This endgame is so common that it is worth really studying. You’re a pawn down and Black is closing in on you with promotion and mate threats. How do you draw this?

Dreev-Beliavsky, 1989: 1.Rd5 [1.Rc5+?? Kd3 2.Ke1 Rh1+ 3.Kf2 Kd2 4.Rd5 d3 5.Ra5 Rc1 6.Ra2+ Rc2 7.Ra7 Rb2 8.Rc7 Rc2 9.Ra7 Rb2 (9...Kd1+ 10.Ke3 d2 11.Kd3=) 10.Rc7 Kd1+ 11.Ke3 d2 12.Rd7 Kc1–+] 1...Rh1+ [1...d3 2.Rc5+ Kd4 3.Rc8 Rh1+ 4.Kd2=] 2.Ke2 Rh2+ 3.Kd1 [3.Ke1 Rh1+ 4.Ke2 Kc4 5.Rd7 Rh2+ 6.Kd1 Kc3 7.Ke1=] 3...Kd3 4.Kc1 Rh1+ 5.Kb2 Re1 6.Rd8 Re4 7.Kc1 Ke2 8.Kc2= The biggest takeaway from this is that it’s really important whose move it is. You also have to know the draw positions once the pawn advances to its sixth rank. Oh, and one more thing: don’t check just for the heck of it! Every move must be precise in this defense, and you may find yourself in this position someday.

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