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Colle System?

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The Moment of Zuke:
Critical Positions and
Pivotal Decisions for
Colle System Players

by David Rudel
author of Zuke 'Em

7 modules written just for Colle System Players. Over 150 practice problems accompany lessons written in Rudel's crystal-clear, inimitable style

Thematic Lessons
on game-changing
decisions Colle Players
frequently face

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Basic Endgame Strategy

King & Pawn Endings - King & Pawn v. King (Square of the pawn)

Examine the board below:

Can the Black King stop the White pawn before it marches up the board and promotes? One way to find out is to count moves: 1. a4 Ke4 2. a5 Kd5 etc. However, there is an easier way to tell, a technique which involves visualizing “the square of the pawn.” Imagine a line which starts at the pawn and extends to its promotion square. Now add a line of the same length which starts at the promotion square and extends perpendicularly out toward the opponent’s King. Now add the two lines need to complete a square. In other words, the square’s four corners are at a3, a8, f8, and f3. If the opponent’s King is in the square, or can move into the square on its next move, then it can stop the pawn. Otherwise, the pawn promotes. So, can the Black King stop the White pawn? Click here to find out!

Keep in mind that the square of the pawn technique only works if there are no other pieces impeding the King’s line of interception with the pawn. Examine the board below:

The Black Knight is in the way of the Black King’s path. Black will have to spend an extra move, either moving the Knight out of the way, or maneuvering the King around the Knight. Either way, this gives the White pawn just enough time to promote safely. (Of course, Black could try to capture the White pawn with the Black Knight, but we'll forget that for a moment, just so we can make our point . . . )

Examine the board below:

The White Knight controls the d5 and c6 squares, thus forcing the Black King to take an indirect route which requires an extra move, and once again the White pawn has just enough time to promote safely.

There is one more exception to the square of the pawn technique. Examine the board below:

The Black King is in the square of the pawn, and can therefore stop the White pawn from promoting, correct? Wrong! Since the White pawn is on its home square, it can move two squares on its first move. Therefore, the square of the pawn should be drawn starting an additional square forward, to account for the extra square which the pawn can traverse on its first move.

Next: King and pawn Endings - King & pawn v. King (Opposition and Outflanking)

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