King and Pawn Endgames
The foundation of all chess endgames, where king activity and pawn structure determine who wins and who draws.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Capablanca once said that you must study the endgame before everything else. I agree completely, and I would add that within endgames, king and pawn endings must come first. Every piece endgame can potentially simplify to a king and pawn ending, so understanding these positions is not optional, it is essential. If you do not know whether a resulting pawn endgame is won or drawn, you cannot correctly evaluate any exchange.
Why King and Pawn Endgames Matter
King and pawn endgames are the most fundamental type of chess ending. Every other endgame can potentially simplify into one, which means your ability to evaluate king and pawn positions affects your decisions throughout the entire game.
The key concepts are opposition, key squares, and the rule of the square. Opposition determines whether one king can block the other from advancing. Key squares tell you whether a pawn can safely promote. And the rule of the square determines whether a distant king can catch a running pawn.
In these endgames, every single tempo matters. A move that looks irrelevant can be the difference between winning and drawing. This is why strong players study king and pawn endings with particular intensity: the margin for error is razor thin.
The Opposition
Opposition is the most important concept in king and pawn endgames. Two kings are in opposition when they stand on the same rank or file with one square between them. The player whose turn it is to move is at a disadvantage because they must step aside, allowing the opponent's king to advance.
In this position, White has the opposition because it is Black's turn to move. The black king must step aside, and White's king can advance to support the pawn's promotion. If it were White's turn, Black would have the opposition and could maintain the blockade.
White has the opposition. Black must step aside, allowing White's king to advance.
Key Squares and Winning Techniques
Every pawn has "key squares" that, if the attacking king can reach, guarantee promotion regardless of the defender's play. For a pawn on the fourth rank, the key squares are two ranks ahead of the pawn. For a pawn on the fifth rank, they are one rank ahead.
For example, a white pawn on e4 has key squares d6, e6, and f6. If the white king can reach any of these squares, the pawn will promote by force. Understanding key squares allows you to evaluate pawn endgames at a glance.
The interaction between opposition and key squares creates the rich strategic texture of pawn endgames. Sometimes you need to lose a tempo (by triangulation) to gain the opposition and reach a key square. These maneuvers are the essence of endgame artistry.
King and Pawn Endgame FAQ
What is triangulation?
Triangulation is a technique where one king makes a three-move journey that a more restricted king cannot mirror, effectively losing a tempo to gain the opposition. It is used when direct opposition cannot be achieved in the current position.
Are rook pawn endgames different?
Yes. Rook pawn (a-pawn and h-pawn) endgames are special because the defending king can reach the corner, where the attacking king cannot outflank. Many rook pawn endgames are drawn even when the attacker has the opposition.
When should I trade into a pawn endgame?
Only when you have calculated that the resulting position is winning. Pawn endgames magnify small advantages into decisive ones, so an extra pawn or better king position often wins. But an incorrectly evaluated trade can lead to a drawn or even lost position.
Professor Archer says: The concept of opposition is the key that unlocks king and pawn endgames. Once you understand that the player who does not have the move often has the advantage, everything else falls into place. It is counter-intuitive at first, but with practice it becomes second nature. Spend time studying opposition and you will see improvement across your entire game.
Quick Quiz
What does it mean to have the "opposition" in a king and pawn endgame?
- The kings face each other with one square between them, and your opponent must move first (Correct) - Correct. Having the opposition means the kings are directly facing each other with one square between them, and your opponent must move. This forces them to step aside, giving you the ability to advance your king.
- Your king is closer to the pawn than the opponent's king - Being closer to the pawn is important, but it is not what opposition means. Opposition specifically refers to the kings facing each other with one square between them and your opponent having to move.
- You have more pawns than your opponent - Having more pawns is a material advantage, not opposition. Opposition is a specific positional concept about king placement and whose turn it is to move.
- Your king is on a more central square - While central king placement is generally good, opposition is a specific term for when kings face each other directly with one square between them and the burden of moving falls on the opponent.