Rook and rook's pawn against rook is usually drawn thanks to the Vancura defence (the defending rook attacks the pawn from the side and gives checks). But if that set-up cannot be reached, the stronger side escorts the pawn home.
Here White has the king on b7, a pawn on a5 and the rook on c6; Black has the king on d7 and the rook on h1. White to move, and the position is won (per the tablebases): the black rook on h1 is badly placed for the defence, and White has time to shelter the king from checks and push the a-pawn through.
The lesson cuts both ways: the defender has to reach the Vancura position with the rook in time, and the attacker has to prevent it and hide the king from checks along the side and from behind.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
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It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.
The weaker side's king shelters in the queening corner, and on one side the rook has no room to check - the defence gains extra resources.
Cutting the king off from the corner. The further he is cut off, the better the chances of getting the pawn through.
Yes, when the pawn is on the seventh and the enemy king is cut off: the rook screens its own king from the checks along the side.
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