Central Passed Pawn Next to Blocked Rook Pawns
White to play and win
PlayYour d-pawn is passed, but it stands close to the blocked a-pawns, so his king can hit your a5 pawn quickly. The rule: let his king take the a5 pawn, then keep him shut in on the edge with your king while the d-pawn queens first.
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A Central Passer Beside Blocked Rook Pawns
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
A passed pawn is strongest when it is far from the enemy king. A central passer sitting right next to your own blocked rook pawns is the opposite case, and the result is delicate.
Closeness cuts both ways. The defending king is near enough to counterattack your rook pawn, and your king is cramped for room to attack his. So you cannot just push the central pawn: an early advance lets the defender break in and draw.
Pin the king to the edge. The win is to use your king to keep the enemy king shut against the edge, then promote the central pawn first. The margin depends on your own rook pawn: with it still short of the sixth rank, as here, the plan works; once it stands on the sixth, your king runs out of room and it is only a draw.
In this drill the defender will try to counterattack your rook pawn. Hold him against the edge, do not overpush, and queen the central pawn first.
Keep going
A Bishop Pawn Beside Blocked Rook Pawns
White to play and win
Opposition: King Before Pawn
White to play and win
The Square of the Pawn
Black to play and draw
All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)