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Jun 29 • Puzzles
♔ Why Your King Is the Key to Winning the Endgame
♟️Want to actually win the endgame? Start with your king.
Whether it’s a pawn race, a rook duel, or a knight-vs-bishop grind — one rule stays true:
👉 You cannot win the endgame without your king.
In the opening, we hide him. In the endgame? He leads.
Once the queens are off the board, your king becomes a fighting piece — supporting pawns, invading key squares, and sometimes even delivering checkmate.
Here are 5 Endgame Principles every serious player should master:
1️⃣ Activate Your King Early
As soon as it’s safe, bring your king toward the center. (⚠️Just be careful in queen endgames — perpetual checks are a real danger!)
2️⃣ The King Is a Piece
Treat him like one. In simplified positions, an active king can be as valuable as a minor piece — sometimes even more.
3️⃣ King Leads, Pawn Follows
Don’t send pawns on solo missions. Use your king to escort them and push enemy pieces aside.
4️⃣ Learn Opposition
In King + Pawn vs. King, opposition is everything. The player who controls the key square, wins the game.
5️⃣ An Active King Is a Winning King
A passive king? Often game over.
An active king? You control the board, and promotion is just a few steps away.
6️⃣And if you're losing? Sometimes the king is your best shot at a cheeky stalemate.♔
🧠 Time to put this into practice:
7️⃣White to move. What’s the best plan?
(Diagrams below 👇)
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♔ Why Your King Is the Key to Winning the Endgame
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