Opposition
Kings facing each other with one square between; the side not to move holds the opposition.
Kings cannot stand next to each other, so the king that must move has to give way. With White to move here, Black has the opposition: wherever White’s king goes, Black’s can answer, and White’s king cannot get past.
In king and pawn endings, taking the opposition is often the difference between a win and a draw.
New to chess? The examples here use it. Play your first moves (five minutes), then learn chess from the beginning, one short lesson at a time.
Learn and practise it
- Lesson: What changes in the endgame