The Philidor Position: The Third-Rank Defense

The third-rank defense

The defending king stands on the pawn's path, usually on its back rank. The defending rook sits on its own third rank, which is the sixth rank when Black is defending. From there it stops the attacking king from advancing to that rank.

The attacker cannot make progress without pushing the pawn. While the pawn stays on the fifth rank, the rook simply waits along the third rank. Keep the king in front of the pawn and do not let your rook be driven off that rank.

When the pawn advances

As soon as the pawn moves to the sixth rank, it takes away the shelter the attacking king would have had on that rank. That is the signal to drop the rook to the first rank and check from behind. The white king can approach the rook only by walking away from its pawn, and it has nowhere to hide from the checks.

The draw depends on the order: rook on the third rank first, then checks from far away once the pawn has advanced. Dropping the rook back too early lets the attacking king reach the sixth rank, and then the defense is much harder.

Common mistakes

Passive defense with the rook on the back rank often loses, because the attacking king reaches the sixth rank and the defender runs out of good squares. Leaving the rook on the third rank after the pawn has advanced is another mistake, because the attacking king gets shelter in front of the pawn.

Common questions