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Basic Endgame Strategy
King & Pawn Endings - King & Pawn v. King (Opposition and Outflanking)
Examine the board below:
Can White promote the pawn? It depends on who has the move. Look at the
relative positions of the Kings. They are directly opposite from each other,
one square apart. In this type of position, the Kings are said to be in
“opposition.”
[Technically, they are in what is called “direct vertical opposition.” There
are other kinds of opposition, including indirect / distant opposition, as
well as horizontal and diagonal opposition, but these aren’t important to us
now: we’ll revisit opposition again in a more advanced lesson.]
Whichever side whose turn it is NOT is said to “have the opposition.”
Whichever side whose turn it IS will have to move their King, thus “giving
up” or “breaking” opposition.
If Black has to break opposition, White will be able to gain ground and
promote the pawn. This is done by alternately taking and giving up
opposition, alternated with a maneuver called “outflanking.” This is best
understood by seeing it in action:
click here for a demonstration, with
commentary.
If White has to break the opposition, Black will be able to prevent the pawn
from promoting. If White merely shuffles his King from side to side, Black
merely copies him, regaining the opposition each time. If White tries to march his pawn forward, Black can still
draw with the following technique: first, if possible, Black should place
his King directly in front of the White pawn; otherwise, if possible, Black
should take the direct vertical opposition; otherwise, Black should step
back one square onto the pawn’s file. (And of course, if at any time
White leaves the pawn vulnerable, Black should simply capture it!)
Click here for a demonstration, with
commentary.
A few other exceptions and caveats:
Examine the board below:
With White to move, Black has the opposition, and can draw, correct? Wrong!
White can simply move his pawn, thus “losing a move,” and forcing Black to
break opposition.
Examine the board below:
With White to move, Black has the opposition, and can draw, correct? Wrong!
White can simply move his Knight, thus “losing a move,” and forcing Black to
break opposition.
Examine the board below:
With Black to move, White has the opposition, and can win, correct? Wrong
again! As is often the case in the endgame, the Rook-pawn is an exception to
the usual rules. Since the Black King cannot be forced out of the corner,
the game will end in a draw, either by stalemate or insufficient mating
material. Click here for a demonstration.
Next: King & pawn Endings - King & 2 pawns v. King & pawn (Deflection)
Copyright 2002 S. Evan Kreider. Used with
permission.
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