King and Pawn Endgame: Hold the Draw with the Opposition
Black to play and draw
PlayYou are down a pawn, with only your king left to defend. You can still draw, but only if you find the one move that keeps the enemy king away from the key squares. Miss it, and the pawn promotes. This is the defence behind every king and pawn ending.
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Take the Opposition to Hold the Draw
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 white king on d5 is one step from the key squares c6, d6 and e6. If it reaches any one of them, the pawn promotes. It is your move, and exactly one move keeps all three closed.
King and pawn versus king is the foundation of all endgame technique, and the defence is worth as much as the win: knowing exactly when the extra pawn does NOT break through saves half points for the rest of your life.
Key squares. For a pawn on the fourth rank the attacker's key squares are the three squares two ranks in front of it. If his king reaches one, the pawn promotes regardless of whose turn it is. Your whole job is to keep him off them.
The opposition is the tool. Stand your king directly in front of his with one rank between, and it is HIS move: he must give way, and you mirror onto the square he wanted. As long as you hold the opposition, every key square stays out of reach.
In this drill you defend, and the attacker never lets up. There is exactly one drawing move at each step; find it and prove you understand why the extra pawn is only a draw here.
Keep going
King on the Sixth: The Winning Formation
White to play and win
The Rule of the Square: Outrunning the King
White to play and win
The Pawn That Never Moves
White to play and draw
All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)