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Attacking the pawn from the side

Another defensive method in rook endings is to attack the passed pawn with the rook from the side, along a rank. The opponent's pawn and king are forced to spend their time defending it, and it cannot be advanced.

Here White has the king on d5, a pawn on e5 and the rook on h7; Black has the king on e8 and the rook on f5. Black to move, and it is a draw (per the tablebases): the rook on f5 keeps the e5 pawn under fire from the side and stops it going forward.

The lesson: a passer can be braked from the side as well as from behind. Which defence to choose depends on where the kings stand and on which pawn it is.

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How to attack the pawn from the side

  1. 1Put the rook on a rank to the side of the opponent's pawn.
  2. 2Attack the pawn, forcing the king to defend it and lose its freedom.
  3. 3At the same time keep the queening square under control.
  4. 4Look for a moment to trade into a drawn pawn ending.

Common mistakes

  • Attacking the pawn from the side where the rook comes under fire from the king.
  • Getting distracted by checks instead of pressing on the pawn itself.
  • Moving the rook off the rank and freeing a square for the king to manoeuvre.

Common questions

When should you attack the pawn from the side?

While the pawn has not reached the sixth rank and its king cannot both defend it and shelter from the attacks.

How does the side attack differ from defending from the rear?

From the rear the rook presses along the pawn's file; from the side, along a rank. The side is convenient for attacking the pawn itself, the rear for obstructing its advance.

What if the king defends the pawn?

Switch to checks or look for a trade: passive defence in rook endings usually loses.

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