The square of the pawn

White to move and draw.

Can your king catch a runaway pawn? Draw a square from the pawn to its promotion rank: if your king can step inside, it can.

The idea

1. Count the pawn's distance to promotion and imagine a square of that size.
2. Head straight for the corner in front of the pawn.
3. Once there, stay there: a rook pawn cannot force you out.

More king and pawn

• King on the sixth rank
• Hold the draw with the opposition
• The pawn breakthrough

All endgames · Practice · Openings