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Beginner lesson 19/20
Opposition in pawn endgames
Use king opposition to control key squares.
Learn this chess concept step by step, then practise it on the interactive ChessRivo board.
Open interactive lessonAbout this lesson
In simple king-and-pawn endings, whose king can enter first often decides whether a pawn promotes.
Key ideas
- Direct opposition occurs when the kings face each other with one square between them.
- The side that must move may have to give way.
- Use opposition to gain access to important promotion squares.
Coach tip: In pawn endings, calculate king moves carefully — one tempo can decide the result.
Test yourself
In direct opposition, how are the kings usually placed?
- Facing each other with one square between them
- On opposite corners
- Next to each other
Show answer
Correct answer: Facing each other with one square between them
Practise this lesson interactively
Open the ChessRivo Academy board exercise for this exact lesson. Your progress is saved when you are signed in.
Open interactive lessonHow to use this lesson in a real game
Turn the idea into a repeatable decision process.
- Before moving, name the position feature this lesson is about.
- Find one candidate move that follows the lesson idea and one alternative.
- After the game, return to the critical position and compare your choice with the lesson.