OK, let’s see if you were paying attention to the principles espoused last week. White looks quite lost here, but there is one saving move. What is it?

Solution:

Here’s the way you lose because you lose the opposition: 1.Kc2 Kc4 2.Kd2 Kd4 3.Ke2 Kxe4 4.Kd2 Kd4 5.Kc2 Ke3 6.Kd1 d5 7.Ke1 d4 8.Kd1 Kd3 9.Kc1 Ke2. However, the way to win is: 1.e5 dxe5 [1...d5 2.Kc1 d4 (2...Kc4 3.e6) 3.Kd2 Kd5 4.e6 Kxe6 5.Kd3 Kd5 6.Kd2 Ke4 7.Ke2] 2.Kc1 Kd4 3.Kd2 e4 4.Ke2 e3 5.Ke1 Kd3 6.Kd1 e2+ 7.Ke1 Ke3 Stalemate. Whether it’s one, three or five squares apart, when kings are opposing each other the king without the move has the opposition. That’s why White gave up the pawn. See the difference in the losing way and the winning way and you’ll understand this important endgame idea.

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