King and Pawn Foundations
Also known as: Opposition, Key Squares, Square Rule, Zugzwang, Triangulation, التضاد والمربعات المفتاحية وقاعدة المربع والزوغزوان والتثليث
Opposition holds the draw
King in front of the pawn with the attacker to move: the defender takes the opposition and mirrors every move, so the king can't break in.
Attacker
Lesson steps
Technique
Defense
Rule
Core idea
The result depends on who moves: get the king in front of the pawn and use the opposition to reach a key square; the defender takes the opposition or stays inside the square of a running pawn. Rook pawns are specially drawish.
If you're attacking
Penetrate to a key square using the opposition, triangulation, and shouldering the enemy king.
Plans
- King in front of the pawn
- Aim at the key squares
- Take and keep the opposition
- Triangulate to pass the move
- Count the square for a free run
Avoid
- Pushing the pawn with a check (it loses the opposition)
- Taking the opposition when you should outflank
If you're defending
Keep the king in front of the pawn and take the opposition, or get inside the pawn's square; head for the rook-pawn corner for the easiest draw.
Plans
- King in front of the pawn
- Take the opposition
- Step straight back, never sideways
- Count the square if the king is far
- Head for the rook-pawn corner
Avoid
- Stepping sideways and losing the opposition
- Misjudging the pawn's two-square first move when counting the square