One Tempo Saves the Draw: Only Kd5
Black to play and draw
PlayThe identical position, but the move is yours. There is exactly one drawing move, and it is not a check.
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One Tempo Saves the Draw: Only Kd5
Black 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.
The mid-line rule says a pawn that has not crossed the middle of the board draws when the defending king can reach the front of it. Here that takes one exact move.
Only Kd5. Not a check, not a waiting move. The king steps into the pawn's path immediately, and every alternative loses.
Then hold the square. After Rc4, Kd6 keeps the blockade, and the king shuttles between d5 and d6. White cannot cut the king off and advance the pawn at the same time.
The same position with White to move is a win. That is how thin the line between the two verdicts is.
In this drill you must find the saving move at once. Hesitate and the winning setup snaps back into place.
Keep going
Cut Off by Two Files: King First, Pawn Last
White to play and win
Zugzwang Against a King on the Edge
White to play and win
Knight Pawn: Two Files of Cut Is Not Enough
White to play and draw
All 83 rook endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)