/8/5P2/5K2/4R3/8 b - - 0 1"]

1. ... Re8 2. Rxe8 Kxe8 3. Ke4 Kf8 4. Ke5 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rook pawn"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "K7/P3k3/8/8/8/8/3R4/1r6 w - - 0 1"]

{White has a rook pawn. Black draws.


Endings with a rook pawn arise frequently because they are more likely to 
be the last remaining pawn (de la Villa 2008:145). If the pawn is a rook 
pawn, the chances of a draw are much greater. Even the equivalent of the 
Lucena position is no guarantee of success (it depends on the location of 
the white rook and who is to move) (Emms 2008:25). These endings are more 
likely to be a draw because (1) the pawn can protect the king from checks 
from the rear only, and not from the side, and (2) the edge of the board 
reduces the king's mobility in trying to support the pawn (Averbakh & 
Kopayev 1987:150).

With a rook pawn, usually in actual play the defending rook or king is 
able to get in front of the pawn. If the defending king gets in front of 
the pawn, the game is a draw. If the defending rook gets in front of the 
pawn, the result depends on which king arrives on the scene first (de la 
Villa 2008:145).

The attacking king or rook may be in front of the pawn.

In this diagram, the only way for White to make progress is to get his 
rook to b8, but this allows the black king to get to the c-file and draw.}

1. Rh2 Kd7 2. Rh8 Kc7! 3. Rb8 Rc1 4. Rb2 Rc3! {This is the simplest way 
for Black. Now there is no way to force the black king away from the 
c-file.} 5. Rb7+ Kc8 6. Rg7 Rc1 {and Black draws.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rook pawn"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "K7/P4k2/8/8/8/4R3/8/1r6 w - - 0 1"]

{If the black king is cut off by four or more files, White wins, as in 
this diagram:} 
1. Rc3 Ke7 2. Rc8 Kd6 3. Rb8 Ra1 4. Kb7 Rb1+ 5. Kc8 Rc1+ 6. Kd8 Rh1 7. 
Rb6+ Kc5 8. Rc6+! Kd5 9. Ra6 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rook in front of pawn"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "R7/P4k2/8/8/8/8/6K1/r7 w - - 0 1"]

{

Black would draw if the king gets to the indicated squares.

In this position, the black king needs to get to one of the marked squares
in order to draw. If he gets to one of the squares marked with "x", the 
king can move next to the pawn and the rook can capture the pawn for a 
draw. Otherwise, the king needs to stay on the squares marked with dots: 
g7 and h7. The reason is that if the black king is on another rank, the 
white rook can check and then the pawn promotes and wins. For example, if 
the black king were on f6 instead, with White to move, 1. Rf8+ followed by
2. a8=Q wins. Also, the black king needs to be on g7 or h7 rather than d7,
e7, or f7. If it were White's move in this position, White wins by 1. Rh8 
Rxa7 (otherwise the pawn promotes and wins) 2. Rh7+, skewering the rook 
(de la Villa 2008:145â€“46). If the black king is on g7 or h7 and the 
white king approaches the pawn (to protect it while the rook moves out of 
the way), the black rook will check from behind and the king has no cover 
from the checks.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vancura position"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "R7/6k1/P4r2/8/2K5/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{The VanÄ�ura Position (see diagram) is a drawing position with a rook and
rook's pawn versus a rook, when the pawn is not beyond its sixth rank, and
the stronger side's rook is in front of the pawn (Dvoretsky 2006:155). It 
was studied by Josef VanÄ�ura (1898â€“1921), published in 1924. Black's 
rook keeps attacking the pawn from the side from some distance away, while
preventing the white king from finding cover from checks (Emms 2008:28). 
The black king must be on the opposite side of his rook as the pawn to not
block the attacks. Also, Black's king must be near the corner on the 
opposite side of the board if the pawn advances to its seventh rank so the
white rook cannot check the black king and then support the advance of the
pawn, or sacrifice its pawn to skewer Black's king and rook on the seventh
rank, as in the section above.} 
1. Kb5 { (Protecting the pawn in order to free the rook to move.} ( 1. a7 
Ra6! 2. Kb5 Ra1 3. Kb6 Rb1+ 4. Kc7 Rc1+ 5. Kd7 Ra1 {and White cannot win. 
Note that if Black's king was on g6 there would follow 2.Rg8+ with 3.a8=Q,
and if it was on f7 White wins with 2.Rh8! Rxa7 3.Rh7+.} ) 1. ... Rf5+! 2.
 Kc6! Rf6+ {an important square for the rook. Black now checks on the 
f-file and aims to maintain a sideways attack on the pawn} 3. Kd5 Rf5+ 4. 
Ke6 Rf6+ 5. Ke5 Rb6 {maintaining sideways contact with the paw} 6. Kd5 Rf6
7. Kd4 Rb6 ( 7. ... Rf4+?? 8. Ke5! +- ) 8. Kc5 Rf6 9. Ra7+ {or 9. a7 Ra6! 
with a draw} 9. ... Kg6 10. Ra8 Kg7 {and White cannot win. The white king 
cannot advance because of the checks and the pawn cannot advance because 
the black rook gets behind the pawn (Seirawan 2003:88â€“89).} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "P. Romanovsky, 1950"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "R7/6k1/P7/8/8/6K1/8/r7 w - - 0 1"]

