The kings block each other
Two kings may never stand next to each other. So when they face each other with one square between them, neither can move forward. The one to move has to step aside or back away, and then the other king can get past. The one who doesn't have to move is said to have the opposition.
The same position, different results
In a pawn endgame the opposition can decide the whole game. Look at these two positions. The pieces stand exactly the same; the only difference is who is to move.
With White to move, Black has the opposition and holds the draw. With Black to move, it's the other way around: Black's king has to give way, White's king goes past, and the pawn goes through. The player with the opposition puts the opponent in zugzwang.
How White wins with the opposition
Follow the win move by move. White takes the opposition again and again, and the king goes ahead of the pawn all the way to the sixth rank. After that, it's done.
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A rule to take with you: once White's king reaches the sixth rank in front of the pawn, White wins, no matter who is to move. That holds for every pawn except the rook pawns.
The distant opposition
The kings don't have to stand close to each other. If they stand on the same file or rank with three or five squares between them, and your opponent is to move, you have the distant opposition. As the kings then come closer, you can turn it into the ordinary opposition.
Notice that both pawn moves only draw. The pawn has its free move in reserve, but first the king has to come up. This is how it goes when White takes the distant opposition:
Kings on the same diagonal can also stand in opposition, if the number of squares between them is odd. That is called the diagonal opposition, and it too can be turned into the ordinary opposition.
Practice against the computer
White to move wins, but only one move does it. Can you find it, and then manage the rest against the computer? Think of the picture above: the king in front of the pawn, and the opposition when you need it. A hint: e3 and e4 both only draw.
You are playing White. Make your first move.
You have White. Win by taking the pawn to the last rank. The computer defends Black. A hint: only one move wins here, and it isn't a pawn move.
Remember
- The one who doesn't have to move has the opposition. Your opponent's king then has to give way.
- The king goes first. The pawn has a free move in reserve. Save it.
- The sixth rank decides. A king on the sixth rank in front of the pawn wins, except with a rook pawn.
More on when the pawn wins and when it doesn't is on the page about king and pawn against king.
Frequently asked questions
What is the opposition in chess?
When the kings stand on the same file or rank with one square between them. The player who is not to move is said to have the opposition, because the opponent then has to move the king and let the other one through.
What is the distant opposition?
When the kings stand on the same file or rank with three or five squares between them. The player who is not to move has the distant opposition and can turn it into the ordinary opposition as the kings come closer.
What is the diagonal opposition?
When the kings stand on the same diagonal with an odd number of squares between them. It too can be turned into the ordinary opposition.
Does the opposition have anything to do with zugzwang?
Yes. The player with the opposition puts the opponent in zugzwang: every king move lets the other king through, and standing still isn't allowed.
Updated October 28, 2026