Endgame · beginner
The Rule of the Square
Can the king catch the pawn? Draw a square to find out.
Last updated
touch_appAnswer on the board: can the king catch the pawn?
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Quick answer
To see whether a king can catch a passed pawn, imagine a square from the pawn to its promotion rank (as wide as it is tall). If the defending king can step into that square on its move, it catches the pawn. If it can't, the pawn promotes. Count from where the pawn will be after its move.
The technique, step by step
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Check yourself
White to move. Can the black king (e2) catch the a-pawn?add
No, the pawn queens. After a5 the square is a5–a8–d8–d5. The king on e2 can only reach d3: too far. The pawn queens.
Black to move. Can the black king (e5) catch the a-pawn?add
Yes. The square is a4–a8–e8–e4. The king on e5 is already inside it: it catches the pawn.
If you get stuck
Count the square from the pawn to the last rank.