Opposition (chess) - Purpose

Purpose

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The white king should simply march to a key square (c5 and then b6); taking the opposition with 1. Ke4 only draws.

Yuri Averbakh pointed out that the opposition is a means to an end; the end is penetration to a key square (Averbakh 1987:5). This can be a square in front of a pawn, so the king can lead it to the queening square, or into a critical zone to win an enemy blocked pawn. In the diagram on the right, White should play 1. Kc5; taking the opposition by 1. Ke4 draws.

The second position shows a simpler example. If White takes the opposition with 1. Ke6 he makes no progress. The winning move is 1. Kc7 (see king and pawn versus king endgame).

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White to move

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