Chess Patterns ❯ King Techniques ❯ Key Squares in Front of Pawn

Key Squares in Front of Pawn

In King and pawn vs. King endgames, the three squares in front of the pawn, two ranks ahead of it, are called Key Squares. If the stronger King occupies one of them, the pawn promotion is secured. If the pawn is on the 6th rank, the squares just one rank ahead are considered key squares too.

In the diagram above, White occupies one of the pawn's key squares with 1.Kf5. Black tries to hold on by gaining the opposition with 1...Kf7, but that won't last long: White will soon gain it back by losing a tempo with the advance of the pawn. The game may continue like this: 2.Ke5 Ke7 3.e4 Kd7 4.Kf6 Ke8 5.Ke6 Kd8 6.Kf7 Kd7 7.e5, and White's pawn soon promotes.

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Take Control of the Key Squares in Front of Passed Pawns

When we started adding a playful touch to chess learning, we looked through thousands of videos and hundreds of books to find the best resources out there. Here's our curated selection of the best content we encountered on controlling the Key Squares in Front of Passed Pawns. We also included some smaller creators who are growing fast and we believe deserve your attention. Check out these resources if you want to master this important endgame technique.

Chess lesson # 29: King and pawn VS King endgame | Practice drill at the end
This great video by NM Robert Ramirez provides an in-depth, step-by-step introduction to this fundamental type of endgame. Have a look at it and get a clear idea of the importance of the key squares in front of passed pawns.

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thechessnerd gets IRRITATED at opponent in pawn endgame
Have fun watching The Chess Nerd masterfully controlling the Key Squares in front of the opponent’s pawn in this nice YouTube short.

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Mastering King And Pawn Endgames: Tips And Tricks*
This lesson by IM Anna Rudolf is a wonderful collection of suggestions and techniques that you can apply in your endgames. At the end, do the interactive challenges and have a look at the high-quality series in which it is included.

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100 Endgames You Must Know*
A fantastic five-star book on endgames by Jesús de la Villa. Perfect for serious beginners and intermediates. The concept of key square in front of passed pawns is clearly explained. Don’t miss this gem.

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Secrets of Pawn Endings*
This very detailed work by Müller, Lamprecht, John Nunn is a deep dive into Pawn Endings. If you are a serious chess player, don't skip this. A great guide to this common type of endgame.

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Key Squares in Front of Pawn