Chess lessons › Chess endgames
Shouldering
Put your king in the other king’s way, so it cannot take the road it needs.
The idea
Stand in the other king’s way, so it cannot take the road it needs.
- Your king wants the pawn on b6, and Black’s king wants c7.
- Ke6 heads for b6 and keeps Black’s king off d7, e7 and f7.
- To reach c7, Black’s king must go by d8, and your king stays in its way.
In a game: In a king race, look for a square that is on your road and in the other king’s way.
How the lesson begins
Your king wants to win Black’s pawn on b6. Black’s king wants to reach c7, where it would guard the pawn.
The winning idea is shouldering: you put your king in the way of the other king, so it cannot take the road it needs. Kings may never stand next to each other, so your king keeps the other one off every square around it.
First the natural try. 1.Ke5 heads for b6, but it throws the win away. After 1...Kd7 2.Kd5 Kc7 Black’s king guards the pawn in time, and it is a draw.
- 1. Ke5 Kd7 2. Kd5 Kc7
Find the move
Now find the move that wins. Head for b6, and stand in the way of Black’s king at the same time.
A hint
Which square keeps Black’s king off d7?
Show the answer
1. Ke6
Ke6 is the only move that wins. Black’s king can no longer step to d7, e7 or f7. Its road to c7 now runs by d8, and your king stays in its way.