The less far the pawn has advanced, the more time the defending king has to reach it and get in front. In king and pawn against king with the pawn on the fourth or fifth rank the result is often a draw.
Here White has the king on e4 and a pawn on d4; Black has the king on f8, far from the action. Black to move, and it is a draw (per the tablebases): the black king arrives in time to take up the defence directly in front of the pawn.
The lesson: when judging endings like this, count whether the defending king reaches the pawn in time (remember the rule of the square). A pawn that has not advanced far, against an active enemy king, is usually a draw.
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.
By the rule of the square: if the king can get into the square running from the pawn to the queening square on the move, it holds the pawn up.
Diagonally, cutting across: that route brings the king closer both to the pawn and to the queening square.
Stand directly in front of it, retreat along its file, and take the opposition on the last rank.
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