The Philidor Position
Overview
The Philidor position is the defender's counterpart to Lucena: with a rook against rook and pawn, the draw is held by a precise defensive scheme known since the 18th century. If you know Philidor, half of the rook endings you reach become unwinnable for the opponent.
The third-rank defense
The defender waits with his rook on his own third rank — the very rank the pawn must cross. While the pawn is still behind that rank, the rook simply patrols it: the attacking king cannot step forward into the open. Only when the pawn finally advances to the sixth rank does the rook drop back to its last rank and start checking from behind.
Checks from behind
From the last rank the checks never stop: the attacking king cannot hide behind its own pawn, and every step toward the defending rook abandons the pawn. The stronger side makes no progress — the game is drawn.
The attacking king steps forward — and the checks begin.
The rook checks along the king's own rank, from a safe distance.
The only plan: march toward the checking rook.
The rook just slides to the far end of the new rank.
The king keeps coming.
And the checks keep coming: there is no shelter behind the pawn.
Closer — but the dance never ends.
Forever: the stronger side makes no progress, and the game is drawn.
Practice positions
Play each position out against the engine from the exact spot on the board — unrated, you take the strong side. Positions marked with a goal are drills: your result is recorded on your profile. Positions marked 🔍 discovery are the opposite task: theory says they are draws — try to win the strong side and let perfect defense show you why you can't.
Defend as White: your rook holds the third rank (rank 3 here). When the pawn advances, drop to the first rank and check from behind — hold the draw against the engine.
🛡 Hold the draw for 10 moves
♞ Drill this positionYou have rook and pawn against a lone rook, the pawn already on the sixth — try to win it. The engine holds with checks from behind: every time your king comes up to support the pawn, the rook checks along the rank, and your own pawn leaves the king no shelter. When every plan fails, you have discovered why this is a book draw (engine: 0.00).
🔍 Discovery — a theoretical draw: try to win it and find out why you can't
♞ Try to win it