Mined Squares on Defense: Only One Move Holds
Black to play and draw
PlayThe same locked pawns, but now you are Black, it is your move, and you play for a draw. The mines are the same: c5 for you and e6 for White. With the kings on e6 and c5, whoever has to move loses. The rule: stay one step from c5, and step onto it only after his king has reached e6.
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 Same Position, and Only One Move Saves It
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 saving move is Kb5, one step from c5. Watch White try for e6 through f6. Kc4 keeps you one step from c5. When he reaches e6, Kc5 leaves him to move, and now he is the one in zugzwang.
This is the previous position with the other side to move, and the result flips from a White win to a draw. It flips only if you find the one move.
c5 is your mine. Kings on e6 and c5 is a reciprocal zugzwang. Occupy c5 on your own initiative and White plays Ke6 and wins. You have to arrive there after he commits to e6.
Kb5 is the only move. It stands one step from c5, ready to answer Ke6 with Kc5. The natural pawn-guarding retreats Kc7 and Kb7 both lose, because White wins the race to e6.
The pawn is not the point. Even when the d5 pawn eventually falls, White's king takes the opposition in front of your d6 pawn and the ending is drawn. What you cannot survive is losing the mined-square race.
In this drill the attacker knows the map. Play Kb5 and hold.
Keep going
The Bishop Pawn Escapes
White to play and draw
When the Bishop Pawn Loses Anyway
White to play and win
Let the Rook Pawn Queen, Then Mate
White to play and win
All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)