Chess Concepts — Intermediate
Passed Pawn — the silent killer of the endgame
Learn how a single pawn with no enemies ahead can win the game.
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How It Works — Step by Step
Step 1
What is a Passed Pawn?
White's d5 pawn is a passed pawn — no Black pawns can stop it on the d-file or adjacent files. It has a clear path to promotion.
Step 2
The Protected Passed Pawn
White's d5 pawn is protected by c4 — a protected passed pawn. It ties Black's pieces down permanently.
Step 3
The Outside Passed Pawn
White's a-pawn is far from the main action. The Black king must march over to stop it, leaving White's king free to attack Black's kingside.
Step 4
Connected Passed Pawns
Two passed pawns side by side support each other. A single rook often cannot stop connected passed pawns on the 6th rank.
Find Passed Pawns in my games
Kingsights scans your games for critical passed pawn structures.
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