The knight holds up the rook pawn

Draw White to move · Minor-piece endgames · Difficulty about Elo 1200

The plan

The knight is the born pawn-stopper: unlike the bishop it can guard squares of BOTH colours and, if need be, holds up a passed pawn entirely on its own — its own king may stand at the other end of the board. Its two tools: the CHECK at the right moment, which drives the enemy king away from the pawn, and the SACRIFICE against the pawn, which clears everything away. There is only one thing it has to fear: the rook pawn on the SEVENTH rank with the king's protection — on the edge of the board the knight runs out of squares. So: stop the rook pawn early, not only once it reaches a7.

Why this level: The knight holds up the rook pawn

The solution, move by move

1. 1. Kb6
2. 1… Nd5+ The saving check — exactly at the moment a6 is threatened, the king is driven off.
   Sideline 1… Ne6 The knight wants to get in front of the pawn the short way — and arrives one jump too late. The check was the ONLY saving move. 2. a6 The pawn uses the breathing space at once. 2… Nd8 3. a7 Nb7 The last attempt to guard a8 — 4. Kxb7 — and the king sweeps it off the board. Without a check, the knight has nothing left against a running rook pawn.
3. 2. Kb7
4. 2… Nb4 And back from the other side: from b4 the knight guards the square a6 again. It can keep up this cat-and-mouse game forever.
5. 3. a6
6. 3… Nxa6 The standard sacrifice: knight for pawn — and the game is instantly dead, since a lone knight can never deliver mate. The knight holds up the rook pawn as long as it can give check or sacrifice itself.
   Sideline 3… Nd5 The knight gives way instead of capturing. But the sacrifice was not an offer, it was compulsory. 4. a7 Now the pawn stands on the seventh rank, protected by its own king — exactly the position the knight has to fear. 4… Nb6 5. Kxb6 The blocker is captured; a8 is free. 5… Kf2 6. a8=Q Remember: the knight only holds up the rook pawn as long as it can give check OR sacrifice itself. Once both are gone, it is over.

More in Minor-piece endgames

• Opposite-coloured bishops — the blockade Draw
• The wrong bishop — the corner has not been reached yet White wins
• The right bishop — the same position wins White wins
• The bishop against the rook pawn — one square on its path is enough Draw
• The wrong bishop — rook pawn without the corner Draw
• The bishop against two connected passed pawns Draw