Reciprocal Zugzwang in Blocked Pawn Endgames
White to play and win
PlayYou are White and you play to win. The d-pawns are locked, so only the kings can move. Two squares are mined: e6 for you and c5 for Black. With the kings on e6 and c5, whoever has to move loses. The rule: never step onto e6 first. Wait until his king stands on c5, then take e6.
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Reciprocal Zugzwang: e6 Against c5
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
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The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
So the natural Ke6 is a mistake. Black answers Kc5, and now you are the one who has to move. Your d5 pawn falls and the game is lost.
With the d-pawns blocked head to head neither pawn can move, and the game reduces to a king duel over the d6 pawn.
The mined pair. Kings on e6 and c5 is a reciprocal zugzwang: whoever is to move loses the argument. Black to move must abandon d6. White to move has thrown the win away.
Arrive second. So you may not walk into e6 on your own initiative. 1.Kf6! is the only move and 2.Ke7! is the only move, both keeping a tempo in hand. Only once Black commits with 2...Kc5 do you play 3.Ke6, handing him the obligation to move.
In this drill the defender never blunders. Take the long route, arrive on e6 second, win the d6 pawn, and promote.
Keep going
The Same Position, and Only One Move Saves It
Black to play and draw
The Bishop Pawn Escapes
White to play and draw
When the Bishop Pawn Loses Anyway
White to play and win
All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)