The King in Front Draws

White to play and draw

Play

A reminder that the sixth-rank win is fragile: with the defending king planted in front of the pawn, even your extra pawn is only a draw.

No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.

The King in Front Draws

Hold the draw against perfect play

Waking the engine…

The theory

The mirror lesson of the sixth-rank win shows how easily it slips away when the attacking king is on the wrong side of its pawn.

Why it draws. The defending king blockades the queening square, and with your king unable to help from its side, the pawn is stuck.

The checks. Any attempt to bring your king around the pawn runs into the defending rook's checks, so there is no way to make progress.

In this drill you hold the half-point, so recognize the frontal blockade and do not exhaust yourself pushing a pawn that cannot advance.

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