King and Pawn vs. King

When the only piece left on the board (except the kings) is a single pawn, that pawn can win the game or draw it. So how do you win with one, and how can you draw against one?

King Opposition

Opposition is a very common tactic to use in king and pawn endgames.

Opposition is when your king and your opponent's king are facing each other with one square in between, like this:

In most positions in king and pawn endgames, you want to be the player who moves into opposition (taking opposition).

What this does is force your opponent to go sideways or backward, which you can use to go forward in the position.

The Winning Position

This is the "Winning Position". The file could change, but the kings need to be in opposition with the pawn behind your king.

In this position, no matter whose move it is, White will win.

1. Let's say it's your turn. Just slide your king to the left or right. It doesn't matter which direction.

Your opponent now has two options.

a) If your opponent moves the king to same direction as yours, push the pawn.

Whichever way your opponent moves their king, push the pawn again.

If the king isn't in front of the pawn, you can promote on the next turn.

Otherwise, there is one more step.

Your opponent only has one legal move.

Then, move your king next to your pawn.

Your pawn can promote next turn!

b) If your opponent moves their king away from yours, move your king up.

Because the king protects the pawn's path, just push your pawn and you can promote!

2. Now what if it's your opponent's turn?

The process is even easier!

Whichever way the opponent's king moves, move your king the other way, diagonally.

Like before, your king protects the pawn's path, so you can push your pawn and promote!

Attacking with a Pawn

The first thing you want to do is take the opposition in front of the pawn.

Try not to put your king behind your pawn. It makes it harder to win.

If your opponent's king moves sideways, move your king diagonally in the other direction.

From here, two things can happen:

After sideways opposition, when your opponent's king moves up, move your king up too.

Wherever the enemy king goes, push your pawn.

There are two options from here:

a) If the enemy king moves to your pawn's file, take the opposition.

You've reached the winning position!

b) If the enemy king doesn't move to your pawn's file, move your king up. 

Your king protects the pawn's path, so you can just run your pawn up the file and promote!

2. If your opponent doesn't take the sideways opposition, take the vertical opposition.

Now, follow the same process from the beginning.

Try to get your king to the winning square, the 6th rank on the pawn's file (here, it's d6). Then, move your pawn to the 5th rank.

That's the winning position!

Defending against a Pawn

When your opponent has the pawn and you don't, it's possible that you can make a draw.

This only happens if your opponent's king is behind their pawn. If their pawn is behind their king, it's likely you will lose.

But, you can get a draw in a position like this, no matter whose turn it is.

1. Let's say it's your turn. The first thing to do is move your king back.

If Black doesn't move diagonally down, move back up.

Otherwise, follow the next step.

Take the opposition.

Now, if your opponent moves the king, move back in front of the pawn, like the starting position.

But what if the pawn moves?

If the pawn moves, move your king in front of it.

The only thing black can do to avoid losing the pawn is to move behind it again.

Does the position look familiar?

It's the same as the starting position, but shifted down!

That means you can do the same thing as before!

Move your king down.

If your opponent moves the king towards yours...

...take the opposition.

If your opponent moves the pawn...

...block it!

The only thing your opponent can do is move back behind the pawn.

But guess what?

This position's a stalemate! It's a draw!

2. But what if it's your opponent's turn at the beginning?

Do the same thing.

Wherever their king moves, move your king backward.

Repeat the same process as before.