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+ Kd8 2. Kd6 stalemate.
Üdwdwdwdw]
Û d d d d] 1. … Kd8 2. d7 Kc7 3. Ke7 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 Kc7 2. Ke7 wins.
Þdwdwdwdw]
Ý d d d d] 1. … Ke8 2. d7+ Kd8 3. Kd6 stalemate.
Üdwdwdwdw]
Û d d d d] Note that with the pawn on the 6th rank, and the pawn’s
Údwdwdwdw] king not controlling the queening square, the pawn needs
ÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw to move to the 7th rank without giving check.

Copyright © 2005 Steven Craig Miller

Copying and distribution of this article is permitted for noncommercial purposes.
Pawn Endings (Part 1) compiled by Steven Craig Miller Page 2

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. Ke6 Ke8 (1. … Kc7 2. Ke7 controlling the queening
àdwdwdwdw] square wins) 2. d6 Kd8 3. d7 Kc7 4. Ke7 Kc6 5. d8=QQ
ß d I d d] wins.
ÞdwdPdwdw]
Ý d d d d] 1. … Ke8 2. Kc7 Ke7 3. d6+ Ke8 4. d7+ Ke7
Üdwdwdwdw] 5. d8=Q
Q+ 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. Ke5 Ke7 2. Kd5 Kd7 is drawn.
Û d d d d]
Údwdwdwdw] 1. … Ke7 2. Kc6 (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 Kc7 2. Ke6 wins.
ÜdwdPdwdw]
Û d d d d] 1. … Ke7 2. Kc6 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. Kg7 wins.
Üdwdwdwdw]
Û d d d d] 1. … Kf8 (2. Kh7 Kf7) 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. … Kf6 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. Ke3 Kd6 2. Ke4 Ke6 3. d5+ Kd6 4. Kd4 Kd7 5. Kc5
Ý d ) d d] Kc7 6. d6+ Kd7 7. Kd5 Kd8 8. Ke6 Ke8 9. d7+ Kd8
ÜdwdKdwdw] 10. Kd6 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: GligoriD—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