The Single Most Important Endgame Concept

🚀 My Flagship Course 🚀
👉chessvibes.net...
📙 Silman's Complete Endgame Course 📙
👉 amzn.to/3YRZZmv
📘 100 Endgames You Must Know 📘
👉 amzn.to/3UHSgF3
📔 Logical Chess 📔
👉 amzn.to/4993xmd
📚 Other Books 📚
👉How To Reassess Your Chess: amzn.to/3YSC1aM
👉Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy: amzn.to/4hNkiJk
👉My 60 Memorable Games: amzn.to/3NXaTkw

[@JP-jd5vz]

Nelson the best chess creator on KZbin.

[@Bek31415]

Maybe. For me is Croissant

[@michaelmassaro4375]

The Agadmator is the best but Nelson does a great job sharing information on chess philosophy you more likely to learn a chess principle here than elsewhere

[@junaidiqbal4667]

Also one of my favourite ❤

[@VihaGowda-z3m]

This channel is very good, far better than most. No doubt. Check these two channels - Dr. Can's or Chesscoach Andras. These two are also excellent at showing all variations in a position ❤❤

[@learningisfun2108]

Totally the best. Best style, clarity of explanations, and personality. He must have been a teacher in a past life 😂

[@LKaempen]

Great exercises, lesson reinforced the concept. Keep up great work

[@davidcovington901]

My mnemonic for 5:39 (until I understand it in my blood) is Retreat, Oppose, Block (ROB the opponent of a win). That mini-game with 2 Kings was very helpful, Thanks!

[@JustAnotherCommenter]

That's the perfect mnemonic for this most essential, fundamental endgame concept. Thank you very much.

[@awang_ir]

Thank you for crystal clear explanation as always

[@CarlSong]

The 3 rules listed for defending only works if the starting position already has the king-pawn-king lined up in a file. You can actually generalize the solution by applying the steps as priority rules in reverse. Priority 0: take the pawn (in the rare event that your opponent blunders) Priority 1: blockade the pawn (or if your king is further away, move towards a position that allows you to blockade it) Priority 2: gain opposition Priority 3: move straight back

[@pa-mo]

That's exactly what I was thinking too. Makes more sense presented in that order.

[@jonathanscher]

The tip "can you run to Black's back rank" makes so much sense! I could never remember this concept before, now it's easy, thank you

[@invenblocker]

A good rule of thumb is that if you are at least three spaces ahead of your pawn, you can push safely, since if you push it and the opponent claims opposition, you can immediately push again to reclaim it.

[@davidsmookler9730]

Fantastic description! You make it sound so clear and simple!!

[@letsclimb5828]

Happy thanksgiving Nelson, thanks for sharing some content today!

[@danielyuan9862]

I think this system is a fool-proof algorithm of defending the square once you can blockade the pawn. Follow the steps in order until you get a legal move: 0. If possible, capture the pawn 1. If possible, blockade the pawn 2. If possible, move to the square two squares ahead of the pawn. 3. If possible, move to the square two squares ahead of the enemy king 4. If you're still here, you messed up. Technically, you don't even have to capture the pawn. If you're either one or two squares in front of the pawn, or you have opposition to the enemy king when it's next to its pawn, then you should be able to hold the draw.

[@krstech1269]

Nelson, i love you're passion and how you break it down for us.

[@ttabisz1]

Beginner to Intermediate player here - extremely well done tutorial. Thank you very much for the explanation of opposition and example traps!

[@normanlove222]

Ive lost so many games feeling there was no way for a king to win against a king and pawn 🤦. You just changed my life. 🙏✨

[@tylerbruce3189]

You can’t win only draw

[@GlazedYeti]

Happy thanksgiving! I’m thankful for many things, one of them is your channel!

[@giridharpavan1592]

a good tutorial, this level of explanation was lacking from other creators

[@christerenzi3351]

This was highly instructive, easy to understand, and entertaining. Thanks, Nelson!

[@franktaggart-qs5ff]

Thank you for your teaching technique

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

Very useful, thank you! I must to try to remember this next time I get in this situation.

