We’re continuing our advance start on “chess summer school.” If you look at the first two lessons, we see that the Opposition is critical to understanding king and pawn endings. What we have here is yet another. Set up this position for your student and have them play to win.

Solution:

Beginners may be too hasty to apply their new knowledge of opposition by playing 1.Kh5 Kh8 2.Kh6, gaining the opposition but stalemating their opponent. Some may see the clever point of this position: 1.h8=Q+ Kxh8 2.Kh6 and wins the opposition the right way and wins the game.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.