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The Great Pawn Hunter
with Manny Paddy Fealy (and Whiskey)

Piece Opposition

Remember when you first learned to use the king in a concept called the "Opposition?"  I thought that no one else knew the term, or the concept, at my playing level.  Because, once I had learned it, I won many games.  I thought that, mainly, the opposition was only applied to the king.  That is how many books have introduced the concept.  However, it is also applied to the pieces as well!  Here is the concept in a nutshell: "the opposition is a term that describes forcing the opposing king to give up ground so your king can invade enemy squares."  Do you see how it is easy to think that the term only applies to the king when it is stated like that?

In diagram #1, an example of "King's opposition" is being played out.  The white king will move to the square (d6) marked with the "X".  If you count the squares vertically up the board on the (d) file from the (d6) square, you will notice that there is an odd number of squares between the opposing king and the square (d6).  In this case, only one square is between the two kings.  It is this odd number of squares that will give the white king his advantage when he moves up the board to displace his opponent from protecting the (d8) queening square. 1. Kd6! Ke8 2. Kc7

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1      a      b      c      d      e       f       g      h

The white king now controls the queening square and will be able to protect his pawn all the way to the queening square (d8) for the win.  If you noticed, it was White that got the odd number of squares on his move!  Obtaining the opposition on your move is critical!  If it was black that obtained the odd number of squares on his move, many times the game will result in a draw.

Well, "piece opposition" is the very same concept.  Only, it is applied to the pieces instead of the king.  And, we want to do the very same thing.  We want to make the enemy pieces stop protecting certain squares, diagonals, ranks or files and it is critical that you obtain the "piece opposition" on your move.  Otherwise, there will be no improving your position on the board.

In diagram #2, White obtains the "piece opposition" for himself by moving to the square (d4).  By creating the attack on two points in Blacks camp on White's move, White forces the black bishop to give up one of his diagonals and unprotect one of the black pawns. Now, the odd number of squares between the bishops is not important here as it is for the king.  What is important is that there must be no other play on the board and that you are attacking at least two squares.  Black is in "Zugzwang" (having no good moves left) and one of the black pawns will be captured when black moves his bishop.  This is piece opposition in it's simplest form.

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1      a      b      c      d      e       f       g      h

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1      a      b      c      d      e       f       g      h

In diagram #3, White will use two pieces, king and knight.  First, to force his opponent onto the defense.  Second, make his opponent move away from his protective duties.  And, third, to capture a pawn and the game.  White obtains the "Piece Opposition" by moving his knight to (d4).  This creates an attack on two pawns which ties down the opponent's knight to defensive chores.  Now, white uses the "King's Opposition" to force the opposing king away from the defense of the (e) pawn. 1. Nd4! piece opposition, Kd8 2. Kf6, Kd7 3. Kf7! king's opposition

With Kf7, White obtains the king's opposition horizontally!  Black is forced to either move his king from protecting the pawn (when White will capture it and the game) or move his knight from protecting one of the pawns, with the same result.

Index of The Great Pawn Hunter

Direct link to The Great Pawn Hunter

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