Philidor's position (see the diagram) illustrates an important drawing technique in this endgame. The technique is also known as the third-rank defense and works when the defending king is in front of the pawn and the attacking king and pawn have not reached their sixth rank. Black keeps their rook on their third to keep the white king from reaching that rank. If White advances the pawn to its sixth rank (Black's third rank), then the king is deprived of shelter, so Black moves their rook to the eighth (or seventh) rank, and keeps checking the white king from behind. It is very important that the defender keep their rook on their third rank, and move to the far side of the board after the attacking pawn has moved to its sixth rank. (An exchange of rooks will result in a drawn position, see king and pawn versus king endgame.) See Philidor position for more details.
