Games - Opposition

Home > Listing Index > Games > Opposition (chess)

	Games - Opposition

Opposition in chess is when the two kings stand opposite each other along a rank or file, with only one square in between them, such that the side whose turn it is to move must move his king, allowing the other king access to important squares. In such a situation, the player not having to move is said to "have the opposition" (Flear 2004:12). It is a type of Zugzwang and most often occurs in endgames with only kings and pawns.

Direct opposition

In diagram 1, it is Black's turn to move and White wins because he has the opposition (Flear 2004:23). (See King and pawn versus king). If it was White's turn to move, Black would have the opposition and the game would be a draw.

Direct opposition is when the two kings face each other along a rank or file with only one square in between. When the term opposition is used, it normally refers to direct opposition. There are two other types of opposition: diagonal opposition and distant opposition.

Diagonal opposition

Opposition along a diagonal (instead of a rank or file) is called diagonal opposition. Sometimes diagonal opposition is used to achieve direct opposition. An example is the position in diagram 2, with Black to move (see algebraic chess notation). White has the direct opposition in this position, but it does him no good because his king can not attack the black pawn after the black king moves away. White needs to achieve direct opposition closer to the pawn.

1. ... Kf8
2. Kd6 and White has the diagonal opposition (diagram 3).
2. ... Ke8
3. Ke6 White now has direct opposition on a useful square, and White wins:
3. ... Kf8
4. Kd7 Kg8
5. Ke7 Kh8
6. f6 gxf6
7. Kf7 or 7. Kxf6 win for White (Flear 2004:33).

Distant opposition

Distant opposition is when the kings face off over a longer distance. If there are an odd number of squares between the kings, the player not having the move has the (distant) opposition. As with diagonal opposition, it is often converted to direct opposition, as in diagram 4:

1. Ke2 White takes the distant opposition
1. ... Kf8
2. Kd3 Ke7
3. Ke3 White again has the distant opposition, but closer
3. ... Ke6
4. Ke4 White now has the direct opposition
4. ... Kd6
5. Kd4 Kc6
6. Ke5 Kb6
7. Kd6 and White wins (Flear 2004:102).

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Opposition (chess) ]

Searches on eBay