In this position, it is White to play. The position shows an example of Philidor's position. The important characteristics of the position are (from the point of view of the defender) :
1) The defending king (White in this diagram) is on the queening square of the pawn (or adjacent to it). The pawn can be on any file.
2) The opposing pawn has not yet reached the defender's third rank (its sixth rank).
3) The opposing king is beyond the defender's third rank.
4) The defender's rook is on the third rank, keeping the opposing king off that rank.
Black would like to get his king to the e3-square and threaten checkmate to force the White king away from the queening square of the pawn, e1. The White rook on the third rank prevents that. If Black checks with the rook from the side, White simply keeps the king in front of the pawn by alternating between squares e1 and e2. If Black offers an exchange of rooks White should take it, since the resulting king and pawn endgame is drawn (see King and pawn versus king endgame examples). Here is a possible continuation : 1. ...Rb2 2. Rc3 Ra2 3. Rb3 e3.
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