{In Shakhmaty v SSSR in 1950, Peter Romanovsky published a drawing zone, 
see the diagram. If Black is to move and the white king is on one of the 
marked squares, he draws by reaching the VanÄ�ura position. Otherwise 
White wins (Müller & Lamprecht 2001:189), (Nunn 1999:28ff).

If Black is to move, he can draw only if the white king is on a marked 
square

} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Most common rook endgame"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "R7/P5k1/8/8/2K5/8/8/r7 b - - 0 1"]

{White king anywhere, Black to move draws.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Most common rook endgame"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "R7/P5k1/8/8/2K5/8/8/r7 b - - 0 1"]

{White king anywhere, Black to move draws.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Most common rook endgame"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "R7/K4k2/P7/8/8/8/8/1r6 b - - 0 1"]

{White wins with either side to move.
Cecil Purdy gives the most common type of rook endgame as one with a rook 
and rook pawn versus a rook, with the rook in front of its pawn. In the 
third diagram, White wins easily. If it is Black's move:} 
1. ... Ke7 2. Rb8 Rc1 3. Kb7 Rb1+ 4. Ka8 Rc1 5. a7 {and White wins. He can
force his king out by Kb7 or if the black rook prevents that by going to 
the seventh rank, then Rh8 and Kb8 (Purdy 2003:116â€“17).} 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas Interzonal"]
[Site "Las Palmas ESP"]
[Date "1982.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Larsen, Bent"]
[Black "Browne, Walter S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "8/1r6/7R/8/3k2K1/6P1/8/8 b - - 0 65"]

{This game[3] between Bent Larsen and Walter Browne illustrates an 
alternate winning method with a knight pawn. A variation of moves would 
have resulted in the "building a bridge" method.} 
65. ... Rg7+ 66. Kf4 Rf7+ 67. Kg5 Ke5 68. g4 Rf8 69. Kh5 Rf7 70. g5 Kf5 
71. Rh8 Ke6 72. Re8+ Kf5 73. g6 Ra7 74. Rf8+ Ke6 75. Rf1 Ra2 76. Kh6 Ke7 
77. g7 Rh2+ 78. Kg6 Rg2+ 79. Kh7 Rh2+ 80. Kg8 Ra2 ( 80. ... Rh3 81. Re1+ 
Kd7 82. Re4 Rh2 83. Kf7 Rf2+ 84. Kg6 Rg2+ 85. Kf6 Rf2+ 86. Kg5 Rg2+ 87. 
Rg4 {and White will win by building a bridge } ) 81. Rh1 1-0

[Event "BCF Ch 84th"]
[Site "Hove ENG"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Pein, Malcolm"]
[Black "Ward, Chris G"]
[Result "0-1"]
[FEN "8/8/3k4/R7/2p2K2/8/2r5/8 b - - 5 60"]

60. ... Re2! {cutting the white king off} 61. Kf3 Re7 62. Kf2 Kc6 63. Kf3 
Kb6 64. Rd5 c3 65. Rh5 c2 66. Rh1 Rc7 67. Rc1 Kb5 68. Ke2 Kb4 69. Kd2 Kb3 
70. Rh1 Kb2 0-1

[Event "BCF Ch 81st"]
[Site "Norwich ENG"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ward, Chris G"]
[Black "Arkell, Keith C"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "6k1/R7/5K2/5P2/6r1/8/8/8 b - - 0 45"]

