The Pawn Race
Part of the Tactics section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 46 of 48.
Races are counted, never felt. The square rule answers the only chase question in one glance: draw the square from the pawn to its queening rank - a king inside it catches the runner, a king outside never will. Then count both runs in moves, spend nothing on detours, and remember: promoting with check wins a whole extra move.
Try it yourselfBeginner
Position 1 of 6
WatchThe square of the pawn. He stands outside it - the chase is already lost.
All 6 positions
All lessons in Tactics
1Free Pieces
Hanging PiecesCounting AttackersGood Trades, Bad TradesIs It Safe?Puzzles: Take What Is FreeRecap: Free Pieces2The Fork
One Move, Two ThreatsKnight ForksPawn and Queen ForksSeeing Forks ComingPuzzles: Fork Hunt 1Puzzles: Fork Hunt 2Recap: The Fork5Removing the Defender
The Overloaded PieceCapture the DefenderDeflectionPuzzles: Guard DutyRecap: Removing Defenders8Winning Endgames
King and Queen vs KingKing and Rook vs KingThe Pawn RaceOppositionProject: Finish the Game