Rook Pawn Corner Draw
EndgamePawn EndgamesGoal: draw
The position
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| ♔ | |||||||
| ♚ |
Black to move and hold the draw. A draw is a good result here, and knowing the defensive method saves half points.
The idea
This is the rook-pawn draw: the defending king sits in the corner and the attacking side cannot make progress, because any attempt at pushing the pawn or squeezing the king ends in stalemate.
How to do it
- As the defender, get your king to the corner in front of the pawn (a8 or h8 for White's pawn).
- Stay in or next to the corner, moving between the corner and the neighbouring square.
- Never leave the corner area. The attacker has no way to force you out.
- If the attacker pushes the pawn too far, the position becomes stalemate. Take the draw.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the corner to try to capture the pawn.
- Letting the attacking king take the corner first.
- Miscounting a tempo and being forced out of the corner.
Remember
The king in the corner draws against any rook pawn, unless the attacker's king gets there first.