Pawn Endings (Part 1) Compiled by Steven Craig Miller

Terminology: The term “seventh rank” refers to the seventh rank from either White’s or Black’s perspective (and so either the second or seventh rank). And the phrase “rook pawn” refers to a pawn on either the a- or h-file.

Pawn on the Seventh Rank (Excluding Rook Pawns)

______w á d i d d] The term zugzwang refers to a position where it is disadvan- àdwdPdwdw] tageous for one side to move. The term reciprocal zugzwang ß d dKdwd] refers to a position where it is disadvantageous for either Þdwdwdwdw] side to move first. Ý d d d d] Üdwdwdwdw] This position is reciprocal zugzwang. If it is White to Û d d d d] move, then the position is drawn; and if it is Black to Údwdwdwdw] move, then White wins. In this position, both sides wants it ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw to be the other person’s turn to move.

Pawn on the Sixth Rank (Excluding Rook Pawns)

______w á d dkdwd] This position is reciprocal zugzwang. White wins if it is àdwdwdwdw] Black’s turn to move, and Black draws if it is White’s turn ß d )Kdwd] to move. Þdwdwdwdw] Ý d d d d] 1. d7+ KKKd8 2. KKKd6 stalemate. Üdwdwdwdw] Û d d d d] 1. … KKKd8 2. d7 KKKc7 3. KKKe7 wins. Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ______w This position is the opposite of a reciprocal zugzwang. á d i d d] White to move wins, Black to move draws. àdwdwdwdw] ß d )Kdwd] 1. d7 KKKc7 2. KKKe7 wins. Þdwdwdwdw] Ý d d d d] 1. … KKKe8 2. d7+ KKKd8 3. KKKd6 stalemate. Üdwdwdwdw] Û d d d d] Note that with the pawn on the 6th rank, and the pawn’s king not controlling the queening square, the pawn needs Údwdwdwdw] th ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw to move to the 7 rank without giving check.

Pawn on the Fifth Rank (Excluding Rook Pawns)

In the next two diagrams, White is winning regardless of whose turn it is to move. There are here two basic ways to escort the pawn to its queening square. If it is Black’s turn to move, then the White king can step up to the 7th rank and control the queening square. Having control of the queening square the pawn marches in (with or without giving checks). If it is White’s turn to move, the pawn marches to the 7th rank without giving check.

______w á d i d d] 1. KKKe6 KKKe8 (1. … Kc7 2. Ke7 controlling the queening àdwdwdwdw] square wins) 2. d6 KKKd8 3. d7 KKKc7 4. KKKe7 KKKc6 5. d8=QQQ ß d I d d] wins. ÞdwdPdwdw] Ý d d d d] 1. … KKKe8 2. KKKc7 KKKe7 3. d6+ KKKe8 4. d7+ KKKe7 Üdwdwdwdw] 5. d8=QQQ+ wins. Û d d d d] Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw

Pawn on the Fourth Rank (Excluding Rook Pawns)

______w á d d d d] The three square marked with an ‘x’ are key squares. If àdwdkdwdw] White can occupy one of these three key squares, White ß dXZXdwd] can win. If not, it is drawn. This position is another recip- ÞdwdKdwdw] rocal zugzwang position. Ý d ) d d] Üdwdwdwdw] 1. KKKe5 KKKe7 2. KKKd5 KKKd7 is drawn. Û d d d d] Údwdwdwdw] 1. … KKKe7 2. KKKc6 (or 1. … Kc7 2. Ke6) wins. ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Pawn on the Third Rank (Excluding Rook Pawns)

______w á d d d d] Here White already occupies one of the three key squares. àdwdkdwdw] And so the position is a win no matter whose turn it is to ß d d d d] move. ÞdwZKZwdw] Ý d d d d] 1. d4 KKKc7 2. KKKe6 wins. ÜdwdPdwdw] Û d d d d] 1. … KKKe7 2. KKKc6 wins. Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Pawn Endings (Part 1) compiled by Steven Craig Miller Page 3

