Corresponding Squares: Dedrle's Draw
Black to play and draw, after Dedrle, 1921
PlayThe white king is miles away and this is still a razor-thin draw. Your b4 pawn is the target, three squares win the game for White if his king reaches one of them, and you keep him out with a system of corresponding squares.
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Corresponding Squares: Dedrle's Draw
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Dedrle's 1921 study is the cleanest introduction to corresponding squares in a pawn ending. There is no blockade, no fortress and no frozen majority: there is a set of squares, and a rule for shadowing the enemy king.
The key squares. White wins if his king reaches c4, d4 or e4, because from there he collects the b4 pawn and his two pawns decide the game. Your entire task is to keep him off all three.
The correspondence. Work backwards from the key squares. White's king on d3, f3 or h3 must be answered by your king on d5. His king on e3 or g3 must be answered by e5. While he is still on the second rank, you wait on d6 or e6. When he comes further up, you hold the lateral opposition, walking the d- and e-files.
Why guessing fails. The pairs are not symmetrical: three white squares map onto the single square d5. Guess and you lose, count and the draw is easy.
In this drill the defensive moves are only moves. Learn the table.
Keep going
Two Passers and a King on a Leash
White to play and win
Leaving the Box at the Right Moment
White to play and win
Winning with Semi-Stalemate
White to play and win
All 62 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)