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The rule of the square
Can the king catch the pawn? Draw a square and you know at once.
Beginner · Pawn endgames · 3 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine.
Step 1
To know if a king can catch a running pawn, imagine a square from the pawn to the last rank. Here it is a5, a1, e1, e5. If the king can step inside this square, it catches the pawn. The white king on d2 is inside.
Step 2
Moves: 1.Kc3 Kg7 2.Kb3 Kf6 3.Ka4 Ke6 4.Kxa5 Ke5 5.Ka4 Ke4
The king steps toward the corner and catches the pawn. Draw.
Step 3
Moves: 1.Kf1 a4 2.Ke1 a3 3.Kd2 a2 4.Ke2 a1=Q 5.Kd3 Kg7
Now the white king on g2 is outside the square. However fast it runs, the pawn is quicker and becomes a queen.
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More lessons in Pawn endgames
- King leads the pawn: Walk your pawn to the last rank with the king in front as a bodyguard.
- The opposition: When kings face each other, the side NOT to move wins the battle.
- The outside passed pawn: A passed pawn far from the kings drags the enemy king away.
- Key squares: Reach the magic squares in front of your pawn and the win is certain.
- The Réti manoeuvre: A famous study: the king chases two goals at once and saves a lost-looking game.
Next lesson: The outside passed pawn