How to draw a rook ending against a rook's pawn: the Vancura position
Learn to hold rook against rook and rook's pawn: attack the pawn from the side, check the king when it comes close, and keep your king on g7 or h7 once the pawn reaches the 7th rank.
Attack the pawn from the side
White's rook stands in front of the pawn, and your king is on g7. One rook move holds: every other one loses.
Play Rf6: the rook attacks the pawn from the side, along the 6th rank. Now the white rook has to stay on a8 to guard it. Rf6 Kd5
2. Kd5 Kd5: the white king heads for the pawn.
Play Kh7: just wait. Your king steps between g7 and h7. Kh7 Kc5
3. Kc5 Kc5.
Play Kg7: wait again. Kg7
The rook on f6 keeps the pawn under attack, so the white rook is stuck on a8, and your king just waits. Next the white king comes next to its pawn.
Checks from the side
The white king has reached b5, next to its pawn. Waiting now loses: it is time to check.
Play Rf5+: check the king from the side. Rf5+ Kb6
2. Kb6 Kb6.
Play Rf6+: and again. Rf6+ Kb7
3. Kb7 Kb7.
Play Rf7+: the checks go on. Rf7+ Kb8
4. Kb8 Kb8.
Play Rf8+: the king can't hide. On a7 it would stand in front of its own pawn. Rf8+
If the king goes back to b6 or b5, your rook comes back to the 6th rank and checks again. The white king can't escape the checks and stay next to its pawn: a draw.
The pawn on a7: rook behind it
The pawn has reached a7. Now the defence changes: your rook goes behind the pawn, and your king stays on g7 and h7.
Play Ra6: behind the pawn, on the a-file. The white rook is stuck on a8, and the pawn can't move. Ra6 Kb4
2. Kb4 Kb4: the white king comes to help.
Play Kh7: your king waits on g7 and h7. Kh7 Kb5
3. Kb5 Kb5 attacks your rook.
Play Ra1: the rook steps back, still behind the pawn. Ra1 Kb6
4. Kb6 Kb6: the king heads for b7.
Play Rb1+: check from the side, the moment the king comes close. Rb1+
The king can't hide from the checks: when it goes back, your rook returns behind the pawn. Keep your king on g7 and h7, and it is a draw.
Key ideas
- Attack the pawn from the side, along the 6th rank. Then the white rook has to stay on a8 to guard it.
- Your king waits on g7 and h7.
- When the white king comes next to the pawn, check it from the side. It has nowhere to hide.
- Once the pawn reaches a7, put your rook behind it, on the a-file, and keep your king on g7 or h7.
- With the pawn on a7, never step to f7 or e7: Rh8 wins, because taking the pawn runs into Rh7+.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the pawn alone: the white rook steps out of its way, and the pawn walks on.
- Waiting instead of checking when the white king comes next to the pawn.
- The king on f7 or e7 with the pawn on a7: Rh8, and Rh7+ wins your rook.