For the beginner, of course, the opposition maneuvers are rather difficult to grasp and it is fortunate for him that the vast majority of pawn endings are of a much simpler form.  The winning maneuver in these endings into which most Chess games resolve themselves, is easily explained and after understanding it the beginner can readily see the fundamental principle underlying every game.

Diagram 16 shows a typical position on which the winning method should be studied.  White is a pawn ahead, but as demonstrated on the position of Diagram 15 he cannot queen his passed Pawn because his King is not in front of it.  On the other hand, there cannot possibly be any advantage in advancing the Pawns on the other side of the board as there Black has the same number of Pawns as White and consequently there is no reason why one of the white Pawns should succeed in breaking through.  It is all the same very easy for White to win and the strategy to be employed will be evident from the following consideration:  Black’s King is considerably confined in his movements as he has to be constantly watching White’s passed Pawn.

+---------------------------------------+
8 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
7 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    |    |    |    |    |    |#P  |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    |    | #K |    |    | #P |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    | ^P |    |    |    | ^P |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 |    |    | ^K |    |    |    | ^P |    |
|---------------------------------------|
1 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------------+
a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h

Diagram 16.

White’s King, however, is free to go wherever he likes without any immediate danger.  There is consequently nothing to hinder him attacking and capturing the black Pawns, for if Black’s King tries to stop White’s advance, White’s passed Pawn marches on and compels the opposing King to catch him, thereby giving the way free to his own King.  According to this scheme play could proceed like this:  (1) K-d3, K-d5; (2) K-e3, K-e5; (3) P-b4, P-g5; (4) P-b5, K-d5; (5) P-b6, K-c6; (6) K-d4, Kxb6; (7) K-e5, P-f4; (8) K-f5, K-c6; (9) Kxg5, K-d6; (10) Kxf4, K-e6; (11) K-g5, K-f7.  Now White would win even without the Pawn g2 by playing (12) K-f5 and so on as explained on Diagram 15.