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

Diag. 59

gets his pawn to B6.  He requires six moves to capture the White Queen’s side pawns, one to make room for his pawn at B3, and after three moves the pawn only gets to B6.  White then wins by means of many checks, forcing the Black King to block the way of his own pawn, thus gaining time for his King to approach.  As we shall see later on (p. 97), if the pawn had already reached B7, whilst under protection by his K, the game would be drawn.

It is necessary to make it a rule to examine positions in which each side has a passed pawn, by counting the moves in the way first shown.  It is just because end-games can be calculated to a nicety, there being no moves of which the consequences cannot be foreseen, that we note in contemporary master play a tendency to simplify the middle-game by exchanging pieces, as soon as there is an infinitesimal advantage in the pawn position (compare the game Charousek-Heinrichsen, p. 108).

We will now turn our attention to positions in which the pawns opposed on each wing are of equal number and no passed pawn can be forced through.  Everything depends on the relative position of the Kings.  The deciding factor in valuing the King’s position is whether pawn moves are possible, or whether they are already entirely or nearly exhausted, so that only manoeuvres by the King are possible.  The following illustrations make the position clear.  We shall see that the importance of getting the opposition is paramount.  Diagram 60 shows a simple instance in which there are no

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

Diag. 60