Fortress (chess) - Rook and Pawn Versus Queen

Rook and Pawn Versus Queen

Van der Poel vs. Smits, 2000

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

The basic fortress with rook and pawn on the second rank versus a queen

In the diagram at right, Black draws by moving his rook back and forth between the d6 and f6 squares, or moves his king when checked, staying behind the rook and next to the pawn. This fortress works when all of these conditions are met:

1. the pawn is still on its second rank
2. the pawn is on files b through g
3. the pawn is protecting its rook on the third rank
4. the opposing king is beyond the defender's third rank
5. the defending king protects its pawn (Snape 2003:91).

The white king is not able to cross the rank of the black rook and the white queen is unable to do anything useful.

1. Qd5+ Rd6

2. Qb5+ Kd8

3. Qb8+ Kd7

4. Qb5+ ½-½

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Drawing places of a white pawn, from White's perspective

Positions such as these (when the defending rook and king are near the pawn and the opposing king cannot attack from behind) are drawn when: (see diagram)

• the pawn is on the c, d, e, or f file and the second, sixth, or seventh rank
• the pawn is anywhere on the b or g file
• the pawn is on the a or h file and the third or seventh rank.

Otherwise, the queen wins (Grivas 2008:297).