Endgame Lessons - King and Pawn Endgames Continued -The Square of the Pawn

Hello, I'm posting another instructive endgame lesson, more about kings and pawns. First, I'll brush up on king and pawn vs. king by showing a nifty little trick you can use when you're trying to queen your pawn without the help of your king, and the opposing king wants to catch it( of course, the defending side can  do this also!). Instead of trying to think out all the moves in your head, you can use a trick called the square of the pawn. Basically, what you do is draw a diagonal line from the pawn's square, to the bottom of the board, and then you make a square out of it. For example:

Q: Can black catch the pawn?

Once the king is in the square of the pawn, he can keep moving diagonally towards the pawn, to ineviatably stop it.

A: Black can draw only with the move, by 1...Ke5!(1...Ke4! is also possible). A possible ending goes 2. a5 Kd6 3. a6 Kc7 4. a7 Kb7 5.a8(Q)+ Kxa8 1/2-1/2. Of course, were white to have the move, he would win after. 1.a5 Ke5 2. a6 Kd6 3.a7 Kc7 4.a8(Q) (or 4.a8(R)!? for a laugh, and still winning).

Knowing this nifty trick, you can probably figure out how to draw in the following famous endgame study by Richard Reti, in which White can draw a hopeless-looking position.(Of course, getting in the square of the pawn isn't the  solution!Threatening to is part of it!)

Q:If it is white's move, can he draw?

It looks hopeless. If white plays 1.c7?, black wins with 1...Kb7, followed by capturing the pawn. And the black pawn is way ahead of white's king.

A: White draws with an amazing diagonal king manuevere, starting with 1.Kg7!Play might continue 1...h4(1...Kb6 2.Kf6 h4{2...Kxc6 3. Ke5, in the square of the pawn}3.Ke5!h3{3...Kb6 4.Kf4 h3 5.Kg3 h2 6.Kxh2 Kxc6}4.Kd6!,changing direction, when 4...h2 5.c7 Kb7 6.Kd7 h1(Q) 7.c8(Q)+ and draws.

If you think such manueveres occur only in studies, think again!Here is an example from a relatively famous game, Yates vs. Marshall. I once again present the problem in diagram form, and invite any readers to set the position up. If you solved the last one, this should be a piece of cake.

Q: Can black draw, with the move?

If you noticed in Reti's puzzle, that white basically had a double threat of entering the square of the pawn, and helping his own pawn queen, good for you! The same idea is illustrated here.

A:Black drew with 1...Kb2!(if 1...Kc2??, then of course, 2.f4 wins) when the continuation 2.Kxa4(if 2.f4??? then 2...c3 wins.)Kc3 3.f4 Kd4 4.f5 Ke5 5.f6 Kxf6 draws, 1/2-1/2.

I hope anyone reading this found the info instructive,

- j_brodu