[@DudeWhoSaysDeez]

the part with the kings alone is actually really helpful. I think having extra pieces on the board complicates the opposition idea.

[@karlbe8414]

Outstandingly clear Nelson! Happy Holidays to you and your family. So pro to have that small swipe sound, returning to the kiing/ kind/pawn situation!

[@Verbalaesthet]

Thanks. That was one of my weaknesses and a good tutorial. I will keep that in mind.

[@dowaliby1]

Super valuable lesson. Thank you!

[@pa-mo]

Great lesson!

[@oscarmwita7918]

Best teacher ❤

[@PAN28031]

Great chess teacher, thanks man! Clearly explained!

[@agusus]

Very clear. Re: @9:08 I actually find this endgame doesn't happen often at 1000-1200 rating range (I'm ~1200), it's actually pretty rare. The reason is at that level it's typical that one of us will make a blunder or mistake way before this, so not many games get to a pawn-king endgame. It'd be great to have a video on strategy for earlier in the endgame. Like when we each have a 3-pawn chain and a 2-pawn chain fortified in nearly symmetrical pattern and let's say a queen and a rook (or we trade the queens and each remain with one rook). How do you attack the weak pawn when you can't get behind the chain? And is it more advantageous to trade queens for one player than the other? (how to tell?)

[@andrewbennett5911]

Excellent , well explained concept of " opposition " , thanks again Nelson

[@bobhicks8404]

Thank you Nelson, great lesson as usual

[@ghb323]

Easy way to remember to queen your pawns: let your king lead the way.

[@IdleIslander]

Nelson, I think you have the rules out of order. It should be 1. Gain opposition. If you don't have opposition, you should move straight back. @Carlsong gave a very good generalized order of rules below: The 3 rules listed for defending only works if the starting position already has the king-pawn-king lined up in a file. You can actually generalize the solution by applying the steps as priority rules in reverse. Priority 0: take the pawn (in the rare event that your opponent blunders) Priority 1: blockade the pawn (or if your king is further away, move towards a position that allows you to blockade it) Priority 2: gain opposition Priority 3: move straight back

[@MashTec]

You are the best! I learned and keep learning so much from you 👍🏻

[@nealtakahashi4492]

Super helpful!

[@MiradorAccess]

I really like the way you teach.

[@Chechov-t9f]

the best 17:49 minutes of my day stay sharp, play smart, take care 🙏🏻❤️

[@TheBinaryWolf]

You forgot rule #4, which is to follow the first three rules.

[@samuelforsberg1283]

Great video!

[@NitinKumar-h5c6m]

I appreciate the way you explain things it may help many beginner and intermediate players, However I am hoping for some tips for advanced players too, thanks:)

[@ThePropriate]

I had thought that I understood this. Thanks.

[@edwinsuarez4949]

Amazing series about silman's endgame book 🎉🎉🎉

[@artti4204]

Nelson please upload longer videos i cant get enough ur content is addictive

[@jarredmattingly5369]

A buddy of mine had this crazy chess game for 4 players sitting NSEW on a standard 64 square board... the pieces were setup as normal except both ranks were just off of each side, like Chinese Checkers. It was confusing, but kinda fun with good friends.

[@andyrea4801]

Great video, I learnt a lot.

[@davidmasse2829]

Another good thing to remember is: king on the 6th, pawn on the 5th is always winning!

[@himynameisdavenicetomeetyou]

@14:45 I guess this is basically the simplest example of zugzwang?

[@anthonym1880]

Yes

[@jigcris7938]

Best teacher of chess ❤

[@AhimtarHoN]

I find it interesting how this is the opposite of the tactics of a "ladder" mate of rook+king. There, you always want the opponent to get the opposition instead (so that you can move the rook to another file, forcing the enemy king back)

[@cameronlynch2194]

Nelson you are goated for this

nice ....As I'm going for a tournament i guess i'll use this

[@williamsquires3070]

Another way of thinking of opposition is that it’s a simple form of zugzwang!

[@lorcster6694]

True. It's actually the best and simplest form of zugzwang

[@ahmeds.mansour1293]

Are you going to do a complete study of Silman’s course until completion? That would be great

[@WaldoWizard]

Happy Thanksgiving Nelson.

