Philidor position

The Philidor position (or Philidor's position) is a chess endgame involving a drawing technique for the defending side in the rook and pawn versus rook endgame.

This technique is known as the third-rank defense due to the positioning of the defending rook.

If Black checks with the rook from the side, White simply keeps the king in front of the pawn by alternating between squares e1 and e2.

If Black offers an exchange of rooks White should take it, since the resulting king and pawn endgame is drawn.

Here is a possible continuation: If 1...e3, advancing the pawn immediately, then 2.Ra8 draws since Black's king cannot escape checks without losing the e-pawn, when the resulting position in which each side is playing with a king and a rook, is a draw.

If Black retreats the rook, the white king can advance, drawing easily.

loses immediately to 4...Kf3 when Black will checkmate or force the exchange of rooks followed by ...Kf2 and promotion of the pawn.

The black king cannot hide from the checks without giving up the pawn; nor can he approach the rook: 7...Kg5 is also answered by 8.Re8.

The defender's rook must be on his seventh or eighth rank to employ the Philidor defense.