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King + Pawn
Hello dear chess friends! Welcome to another journey through the wonderful world of chess endgames! Endgames are a great example of beauty in chess. “Why?” you might ask. Well, because if we could find such a great ideas with very little material, just imagine what we can find in middlegames! :) So, let's see some examples. Enjoy!
Does the following position look drawish? Yes. It does to me, too, especially if it is White's turn to play. Let's see:
Example #1
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
1.Kg4 Kg6 2.Kf4 Kf6
Draw - Black has the opposition. It's clear.
Example #2
But what happens if it is Black's move? Could White win? Let's see...
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
3...Ke6 4.Kg5 Ke7 5.Kf5 Kd6 6.Kf6!
Now White has the opposition; this means that he forces Black to step away from the pawn. Is the opposition enough to win?
6...Kd7 7.Ke5 Ke7 8.Kxd5
So, here we are - White is take the pawn! But...
8...Kd7!
Black now has regained the opposition! There is no way through for White and the game is a draw! This method is useful to remember for practical endgames.
9.Ke5 Ke7 10.d5 Kd7 11.d6 Kd8!
11...Ke8?? 12.Ke6 Kd8 13.d7+-
12.Ke6 Ke8 13.d7+ Kd8 14.Kd6
In this example Black has managed to obtain a draw because of the opposition rule. With less space for Black (if pawns are closer to 8th rank) it is very difficult for him to play. Try it on the board; that is a good way of learning chess skills!
Example #3
But, what is happening if White has more space to play? Does that increase his chance for a win? Yes it does! "...All what we should decide is what to do with the time that is given to us"...Words of Gandalf in Lord of the Rings could very much explain how much time is precious in chess! White should not allow Black to get into opposition! That's the whole idea - and it's not simple... follow me:
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
The only way to win!1.Kc4!
1.Kd4 Kd8! and Black steps into opposition and it's a draw!
1...Kd7 2.Kb5!
Preventing Black from being able to reach an opposition position. 2.Kc5 Kc7!
2...Kc7 3.Kc5!
Now White has it! Black is on "one foot!"
3...Kd7 4.Kb6 Kd8 5.Kc6 Ke7 6.Kc7 Ke8 7.Kd6 Kf7
7...Kd8 8.Kxe6 Ke8 9.Kf6 Kf8 10.e6 Ke8 11.e7+-
8.Kd7 Kf8 9.Kxe6 Ke8 10.Kf6 Kf8 11.e6 Ke8 12.e7 +-
Example #4
Could Black try with a type of counter-attack? Let's see this in next example.
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
1.Kc4
Black can try to play active, but it is not enough for a draw.
1...Kf7!? 2.Kc5 Kg6
Interesting! Both Kings are ready to attack! Now Kd6 would be a big mistake because after Kf5 wins.
3.Kc6! Kg5 4.Kd7! Kf5 5.Kd6 +-
Example #5
When I first looked at this position I said: draw, absolutely, positively a draw. But, like I mentioned before - chess is a beautiful game. :)
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
1.Ke6
What could be the plan? We shall see... :)
1...Kc3 2.Kd5!!
What's the difference between Kd6 and Kd5? Nothing much; well, there is huge difference! Kd5 takes extra squares away from Black! 2.Kd6? Kd4 3.Kc6 Ke5!! 4.Kb7 Kd6 5.Kxa7 Kc7
2...Kb4
2...Kd3 3.Kc6 Ke4 4.Kb7 Kd5 5.Kxa7 Kc6 6.Kb8+-
3.Kc6 Ka5 4.Kb7 Kb5 5.Kxa7 Kc6 6.Kb8 +-
Very nice! For some practice, why is it a draw when the Black king is on a2?
Example #6
This following position has many hidden possibilities. And the obvious move is sometimes not the best.
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
1...Ke5 2.Kb4 Kd5 3.Kxa4+-) 2.b4 (2.bxa3 Ke6 3.Kc4 Kd6) 2...Ke6 3.Kb3 Kd6 4.Kxa3 Kc6 5.Ka4 Kb6The best move in this position is:
1.Kb1!!
1.Kc3? a3!! And now it is a draw! (
1...a3!
Despite losing, this is still the best defense. 1...Ke5 2.Ka2 Kd4 3.Ka3 Kc5 4.Kxa4 Kb6 5.Kb4!+-
2.b3!!
The only move which brings White a victory. After 2.b4? it is a draw! 2.b4? Ke5 3.Ka2 Kd5 4.Kxa3 Kc6 5.Ka4 Kb6
2...Ke5 3.Ka2 Kd5 4.Kxa3 Kc5 5.Ka4 Kb6 6.Kb4!! +-
The difference is that White is able to put his king on the b4 square! White is winning now!
Example #7
When I have a position like this in chess game I know that I am into trouble. :) So little material - and not so easy to find good plan! To what should we pay attention here? My advice - to the king positions! Be active. Of course - watch pawns. :)
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
1.Kc5!
There are two ways to try and stop the white pawn:
push the g pawn, or bring the king over.
1...Kg6
1...g5 2.b4 g4 3.Kd4 Active king!
A) 3...g3
4.Ke3 Kg5 5.b5 +- (5.Kf3? Kf5!);B) 3...Kg5
4.b5 g3 5.Ke3 Kg4 6.b6 Kh3 7.b7 g2 8.Kf2!! +- Kh2 9.b8Q+ Game over2.b4 Kf7 3.b5 Ke7 4.Kc6!
A key point to winning is by cutting the black king away from b-file! The active white king decides the battle!
4...Kd8 5.Kb7! g5
I know, you are thinking: oh my god, did I see all of this correctly? How does White queen his pawn before Black does? Let’s take a look.
6.b6 g4 7.Ka7 g3 8.b7 g2 9.b8Q+
Queening the pawn with check!
9...Kd7 10.Qh2 +-
Example #8
And for the last endgame we will see the "beauty itself." Look at this position, and be honest, who wouldn't resign here if they were White?
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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 |
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| a b c d e f g h |
The king is too far away from c6 and h5. The position looks totally lost. Ok, but I will play one more move to not resign.
1.Kg7
Is it time to resign!? Never is it too late to resign! Let's try to save this one! If White only could make Black to play with king, maybe, just maybe, he had a chance!?
1...h4 2.Kf6 h3
2...Kb6 3.Ke5!! The only move in this position which does not lose by force. 3...h3 (3
...Kxc6 4.Kf4) 4.Kd6 h2 5.c7 Kb7 6.Kd73.Ke7!!
The idea: promote the pawn. If White can do this then it is a draw - incredible.
4...h2
4...Kb6 5.Kd7 h2 6.c7
5.c7 Kb7 6.Kd7
Just look back to the starting position - its incredible. Thank you for your patience. Once again, chess is a beautiful game. Thank you, and see you soon!