Kings face each other with one square separating them. The player who does not have to move holds the opposition.
Why it matters
When the kings face each other with one square between them, the player who does not have to move is the one in charge. Moving means stepping aside, and stepping aside lets the other king through.
Almost every king and pawn endgame comes down to it. The pawn does not decide these positions; whose turn it is when the kings meet does.
See it on a board
The kings face each other and Black has to move. Whichever way the black king steps, the white king goes the other way and is through.
Checked: the position really has the feature described.
How to play it
- Count the squares between the kings. An odd number of squares with the opponent to move means you hold the opposition.
- Aim to reach that position with the opponent to move, not you.
- When they give way, go round the other side — the king walks past, and the pawn follows.
At each level
The same idea, said the way it is taught at each age.
Knight · ages 4–6
Kings facing each other with one square between them: whoever has to move must give way. Try to make it the other player.
Rook · ages 6–9
Distant opposition works the same way at three or five squares. Count the squares between the kings and make sure the number is odd with the opponent to move.
What goes wrong
- Rushing the pawn forward before the king is in front of it.
- Taking the opposition on the wrong move, so the opponent gets it instead and the position is only a draw.
Questions people ask
- What is distant opposition?
- The same idea with three or five squares between the kings instead of one. It matters because the side that holds it can keep it as the kings walk towards each other.