---------------------------------------
8 |    |    |    | #K |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
7 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    |    |    | ^K |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    |    | ^P |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
1 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
---------------------------------------
A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H

Diag. 52.

5.  P-B5, K-Q sq.  We see:  Black has just assumed the opposition, but the pawn has not yet crossed to his sixth square, and White, by playing P-B6, again forces Black to give up the opposition.  It might be more clear to put it in this way:  with P-B6 White wins the opposition, in that he brings about a position with Black to move.  Therefore the game is won for White.  Since the opposition on the outside rank is of no avail, when the pawn has not yet played to his sixth square, the weaker side must try to keep away the opposing King from the sixth rank until the pawn has reached that rank.  This is possible in positions such as that in Diagram 53, where the stronger

---------------------------------------
8 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
7 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
6 |    |    | #K |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
5 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
4 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
3 |    |    |    | ^K |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
2 |    |    | ^P |    |    |    |    |    |
|---------------------------------------|
1 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
---------------------------------------
A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H

Diag. 53

King is not more than one rank ahead of his pawn, and the weaker King can assume the opposition.  In the position in Diagram 53 Black plays K-Q4 and maintains the opposition until the pawn moves, after which a typical position, similar to the one treated in connection with Diagram 50 is brought about.

If White has the move, however, he wins easily by 1.  K-B4, thus: 

1. ...  K-Q3 2.  K-Kt5 K-B2 3.  K-B5 K-Kt2 4.  K-Q6 K-B1 5.  K-B6

and there is opposition on the eighth rank whilst the pawn has not reached the sixth.

If the King is more than one rank ahead of his pawn, as in Diagram 54, the end-game can always be won, for if Black