Rook & Pawn vs Rook

How to Play This Endgame

The most common endgame in practical chess — roughly 10% of all endgames are rook and pawn vs rook. Two positions define this endgame: the Lucena position (pawn on 7th rank with the king shielding it, always wins) and the Philidor position (defender's rook on the 3rd rank, always draws). If you learn nothing else about endgames, learn these two positions.

Practice Tips

• →Set up the R+P vs R position on a board and practice against a friend or engine.
• →Focus on the key concept: Lucena & Philidor positions. Understanding the principle matters more than memorizing exact moves.
• →Upload your endgame positions to chess.rodeo for free Stockfish analysis — see where you went wrong and what the engine recommends.

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