The Philidor position: the third-rank defence
Philidor: the third-rank defence · You are Black · hold the draw for 25 moves
Black to move. FEN: 4k3/R7/1r6/4PK2/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1
The idea
You are Black, a pawn down, and this is a draw. Keep your rook on the sixth rank so the white king cannot step up. The moment the pawn steps onto that rank, swing your rook to the back and check from behind, forever.
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More endgames
- How to checkmate with king and queen
- How to checkmate with king and rook
- King and pawn endgame: king in front of the pawn
- The opposition: drawing king and pawn against king
- The rule of the square in pawn endgames
- The outside passed pawn: how to win with it
- The Lucena position: how to build a bridge
Every position's result, and every move the text recommends, was checked against the Lichess 7-piece tablebase. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course.