We’re continuing our advance start on “chess summer school.” One of the best ways to demonstrate to beginners just how subtle chess can be with a few pieces on the board is to do king and pawn endings. They can be tricky. Our previous one showed how important opposition is and how one mistake can end the game in stalemate. Today’s is a little different, and makes beginners start to really look at the position to reason it out.

Solution:

It’s always useful to remind beginners that in king and pawn vs. king endings, a pawn check on the 7th rank is a surefire draw. The solution here has useful mini-lessons: 1.Kf7 Kh8 2.Kg6 [2.Kf8 Kh7 3.Kf7 and you’re back where you started; stalemate comes from 2.g6] 2...Kg8 3.Kh6 [This also works:3.Kf6 Kh8 4.g6] 3...Kf7 4.g6+ Kg8 [4...Kf8 5.Kh7 (Bad is 5.g7+ Kg8—the drawing pawn check!) ] 5.g7 and the pawn reaches the 7th without check. The king will escort it in.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.