King & Pawn vs King

K+P vs K beginner pawn-endgame opposition fundamental

The single most important endgame there is. Master the opposition and key squares and you will win — or save — countless games.

What you'll learn

  • The opposition — the single most important king-and-pawn idea
  • The key squares your king must reach to promote
  • Why the king, not the pawn, wins the game

The technique, move by move

Every line below is verified against an endgame tablebase — perfect play, no guesswork.

King on the 6th — Convert with the d-pawn

1.Kc6 Kc8 2.d6 Kd8 3.d7 Ke7 4.Kc7 Ke6 5.d8=Q

Step around the king — never push the pawn while the kings face off.

Outflank the defender — e-pawn promotion

1.Kd6 Kf7 2.Kd7 Kg6 3.e6 Kf6 4.e7 Kf7 5.e8=Q+

Sidestep to outflank — the king leads, the pawn follows.

King on the 6th (f-pawn)

1.Ke6 Kg8 2.f6 Kh8 3.f7 Kg7 4.Ke7 Kh6 5.f8=Q+

King on the 6th (c-pawn)

1.Kd6 Kd8 2.c6 Kc8 3.c7 Kb7 4.Kd7 Kb6 5.c8=Q

Outflank to the side

1.Ke7 Kh7 2.f6 Kg6 3.f7 Kf5 4.f8=Q+

Outflank from the 5th

1.Ke6 Kf8 2.e5 Kg8 3.Kd6 Kh8 4.e6 Kg8 5.e7 Kf7 6.Kd7 Kg6 …

King on the 6th (b-pawn)

1.Ka6 Kc7 2.b6+ Kc8 3.Ka7 Kd7 4.b7 Ke6 5.b8=Q

King on the 6th (g-pawn)

1.Kh6 Kf7 2.g6+ Kf8 3.Kh7 Ke7 4.g7 Kd6 5.g8=Q

Outflank (b-pawn)

1.Kb6 Kc8 2.Ka7 Kd8 3.b6 Ke7 4.b7 Kf6 5.b8=Q

Drill the King & Pawn vs King

Practice randomly served positions and play them out against a perfect tablebase until you convert the win every time.

Open the Endgame Trainer →

Related endgames to master

King & Rook vs King

The first checkmate every player must own. Use the rook to cut the king off and walk your own king up to force the lone king to the edge.

 King & Queen vs King

Box the lone king toward a corner with the queen a knight's-move away — and never stalemate. The fastest of the basic mates once the technique clicks.

 Two Bishops vs King

Coordinate the bishops into a wall and herd the king to a corner. Trickier than it looks and a classic test of piece harmony.

 Bishop & Knight Mate

The hardest basic mate — the king can only be mated in a corner matching the bishop's colour. Learn the W-manoeuvre and the 50-move clock stops scaring you.