Endgame · intermediate

Key Squares & Opposition

Reach a key square in front of the pawn, and the pawn will queen.

touch_appPlay it out against Stockfish. You have 20 moves; a move that throws the win away is caught and explained.

The task

Reach a key square in front of the pawn, and the pawn will queen.

Promote the pawn
Goal
White
You play
20 moves
Move limit

Technique

  1. 1Key squares for a pawn on e2 are d4, e4 and f4. Get your king there.
  2. 2Push the pawn only when your king is in front of it.
  3. 3Take the opposition: kings face each other with one square between, and the OTHER side is to move.

If you get stuck

Move the king first: d4/e4/f4 are key squares for the e2 pawn.