The Philidor position

Black to move and draw.

The most important drawing position in rook endings. Hold your rook on the third rank from the enemy side, then check from behind.

The idea

  1. Keep your rook on its rank, so that the enemy king cannot come forward.
  2. As soon as the pawn advances, the king loses its shelter.
  3. Then go to the far end of the board and check from behind.

More rook endings

All endgames · Practice · Openings