Two pawns on the same rank with one file between them (f and h, for instance) can escort themselves home with no help from their king. If the enemy king attacks one, the other dashes forward - he cannot take both in time.
Here White has the king on a1 (a long way off) and pawns on f4 and h4; Black has the king on f5. White to move, and White wins (per the tablebases): the pawns run forward in turn and one of them gets through, whatever the king does.
The lesson: even split pawns a file apart are a strength rather than a weakness. Remember this pawn «leapfrog»: it has settled many a pawn ending with the king nowhere near.
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.
Yes. When the king attacks one, it steps forward and the other escapes the pursuit - the king cannot reach both.
One file apart. The squares in front of them are then far enough apart that the king cannot attack both.
Not always: pawns on the fifth rank and beyond often get through on their own.
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 opens from a link and needs no installation. Setting up a tournament takes a minute: pick the system, set the date, the venue and the time control - the app handles the rest.
Sign up to the Vibe Chess bot on Telegram - it carries the schedule of meetups and chess events across the cities we run in.
