The trebuchet: two kings, two pawns, and the side that has to move loses. A mutual zugzwang every chess player should know.
A king and pawn endgame trick in under a minute.
Each king guards its own pawn and attacks the other one: White’s king on c5, Black’s king on e4, pawns on d4 and d5.
With White to move, the king cannot go to c4 or take on d5, and all five legal king moves leave d4 behind.
After 1.Kb5 the black king takes on d4 and the bar reads about minus six.
Same position with Black to move: every king move leaves d5, and White’s king takes it instead.
The rule: when each king guards its own pawn and attacks the other’s, whoever moves loses. Count whose move it is before you trade into a pawn ending.
Key lines (FEN 8/8/8/2Kp4/3Pk3/8/8/8):
White to move: 1.Kb5 Kxd4
Black to move: 1…Kf5 2.Kxd5
#chess #zugzwang #chessendgame
Pieces: cburnett set by Colin M.L. Burnett.
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Its a stale mate