The body-check is the technique of standing your king alongside the enemy king, blocking its path to the pawn as though shouldering it aside. That wins the tempo needed to escort the passer home.
Here White has the king on f7 and a pawn on g5; Black has the king on h8, in the corner. White to move, and the position is won (per the tablebases): White's king shoulders Black's away from the pawn and escorts it to the queening square.
The lesson: in pawn endings the king is an active piece not only in front of the pawn but beside it too - by blocking the opponent's route it settles the race in your favour.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.
It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.
The technique of standing your king right against the enemy king and blocking its road. It has to go round and loses tempi.
In pawn endings and in minor-piece endings - anywhere the count of tempi decides.
Recount the enemy king's route: if the detour added it a move or two, your pawn gets through in time.
Build your own position in the board editor, read up on the rules of chess or run a tournament on your own positions in the free app.
The Vibe Chess app is built for an evening over the board, not for online play: it keeps the sign-up list, the pairings and the table while you deal with people and the venue. All of it free.
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