Learn · lesson 4 of 8 · Rook endgames
Philidor position
Black's rook holds the 6th rank. Once the pawn advances, it checks from behind.
Black to move: Draw
Rook endgames · Rook vs. rook
The position and its key
Black's rook holds the 6th rank. Once the pawn advances, it checks from behind.
The verdict
Black to move: Draw
The key
Rook on the 6th rank
Philidor position
How to recognize it
- Rook and pawn vs. rook
- The defending king stands on the queening square or right beside it
- The defending rook holds the 6th rank and keeps the king off it
- Only when the pawn steps onto the 6th rank does the rook go back and check from behind
Philidor position
In our databases
Games in which exactly this kind of position stood on the board – recognized by material and the places of the pieces, each confirmed by the tablebase. Counted from the stronger side's view.
980games reached it
2 %won by the stronger side
98 %ended in a draw
0 %lost by the stronger side
Often comes from these openings
B33 Sicilian Defense: Open 24 B22 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 16 B06 Modern Defense 14 B07 Pirc Defense 12 B01 Scandinavian Defense 11
Examples – the great players first