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Pawn endgames

Rule of the square

You can use the rule of the square to determine if the King can capture the opponent pawn. You create a square whose one edge is equal to the number of squares required in order to promote.

Black to move. Black can capture the pawn because Black King can enter into the square .

Black to move. Black cannot capture the pawn because Black King cannot enter into the square.

Examples related to pawn endgames

White
Black

King + pawn vs King

Black King must be on the same file with the pawn. Then it should move to the file of White King

1. Kf5 Ke8 2. Kf6 Kf8 3. Kg5 Ke8 4. Kg6 Ke7 5. Kf5 Ke8 6. Kf6 Kf8 Draw if Black plays correctly. Black King should stay on the same file as the pawn ( 2... Ke8 ) and should keep the opposition according the move of the White King . ( 3. Kf6 Kf8 if 3.Kd6 Black must play Kd8 ) *

White
Black

King in front of the pawn vs King

1. Kd5 Kd7 2. e5 Ke7 3. e6 Ke8 Black King should be in front of the pawn. 4. Kd6 Kd8 Now Black King should be in front of the White King. 5. e7+ Ke8 6. Ke6 Draw *

White
Black

King in front of the pawn Black to play

If it is Black's move.

1... Ke8 2. Ke6 Kd8 3. Kf7 Kd7 4. e5 White wins. *

White
Black

2 pawns vs 1 pawn

1. Kc6 Ke7 2. Kd5 Kd7 3. Kd4! 3.Ke4 ? Ke6 4.Kf4 f6 ! 5.exf6 Kxf6 = 3... Ke7 4. Ke3! Kd7 5. Kf4 Ke6 6. Ke4 Kd7 6. ... f6 7.exf6 Kxf6 8.Kf4 7. Kf5 Ke7 8. g4 Ke8! 9. Kf6! 9.e6 ? Ke7 = 9... Kf8 10. g5 10.e6? fxe6 11.Kxe6 Kg7 12.Kf5 Kf7 = 10... Ke8 11. Kg7! 11.e6 ? Kf8 ! = 11... Ke7 12. Kg8 Ke8 13. e6 fxe6 14. g6 e5 15. Kh7 White wins. *

White
Black

Another 2 pawns vs 1 pawn

1. Ka3 Kb6 2. Kb2 Ka5 3. Kb3 Ka6 4. Kc3 Ka5 5. Kd2! Ka4 6. Ke3 Kb4 6....Ka3 7.Ke4 7. Kd3 Ka3 8. Ke4 Ka4 9. Kd5 Kb4 10. a3+ White wins. *

White
Black

1 pawn vs 2 pawns : draw

1. Kf3 Kf7 2. Ke3 Kg6 3. Kf4 *

Evgeny Sveshnikov
Garry Kasparov

An example game

1... Kb4 2. Kc2 Ka3 3. Kb1 a5 4. Ka1 a4 5. bxa4 Kxa4 6. Kb1 Ka3 7. Ka1 b4 8. Kb1 b3 Black wins. 9.axb3 Kxb3 10.Kc1 Kc3 11. Kd1 Kd3 12. Ke1 Ke3 13. Ff1 Kf3 14. Kg1 Kxg3 0-1 *

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