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Rook against pawn: count the moves
A rook usually beats a pawn, unless your king is too far away.
Intermediate · Rook endgames · 1 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine.
Step 1
Moves: 1.Ra1 d1=Q 2.Rxd1 Kxd1 3.Ka3 Kc1 4.Ka2 Kd1 5.Ka1 Kc1 6.Ka2 Kd1
A rook is much stronger than a pawn, but here the white king on a4 is too far away to help. The pawn, supported by its king, is about to queen, and the best White can do is give the rook for it: a draw. In endgames like this, always count the moves your king needs.
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More lessons in Rook endgames
- The Lucena position: building a bridge: The most important winning technique in rook endgames.
- The Philidor defence: How to hold a draw with rook against rook and pawn.
- Rooks belong behind passed pawns: The rule of Tarrasch: your rook is strongest behind the passed pawn.
- The Vancura defence: Hold a rook and a-pawn endgame by attacking the pawn from the side.
Next lesson: The Vancura defence