The Philidor Position
The most important drawing technique in rook endgames, using the third rank defense to hold against a passed pawn.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Francois-Andre Philidor was far ahead of his time. In the 18th century, when everyone was obsessed with attacks and sacrifices, he studied the endgame and discovered this drawing technique. His insight was simple but revolutionary: in rook endgames, the rook belongs on the third rank to prevent the attacking king from advancing. Two hundred and fifty years later, this is still the most important defensive technique in rook endings.
The Third Rank Defence
The Philidor Position is the defensive counterpart to the Lucena Position. It shows how the side without the pawn can hold a draw in a rook endgame against one passed pawn. The key technique is placing the rook on the third rank to prevent the attacking king from advancing.
The defending rook on the third rank serves two purposes. First, it blocks the attacking king from reaching the fourth rank, which is necessary for the Lucena winning technique. Second, once the pawn advances to the sixth rank, the rook can switch to checking from behind, forcing a draw by perpetual checks.
The Philidor defense works because the attacker cannot make progress. The king cannot advance past the third rank, and the pawn cannot promote without the king's support. It is a perfect example of how defensive technique can neutralise a material advantage.
The Classic Philidor Setup
In this position, the white rook on e6 prevents the black king from advancing beyond the sixth rank. White's king is in front of the defending side's territory. As long as the rook stays on the sixth rank (the "third rank" from Black's perspective), the attacker cannot make progress.
The critical moment comes when the pawn advances to the sixth rank. At that point, the defending rook switches to the first rank and begins checking from behind. The attacking king has no shelter because the pawn is on the same file.
White's rook on e6 holds the third rank defense. Black cannot make progress.
When the Pawn Advances
The Philidor defense has two phases. In the first phase, the defending rook sits on the third rank (relative to the defender) and prevents the attacking king from advancing. This is a waiting position that the attacker cannot breach.
In the second phase, when the attacker pushes the pawn to the sixth rank, the defending rook drops to the first rank and begins checking from behind. Because the pawn is now on the same rank as the attacking king, there is no shelter from the checks. The defending rook can check forever, forcing a draw.
The timing of the switch is crucial. Move to the back rank too early and the attacker gains ground. Move too late and the pawn promotes. The trigger is the pawn reaching the sixth rank, which is the signal to switch from passive defense to active checking.
Philidor Position FAQ
Does the Philidor work against all pawns?
It works against center and bishop pawns. Against rook pawns, the situation is different because the defending king can reach the corner. Rook pawn endgames have their own specific drawing techniques.
What if the attacker's king is already past the third rank?
If the attacking king is already advanced beyond the blocking rank, the Philidor defense is no longer effective. This is why it is crucial to set up the defense early, before the attacker can advance the king.
How is the Philidor different from the Lucena?
The Philidor is the drawing technique for the defender, while the Lucena is the winning technique for the attacker. They are opposite sides of the same coin: the Philidor prevents the attacker from reaching the Lucena Position.
Professor Archer says: I tell my students: if you know the Lucena and the Philidor, you know fifty percent of what you need for rook endgames. The Lucena tells you how to win, the Philidor tells you how to draw. Everything else is detail and refinement. Start with these two and build from there.
Quick Quiz
In the Philidor Position, when should the defending rook switch from the third rank to checking from behind?
- When the attacking pawn advances to the sixth rank (Correct) - Correct. Once the pawn reaches the sixth rank, the rook drops to the first rank and begins checking from behind. The pawn on the sixth rank provides no shelter for the attacking king, so the checks are perpetual.
- Immediately, before the pawn advances at all - Checking too early allows the attacking king to advance past the blocking rank and approach the Lucena setup. The rook must wait on the third rank until the pawn reaches the sixth.
- Only when the pawn reaches the seventh rank - Waiting until the pawn reaches the seventh rank is too late. By that point, the attacker may already have a winning Lucena-type position. The switch must happen when the pawn hits the sixth rank.
- Never - the rook should always stay on the third rank - Staying on the third rank permanently does not work because the pawn will eventually advance past it. The rook must switch to checking from behind once the pawn reaches the sixth rank.