The Pendulum: Holding a King and Pawn Draw
White to play and draw
PlayYou are White and you play for a draw. One pawn each. Your king holds the f-pawn by swinging between g3 and g2, like a pendulum. The rule: when Black's king is on e2, go to g3. When it is on e3, go to g2.
Updated
New to this ending? Learn the method first: King & Pawn Endgames
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
The Pendulum Defense
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.
His king is on e2, so your move will be Kg3. But first, leave your a-pawn alone. After a4, Black pushes f4 and wins.
Some king and pawn draws are held not by activity but by two squares and perfect discipline. The pendulum is a king that swings between them, doing a different job on each.
The two duties. On g3 your king attacks f4, so Black can never push the pawn there: f4+ would simply be captured. On g2 it covers f3 and stands in opposition to the black king. One square, one job, and the swing covers both.
Do not spend the spare move. Your a-pawn looks like a free waiting move. It is not: 1.a4? loses immediately to 1...f4!, which a king on g2 cannot answer. Keep the tempo in reserve, and if Black pushes the pawn later, the king steps to f1.
No slack. Kg3 and Kg2 are the only moves in their positions. Every other square loses.
In this drill you defend against relentless probing. Swing your king, and never touch the pawn.
Keep going
The King's Zigzag
White to play and win
Zigzag Around the Check
White to play and draw
Key Squares: The Winning Map
White to play and win
All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)