Pawn on one wing, king on the other
The decoy
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Win
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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.
Lesson 1 of 6
The Outside Passed Pawn
A passed pawn far from the others is worth more than a pawn: it drags the enemy king away, and your king eats the pawns it leaves behind. Even with level material, it often wins.
An outside passed pawn is a passed pawn on one wing while the other pawns are on the other. The defending king has to go after it, or it queens. While the king is away, the attacking king goes to the other wing and takes the pawns it left behind.
The further away the pawn is, the better: the defending king needs more moves to catch it and more to come back. One file can be the difference between a win and a draw.
Every result in this lesson comes from a tablebase. You get three conditions, each with the move that keeps the win and one that throws it away in the same position, the method move by move, Fischer's win against Larsen as a model game, and four positions to solve.
The idea
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Level material, but not equal
Two pawns each, but White's a-pawn is far from the rest of the pawns. Black's king will have to go after it, and White's king will go after Black's pawns. The tablebase says White wins.
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The decoy has worked
After 4…Kxa6 Black has won the a-pawn, but Black's king is on a6, at the edge of the board, and White's is already on e6, close to Black's pawns.
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One file closer, only a draw
The same position with the passed pawn on b4 instead of a4. One file closer to the centre, it is no longer far enough away: the tablebase says draw.
Before you play it: the checklist
Each condition with two positions: one where it holds and the move works, one where it is missing and the same move fails. The number is Stockfish's evaluation after the move, from the attacker's side.
1.Push the outside pawn
Start with the pawn that is far away. Every step it takes pulls the defending king further from the other wing.
It works
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1.a5Win
1.a5 sends the a-pawn on its way. White wins.
It fails
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1.g4Draw
1.g4? pushes the kingside pawn instead, and the tablebase says draw.
The engine prefers a5 (Win).
2.Let it go
Once the defending king has gone after the pawn, do not try to save it. Your king belongs on the other wing.
It works
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4.Ke6Win
4.Ke6! heads for Black's pawns. It is the only winning move.
It fails
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4.Kd5Draw
4.Kd5? goes towards the a-pawn, and the tablebase says draw.
The engine prefers Ke6 (Win).
3.Watch the last pawn
When you are taking the pawns, check what the last one can do before you move.
It works
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9.gxh3Win
9.gxh3! takes the pawn. It is the only winning move.
It fails
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9.g4Loss
9.g4? lets the h-pawn run, and the tablebase says Black wins.
The engine prefers gxh3 (Win).
Move by move
Click a move or use the arrows. Under each note you'll find the defender's other choices and how to answer them. The number under the board is Stockfish's evaluation from the attacker's side.
4A model game
Fischer trades the last pieces with 39.Bc3 Bxc3 40.Kxc3, into a pawn ending with level material and an outside passed pawn on the a-file. Larsen's king has to go after it, and Fischer's king walks to the kingside. Larsen resigned after 46.Ke6, and Fischer won the match 6–0.
Candidates match, Denver, game 5 · 1-0
Bobby Fischer – Bent Larsen, 1971
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Step through the moves with the arrows, or click a move.
Your turn
Each position has one best move. Find it, then check the solution.
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Exercise 1
White to move. Black's king is on its way to the a-pawn.
Show solution
4.Ke6
4.Ke6! heads for Black's pawns and leaves the a-pawn to its fate. Every other move only draws.
The outside passed pawn, after 3…Kb6.
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Exercise 2
White to move. Black has taken the a-pawn.
Show solution
5.Kf7
5.Kf7! attacks g7 at once. Every other move only draws.
The outside passed pawn, after 4…Kxa6.
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Exercise 3
White to move. Black's g-pawn has run.
Show solution
6.Kg7
6.Kg7! is the only winning move. Every other move draws or loses.
The outside passed pawn, after 5…g5.
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Exercise 4
White to move. Black's last pawn has reached h3.
Show solution
9.gxh3
9.gxh3! takes it. Every other move loses.
The outside passed pawn, after 8…h3.
From history
Fischer–Larsen, 1971
Wikipedia illustrates the outside passed pawn with the end of the fifth game of the 1971 Candidates semifinal in Denver. Material was level, but Fischer's a-pawn pulled Larsen's king away, and Fischer's king took the kingside. Fischer won the match 6–0.
Take these into your games
The further, the better
An outside passed pawn is strongest when it is far from the other pawns. One file closer to the centre can turn a win into a draw.
Use it as a decoy
Push the outside pawn to pull the defending king away from its other pawns.
Then let it go
Once the defending king is busy with the pawn, take your king to the other wing.
Count before you trade
If you have an outside passed pawn, trading the last pieces into a pawn ending is often the simplest way to win.
When you defend
Avoid pawn endings where your opponent has an outside passed pawn and you do not.