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Explanation About Philidor Position

Explanation About Philidor Position

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BadBishop03
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One of the most important draw in rook endgames is the Philidor Position. The draw could happen in a rook and pawn vs rook endgame, by using the Philidor Defense or it's also called the third rank defense. In this blog I'm going to explain more about this position, I hope this tactic will be helpful for you.

Take a look at the diagram below.

As you can see, the position is really hopeless for black. But if you understand the Philidor Position strategy, it's actually a drawn endgame. You can check the analysis by yourself! One of the most important thing to do in this tactic, is to keep your king in front of your opponent's pawn.
Try to imagine that you are playing as black and you try to use the tactic to draw the game. The first step is to put your rook at the 3rd rank (6th rank for black). The main idea of this move is to activate your rook, and prevent your opponent's king to enter the third rank getting direct opposition and threatening check mate, and one more idea is to force your opponent to push the pawn. 
If white decides to push the pawn, black should move the rook to the first rank preparing to give multiple checks to the white's king. By giving the lot's of check it will force a draw, but this is not the end, many other possible moves can happen. If your opponent check your king, you can just move back and forward in front of the pawn, just keep your king in front of the pawn.
If white moves the king, just follow the plan by keep checking the king. If your opponent's king moves the king away from the pawn, you can keep checking, but the easiest way is to attack the pawn. Below, I will show you some other variations.
Is a bad idea for white to move the king, but what about if white try to block the check with the rook? The result will still be a draw, below I will explain more. Always remembers the key in the Philidor Position, always keep your king in front of your opponent's pawn.
Above white try Rh4 to block the check, but black could easily trade the rooks and enter a completely drawn king and pawn endgame. I have some challenge for you, can you finish the position and make it a draw? In a puzzle.
Ok, it's very easy. Now let's go to the last option for white. Last time white push the pawn, but if white play a waiting move such as moving the rook, you can also play a waiting move like moving your rook. Just keep your king in front of the pawn. See below for example.
And it will be a draw whatever white do if you know how to draw the Philidor Position.
Thank you for reading! I hope this will be helpful for you, and if you get the position, you can apply this tactic in your own games! See you on the next blog.