Philidor Position
EndgameRook EndgamesGoal: draw
The position
| ♟ | ♚ | ||||||
| ♖ | |||||||
| ♜ | |||||||
| ♔ |
White to move and hold the draw. A draw is a good result here, and knowing the defensive method saves half points.
The idea
The Philidor position is the most important way to draw a rook endgame. If you are the defender with a rook against a rook and a pawn, you can draw by keeping your rook on the third rank from the attacker's side, so the attacking king cannot advance.
How to do it
- Keep your rook on the third rank counted from the attacker's side (the sixth rank on the board for Black). The enemy king cannot cross it.
- Keep your king on your back rank, in front of the pawn.
- The moment the pawn advances to that third rank, move your rook to the far end of the board and check from behind.
- The enemy king has no shelter from the checks, and the game is a draw.
Common mistakes
- Moving the rook off that third rank too early.
- Checking from the side instead of from behind.
- Letting the attacking king get beyond the third rank.
Remember
Rook on the third rank until the pawn moves there, then checks from behind.