Rook and pawn versus rook ending

The rook and pawn versus rook ending contains both kings, one rook for each side, and a single pawn. Although one player has an extra pawn, the position is not automatically won. The defending rook may check from a distance, attack the pawn, or prevent the attacking king from finding shelter.

The result depends mainly on rook activity, king placement, the pawn's vertical column, and the distance from which the defender can check. The attacker tries to coordinate king, rook, and pawn without allowing an endless checking sequence. The defender aims to keep the rook active instead of accepting a purely passive role.

Two reference positions

• The Lucena position is a family of winning positions. The pawn is close to promotion, the attacking king stands in front of it, and the attacking rook keeps the defending king away. The method called building a bridge uses the rook to block checks and free the king.
• The Philidor position is a family of drawing defenses. The defending king blocks the pawn and the rook prevents the attacking king from advancing. Once the pawn can no longer shelter its king, the rook retreats and checks from behind.

These positions are models, not labels for every similar ending. Pawns on the edge columns create additional exceptions, and a rook exchange should be accepted only after checking the resulting king and pawn versus king ending.