Wings Chess
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Endgame · intermediate

Opposition and Key Squares

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

Last updated

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

Quick answer

Every pawn has key squares: if your king reaches one, the pawn promotes. For a pawn on its 2nd to 4th rank they are the three squares two ranks in front of it. The opposition (kings facing with one square between them, the other side to move) is how you force your way onto them.

The technique, step by step

For a pawn on e4, the key squares are d6, e6 and f6. The white king stands on one (e6), so the pawn queens whatever Black does.
Opposition: the kings face each other with one square between, and Black must move. Whichever way the black king steps, the white king takes a key square next to it.
From further back: the key squares of the e2 pawn are d4, e4 and f4. Ke4 takes one at once, before the pawn moves.

Your task on the board

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

Tips from the lesson

  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.