Chapter 09 · Intermediate · 5 min
King opposition
Opposition forces the other king to give way. Two kings stare each other down, and the one to move often loses patience.
Explanation
The opposition is a duel of kings.
Two kings face each other with a square between them. The one who has to play often gives way. This is the idea of opposition: forcing the other king to move to gain an important square.
This notion is essential in pawn endgames. She can decide if a pawn will promote or if the position remains zero. It's not spectacular, but it's the kind of little detail that transforms a finale.
To remember
The opposition forces the other king to give way.
Classic error
Advance your king at random and lose the important face-off.
Player Tip
In king versus king, playing time matters a lot. Sometimes waiting is the real deal.