Extra Pawn Endings

Ok, so you've played a great game and now you're a pawn up in an endgame! Nice work!! But how do you take advantage of this extra pawn you have? Let's take a look at some of the strategies used. Hints are provided at bottom of page!

a) White to play and queen a pawn. What strategy would you use?

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b) White to play and queen a pawn. What strategy would you use?

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c) White to play and queen a pawn. What strategy would you use?

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Hints:

a) Start by moving the white king straight forward, towards the middle of the board. The black king should try to do the same. Next push the white b-pawn up two, threatening to go to the other side of the board and queen. This will force the black king to go after that passed pawn. Once the black king leaves his two pawns alone the white king goes after them. Remember, as long as the two white pawns stay together, the black king will not be able to take them, allowing the white king to get back to them safely.

b) This situation is similar to the first situation, but a little trickier. Again the white king moves forwards to the center at d4, putting itself in control of both sides of the board, but this time the white pawns will need to move forward too. The closer you can bring the white king with its two white king side pawns towards the center or beyond, the easier it will be to pick off the two black pawns and race a white pawn to queen. You see, at some point, like it or not, the black king is going to have to abandon its two black pawns on the king side (right side) of the board to stop one of the white pawns on the queen side (left side) from queening. If the black king never leaves to defend the situation on the queen side, then one of those white pawns on the queen side will eventually reach the other side and queen. Be carefull though, as white, to protect your kingside pawns from being taken.

c) Take control of the center by moving the white king to d4! If the black king moves towards the king side, push up the white pawns on the queen side. If the black king moves towards the queen side, push up the white pawns on the king side. Black's center pawn will surely drop if black goes too far!