The rook on the f-file cuts off the black king, which cannot get back to stop the pawn. Advance the pawn escorted by the king (pawn to d5pawn to d5, king to c4king to c4 or king to e4king to e4 all win) and keep the cut: if the rook leaves the f-file (rook to b1?rook to b1? or rook to e1?rook to e1?), the black king returns and it is a draw.
Moves
No moves yet.
About this endgame
is one of the ideas that win the most rook endings. The rook takes a file, or a rank, that the enemy king cannot cross without walking into , and keeps it out of the fight for the pawn. Here the f1 rook shuts the black king in on the g- and h-files while your king and pawn advance on the other side. The further away the king is cut off, the better: every file of distance is one more move it needs to come back. The plan has an order. First the cut; then the king in front of or beside its pawn, with the pawn advancing under its protection. If the pawn reaches the with your king in front of it, you will be heading for the . Mind the rook’s squares: on f4, f5 or f6, the black king takes it.