Chessy
King and Pawn vs King
King and pawn versus king is a win for the side with the extra pawn, as long as the attacking king can get in front of its own pawn and take the opposition at the right moment. It's the single most important endgame in chess, because almost every other endgame eventually simplifies down to it.
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Kc5 Ke4 d5 Ke5 Kc6 Ke4
The idea: key squares and opposition
Every pawn has a set of key squares just ahead of it. If the attacking king reaches one of those squares before the pawn advances too far, the win is guaranteed with correct play — the defending king simply cannot hold the line. The tool for getting there is opposition: facing the enemy king with one square between them, on move, so the opponent is forced to give ground. Winning technique usually means marching the king forward first and only pushing the pawn once the king has done its work, as in this position where Kc5 heads for the key squares ahead of pushing the d-pawn.
Escort, don't rush
A common mistake is pushing the pawn too early. If the pawn runs ahead of its king, the defending king can often blockade it from the front and the whole point of the key squares is lost. Instead, walk the king up first, force the opposition, and only then advance the pawn — often with checks or waiting moves that shoulder the defender out of the way.
The one big exception: rook pawns
This technique wins with any pawn except a rook pawn (the a- or h-pawn). If the pawn is on the a- or h-file, the defending king can simply run to the corner in front of it; because there's no way to outflank on the edge of the board, the attacker can never make progress and the game is a draw, no matter how good the technique. Always check which file the pawn is on before assuming a win.
Frequently asked questions
Is king and pawn vs king always a win?
It's a win whenever the attacking king can reach the key squares in front of its pawn — true for any pawn except a rook pawn, where the defending king can always reach the corner and draw.
What is opposition in this endgame?
Opposition is when the two kings face each other with exactly one square between them and it's the opponent's move — it forces the defending king to step aside and lets the attacker make progress.
Should I push the pawn or move the king first?
Move the king first. Advance your king to the key squares ahead of the pawn before pushing it — pushing too early lets the defending king blockade from in front.
Why is the rook pawn different?
On the a- or h-file there's no room to outflank the defending king on the edge of the board, so the defender can always reach the corner square and hold a draw.