45. ... Rf4!! 46. Ra8+ Kh7 47. Ke6 Kg7 48. Ra7+ Kf8 49. Kf6 Kg8 50. Ra8+ 
Kh7 51. Rf8 Ra4 52. Rf7+ Kg8 53. Re7 Kf8 54. Re6 Ra7 55. Rb6 Rf7+ 56. Kg5 
Ra7 57. f6 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "BGN World Chess Championship"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2000.10.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "8/8/4k3/8/7r/2R5/6P1/6K1 w - - 0 51"]

51. Rf3 Rh5 52. Kf2 Rg5 53. Rf8 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2004.01.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "8/R5k1/P7/8/7r/3K4/8/8 b - - 2 53"]

53. ... Kf6 ( 53. ... Kg8 54. Rb7 ) 54. Kc3 Re4 ( 54. ... Rh1 55. Ra8 Ra1 
56. Kc4 ) 55. Rh7 Ra4 56. a7 ( 56. a7 Ke6 57. Kb3 Ra1 58. Kb4 Kd6 59. Kb5 
) 1-0

[Event "BCF Team Ch 9697 (4NCL)"]
[Site "England"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Ward, Chris G"]
[Black "Emms, John M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "8/8/6k1/1r4p1/6K1/2R5/8/8 b - - 0 93"]

93. ... Rb4+ 94. Kg3 Kh5 95. Ra3 Rg4+ 96. Kh3 Rh4+ 97. Kg3 Rb4 98. Re3 Rb5
99. Ra3 g4 100. Rc3 Kg5 101. Ra3 Rc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Subtle differences"]
[Black "Nikolay Grigoriev, 1937"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/1r2K3/4P1k1/8/8/8/8/R7 w - - 0 1"]

{White to move wins.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Subtle differences"]
[Black "Grigoriev, 1937"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/1r2K3/4P1k1/8/R7/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{White to move, draw.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Subtle differences"]
[Black "Grigoriev, 1937"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/4K1k1/4P3/8/8/8/1r6/3R4 b - - 0 1"]

{Black to move, White wins.} 
1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Subtle differences"]
[Black "Siegbert Tarrasch, 1906"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/4K1k1/4P3/8/8/8/r7/3R4 b - - 0 1"]

{Black to move, draw.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zugzwang"]
[Black "Kalashnikov vs. Karpov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/3k4/8/4R1P1/4K3/8/8/5r2 b - - 0 1"]

{After alternate 49th move for Black. Mutual zugzwang: White to move 
draws, Black to move loses.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zugzwang"]
[Black "Easy-to-understand zugzwang"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "2k5/2P5/rRK5/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

{White to move draws, Black to move loses} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zugzwang"]
[Black "Longest-to-win zugzwang in this type of ending"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/2RPr3/8/2K1k3 w - - 0 1"]

{White to move draws, Black to move loses in 54 moves.} 
1/2-1/2

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rook and two pawns versus rook"]
[Black "(Levenfish & Smyslov 1971), diagram 124"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2014.09.06"]
[FEN "8/8/R3Pk1K/7P/8/8/8/4r3 w - - 0 1"]

{White to move wins, starting with 1.Kh7. Black to move draws, starting 
with 1...Re5!

A rook and two pawns generally win against a rook, but there are 
exceptions. In actual games, the side with the pawns wins 82% of the time 
(Emms 2008:29).

Positions with doubled pawns are usually a draw if the defending king can 
get in front of the pawns. If the defending king cannot get in front of 
the pawns, the outcome depends on which file the pawns are on and where 
the defending king is cut off. If the defending king is cut off by more 
than one file, the pawns win, except if they are rook pawns. If the pawns 
are on the c through f file then they win if the opposing king is cut off 
by one file (or more) on the long side, otherwise they draw.
Positions with two connected pawns are usually won easily, but there can 
be difficulties if one pawn is a rook pawn. There are also positions where
the defender can draw by blockading the pawns and some other drawn 
positions (Nunn 2010:108â€“52).
Positions with isolated pawns have fewer chances to win than with 
connected pawns. Positions with two rook pawns are often a draw. A 
position with a rook pawn and bishop pawn on the same side of the board is
usually a draw if they are not far advanced, but the defense is difficult.
Overall, the rook pawn and bishop pawn win in 61% of games (Emms 2008:35).
The rook pawn and bishop pawn almost always win if they both reach their 
sixth rank. Other drawn positions exist (Nunn 2009:122â€“27), (Müller & 
Lamprecht 2001:192â€“204).} 
1/2-1/2

