Chess lessons › Chess endgames
Two pawns against one
Two pawns usually beat one: one pawn lures the king away, or your king walks in first.
The idea
Two pawns usually beat one: a passed pawn pulls the king away.
- Your a-pawn is passed, and Black’s king must chase it.
- Meanwhile your king walks to e5 and takes the f5 pawn.
- Black’s king is then too far from your f-pawn, and the pawn queens.
In a game: With two pawns against one, look for a pawn that can lure the other king away from the rest.
How the lesson begins
Two pawns against one usually win. Here your a-pawn is passed: no black pawn can stop it. The f-pawns block each other.
The plan: push the passed pawn, so that Black’s king has to chase it, and let your king take the f5 pawn. After 1.a5 Kc6 2.Ke5 Kb5 3.Kxf5 Kxa5 Black’s king is far away on the a-file, and your f-pawn wins.
- 1. a5 Kc6 2. Ke5 Kb5 3. Kxf5 Kxa5
Find the move
Here Black’s king stands between your pawns, ready to go after either one. Find the only winning move.
A hint
Make Black’s king move first.
Show the answer
1. Kd3
Kd3 is the only move that wins. The kings face each other with one square between them, and Black must move: you have the opposition. Black’s king has to give way, and your king goes to the side it leaves. Pushing 1.b5 at once throws away the win.