The Opposition and Outflanking in Pawn Endgames

Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.

Opposition means the kings facing each other along a file, rank or diagonal with an odd number of squares between them and the opponent to move. One square apart is close opposition; three or five is distant opposition.

Opposition is a means, not an end. The attacker cashes the opposition in by outflanking: stepping sideways so that the defender cannot keep facing him and has to let him past. When no outflanking route exists, the opposition is worth nothing at all.

That is this position. White has close opposition (kings on b5 and b7, Black to move) and a spare pawn, and it is still only a draw. Black retreats with Kc7, the only move, and then meets Ka6 with Kc6, Ka7 with Kc7 and Ka8 with Kc8, answering every outflanking attempt with the horizontal opposition.

In this drill the attacker probes and never lets up. Play Kc7 and mirror on the c-file.