The Philidor position is the standard draw a pawn down in a rook endgame. The defending king stands in front of the pawn, the rook holds its third rank, and when the pawn advances the rook checks from behind.
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On its third rank the rook keeps the attacking king out. Once the pawn steps onto that rank it no longer shelters its king, and checks from behind hold the draw.
How to do it
- 1Put your king on the pawn's promotion square, or in front of the pawn.
- 2Keep your rook on your third rank until the pawn steps onto it.
- 3Then drop the rook to your back rank and check the king from behind.
For your level
A pawn down in a rook endgame, put your king in front of the pawn and your rook on your third rank. When the pawn reaches that rank, check from behind.
Check you have it
Question 1 of 1
Which white pawn has no friendly pawn on either neighbouring file?
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Common mistakes
- Dropping the rook to the back rank before the pawn reaches the sixth, which admits the attacking king.
- Letting the attacking king reach your third rank while your rook is elsewhere.
Questions
- Why check from behind once the pawn reaches the sixth?
- On the sixth the pawn no longer shields its king from checks along the files. If the king walks down the board to escape them, it leaves the pawn behind.
- Is the Philidor position always a draw?
- Yes, with correct defence, whichever file the pawn is on. The hard part is getting there: a defending king that is cut off from the pawn cannot use it.