Zigzag and the Diagonal Check: Holding the Draw
White to play and draw, after Moravec, 1952
PlayYou are outside the square of the a-pawn and cannot catch it. So both sides will queen. The draw hangs on a detail: your king must take a crooked route that stays off the diagonal where Black's new queen would give check.
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Zigzag Around the Check
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.
White cannot catch the a-pawn: his king is outside its square. Both sides will queen, and the game is decided by where the checks fall.
Reti's idea. Your king does not chase the pawn. It heads for the squares from which it escorts your own passer, and only Kg4 does that in the fastest way. Every other first move loses.
Dodging the check. From f5, the natural Kf6 loses on the spot: f6 lies on the a1-h8 diagonal, so when Black promotes on a1 the check gains him the tempo he needs. Only Kg6 sidesteps it.
The finish. The pawn runs while the king holds g6, and Kf7 comes only after the black king stops it on e7, guarding the queening square; Black queens first, and e8=Q arrives with check. Queen against queen, and the point is split.
In this drill you are the one holding the draw. Take the crooked route.
Keep going
Key Squares: The Winning Map
White to play and win
King and Two Pawns vs King
White to play and win
Defending King & Pawn vs King
Black to play and draw
All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)