Rook Pawn (a pawn on the a- or h-file)

______w á d d dXd] For rook pawns the key squares are located on the last two àdwdwiwZw] squares on the adjacent file. In this position the key squares ß d d dKd] are g7 & g8. ÞdwdwdwdP] Ý d d d d] 1. KKKg7 wins. Üdwdwdwdw] Û d d d d] 1. … KKKf8 (2. KKKh7 KKKf7) draws. Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw

The Rule of the Rectangle (aka “the Rule of the Square”)

______w Mentally follow the diagonals between the pawn and the á ZsdsZwd] last rank (here it would be the d6-b8 & d6-f8 diagonals), àdXdsdXdw] use the files of those squares (here the b-file & f-file) and ß ZX)XZwd] the row which the pawn is on (here the 6th row) to form an Þdsdwdsiw] imaginary rectangle (here marked with a series of ‘x’s). If Ýsdsdsdwd] the defender’s king can move on or inside this rectangle, ÜdwdwdsIw] the king will catch the pawn. Û d d d d] Údwdwdwds] 1. d7 wins. ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw 1. … KKKf6 draws.

Drawing with King Behind Pawn

______w á d d d d] With correct technique, Black is able to hold this position àdwdsdwdw] to a draw. ß dsdsdwd] Þdwdkdwdw] 1. KKKe3 KKKd6 2. KKKe4 KKKe6 3. d5+ KKKd6 4. KKKd4 KKKd7 5. KKKc5 Ý d ) d d] KKKc7 6. d6+ KKKd7 7. KKKd5 KKKd8 8. KKKe6 KKKe8 9. d7+ KKKd8 ÜdwdKdwdw] 10. KKKd6 stalemate. Û d d d d] Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Pawn Endings (Part 1) compiled by Steven Craig Miller Page 4

Problems For You To Solve

#1: Drtina (1908) #2: Chernev (1960) #3 White to move White to move White/Black to move w______w ______w ______w á d d i d] á d d d d] á d d d d] àdwdwdwdw] àdwdwdwdw] àdwdwdwdw] ß d d d d] ß d d d d] ß d d d d] Þdwdwdwdw] ÞdwdwdwIw] Þdwdwdwdw] Ý d d d d] Ý d d d d] Ý d d d d] Üdw)wdwdw] Üdwdwdkdw] Üdwdwdwiw] Û d d d d] ÛPdwdwdwd] ÛPdwdwdwd] ÚdwdKdwdw] Údwdwdwdw] ÚdwdwdwdK] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw

#4 #5 #6: Gligorić—Fischer (1959) White to move White/Black to move Black to move w______w ______w ______w á d d d d] á d d d d] á dkdwdwd] àdwdwiwdw] àiwdwdwdw] àdwdwdwdw] ß d d dKd] ß dKdwdwd] ß d d d d] Þdwdwdwdw] ÞdPdwdwdw] Þdwdwdwdw] Ý d d d d] Ý d d d d] Ý )Kdwdwd] Üdwdwdwdw] Üdwdwdwdw] Üdwdwdwdw] Û d d d )] Û d d d d] Û d d d d] Údwdwdwdw] Údwdwdwdw] Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw

#7 #8 #9 White to move Black to move White to move w______w ______w ______w á d d d d] á d d d d] á d d d d] àdw0wdwdw] àdwdkdwdw] àdwdwdkdw] ß d d d d] ß d ) d d] ß d d )pd] ÞdwdPdwdw] ÞdwdwIwdw] ÞdwdwIw)w] Ý i d ) d] Ý d d d d] Ý d d d d] Üdwdwdwdw] Üdwdwdwdw] Üdwdwdwdw] Û d d d d] Û d d d d] Û d d d d] ÚdKdwdwdw] Údwdwdwdw] Údwdwdwdw] ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw