K+P vs KPawn Endgame

King & Pawn vs King

Key Concept

Opposition

How to Play This Endgame

The most fundamental endgame in chess. The key concept is opposition — if the attacking king stands directly in front of its pawn with one square between them, and it is the defender's turn to move, the pawn promotes. Learning the rule of the square and key squares is essential for every chess player. This endgame appears in roughly 8% of all games that reach an endgame phase.

Practice Tips

  • Set up the K+P vs K position on a board and practice against a friend or engine.
  • Focus on the key concept: Opposition. Understanding the principle matters more than memorizing exact moves.
  • Upload your endgame positions to chess.rodeo for free Stockfish analysis — see where you went wrong and what the engine recommends.

Analyze your pawn endgames for free

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