[@jarredmattingly5369]

What are the rules concerning when you can and cannot legally castle? Do certain moves or situations arise that disallow castling? I saw another video, and it was unclear in the moment why, it was black during the game with the crazy knight sac twice thing, and I couldn't figure out why black couldn't castleThanks

[@Deadeye1967]

1. You can't castle if you moved the king already. 2. You can't castle if you are in check, or if the king has to pass through a check to castle. For Example an opponents bishop or Queen is aiming right through where you have to jump the king over the rook and not just where you place the king after the castle.

[@jarredmattingly5369]

@@Deadeye1967 ahhhhh. that explains it. Passing through a point to castle. Thank you very much!

[@Deadeye1967]

@@jarredmattingly5369 Ok glad you got it now.

[@vivaankohli9448]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!

[@jaysonwhiteford4531]

Great video Nelson! I am around 1600 but still took a few things from it 🙂

[@lajos-berenyi]

One more rule, what was not mentioned in the video: if our pawn over the half board - means the pawn in the 5. rank if we are the white - and our king is in front of the pawn (on the 6. rank), we can win, even if we don't have the opposition. Because if we sidestep, black sidesteps as well to maintain the opposition, in this case we push the pawn, black king steps back, we push the pawn again (to the 7. rank) and it is not stalemate.

[@brainhunter1000]

Step to the side. Interesting that that gives up opposition on the side ways to black. So forward opposition is good. Sideways isn’t important

[@davidmasse2829]

Also want to add for Intermediate level players, Nelson is #1

[@davejoseph5615]

I had suspected that I did not really understand this concept.

[@scottbollinger3641]

Very good

[@marklevin3236]

In starting position if Black moves King to e6 or c6 it is still a draw

[@budacaandrei1093]

You can say: “That’s not true at all! The thing with Bellingham gesturing was actually after Mbappé missed the penalty-he was encouraging him. You can check the replays from the match to see.”

[@jonnylawrencekeys]

Can't wait for 1500+

[@ohyeahdna230]

Niceeeeeeee👍

[@Confluence358]

Good recap! I'm 1730 but I'd be lying if I said that sometimes I didn't mess this up, especially if they try to trick me lol. Hopefully this time it sticks for good xD

[@tessg4799]

❤

[@msg63bretired82]

Highly recommend his breaking 1500 course for the d class players out there. 😃

[@Paul-im7pd]

actually opposition does not matter if your king is 6th rank.

[@nikolai1714]

That stalemate sound effect cost more than The International Space Station

[@rogerkearns8094]

_Always Oppose The King_ Say no to Elvis.

[@RightHandShot]

Happy Thanksgiving to my USA members

[@Alex9501950]

Obligatory KZbin algorithm comment.

[@DaDitka]

Obligatory KZbin algorithm response.

[@aaronjoshuas]

Obligatory KZbin algorithm response to a Obligatory KZbin algorithm response

[@Smoltess]

Opposition

[@erinstieglitz424]

Let

[@al_fletcher]

I will be here no matter what

[@bkb04g]

I had to stop watching as I cannot hear “opposition” another time this year!

[@florynhollander7766]

Only 3.4375% likes? 😮 Here is my 0.0001%. Interesting as always. Thanks. 😄👍

[@annlai3888]

W

[@paradigmshift4686]

Sounds like an anti-Trumper.

[@mrnelgin]

Hmm, rather than "Queening Square" I prefer "Promotion Square" since you may not always want to obtain a queen when you're able to promote your pawn.

[@WaldoWizard]

just studied that in Silmans book. Pawn wanting to be a Queen.. A lot of that goin on nowadays 😅😅😅

[@Vansh009]

Bro tbh this is good for new player joining chess I am 1700 and there is nothing informative for me last book was so good has so much of info

[@adamstyle2445]

Yes, he should take this video down because Vansh009 already knows this.

[@lorcster6694]

There's no videos he can make lkke this for 1700. At that level it's less about basic beginner concrete logic and more about more vast subjects like opening theory, rook endgame stuff