ChessKing and one pawn against a bare king is not always a win. Whether it wins depends almost entirely on the king. If your king gets in front of the pawn and occupies the "key squares", it can escort the pawn to promotion. If the king lags behind and the pawn runs too early, it's only a draw. Rook pawns (on the a- or h-file) are the exception and are usually drawn. This is the foundation of every pawn endgame. Learn it, then try it against the computer at free online chess and you'll feel much more confident in endgames.
Key position
How to play it
King first: take the key squares
Every pawn has a few key squares in front of it. If your king stands on one, the pawn will promote no matter who is to move. With the pawn on the 2nd to 4th rank, the key squares are the three squares two ranks ahead of the pawn. For a pawn on e2, they are d4, e4 and f4.
Keeping the pawn back has another advantage: it can step forward at any moment and spend a move for free. When the two kings are locked in a standoff, that one tempo often decides the game (see the opposition in Chess endgames).
King on the 6th rank: the pawn always promotes
Once the white king reaches the 6th rank in front of the pawn (not a rook pawn), it's a guaranteed win no matter who is to move.
The rook pawn exception
With an a- or h-pawn, the defending king only needs to reach the corner in front of the promotion square, and it's usually a draw. Whatever the attacking king does, it either lets the defender out or stalemates it.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is pushing the pawn too early. Once the pawn runs ahead, the king can't keep up, and you lose your spare tempo too.
Another mistake is putting the king beside or behind the pawn, thinking it's enough to protect it. Protecting the pawn isn't enough: the king has to stand in front and clear the way.
Practice puzzles
Show answer
1... Kf7 Only Kf7: it faces the white king, which can't get to the 6th rank. Any other move lets the white king reach f6 or d6, and the pawn promotes.
Show answer
1. Ke3 For example Ke3 (Kf3, Kg2 and Kg3 also win). The king moves up first, heading for the key squares d4, e4 and f4. Pushing e3 or e4 first, or retreating the king to the first rank, is only a draw.
FAQ
Is king and pawn vs king always a win?
No. It depends on the kings. If the attacking king reaches a key square, it wins. If the defending king gets in front of the pawn and keeps the opposition, it's a draw.
How do I find the key squares?
With the pawn on the 2nd to 4th rank, they're the three squares two ranks ahead of it (d4, e4 and f4 for a pawn on e2; d6, e6 and f6 for a pawn on e4). Once the pawn has crossed the middle (5th or 6th rank), the three squares one rank ahead and two ranks ahead all count. Rook pawns are a separate case and are mostly drawn.
When should I push the pawn?
After your king is in front of the pawn on a key square, or when a pawn move puts the enemy king in a spot where it must move and can only step aside. When in doubt, move the king first.
Try it yourself
The next lessons after king and pawn vs king are the opposition and the rule of the square, which explain who gets there first and who can catch whom. All the endgames are in Chess endgames. To practice, play free chess online and play the computer down to king and one pawn.