Knight vs Two Connected Passed Pawns: The Draw
White to play and draw
PlayA knight and king can hold two connected passed pawns. The rule: put a blocker in front of each pawn, the knight in front of one and your king in front of the other, and keep both squares guarded on every move.
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Knight Holds Two Connected Pawns
White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
Two connected passers are dangerous, but a knight with king support holds them: the knight is worth the pawns, and between knight and king every advance square is covered.
The method. Plant the knight on one advance square and let the king cover the other. Neither pawn can advance onto a guarded square, and the position freezes into a draw.
The safety valve. If the defence is ever cracked, trade the knight for one pawn and blockade or catch the last pawn with the king. A single pawn against the king is drawn when the king is in front.
In this drill you defend with the knight. Blockade, support with the king, and use the knight-for-a-pawn trade the moment the pawns threaten to break through.
Keep going
The Knight Blockade
Black to play and draw
Knight vs Rook Pawn
White to play and draw
The Knight Mates the King in the Corner
White to play and win
All 21 knight endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)