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Endgame

Corresponding squares

also 'conjugate squares'

Pairs of squares in a locked pawn ending where each king must mirror the other to hold or win.

In blocked king-and-pawn endings, certain squares 'correspond': if your king reaches its square while the opponent cannot reach the matching one, you break through. Opposition is the simplest case of this deeper relationship.

Working out the corresponding squares — and reaching yours with the opponent to move — is how the winning side solves an otherwise impenetrable pawn barrier.

Why it matters

The hardest king-and-pawn endings are decided purely by corresponding-square counting, not by calculation of moves.

The mistake everyone makes

Treating a locked pawn ending as a draw because you can't calculate it, when a corresponding-squares breakthrough was there.

Related terms

Opposition
Kings facing each other with one square between them; the side NOT to move usually holds the advantage.
Triangulation
Losing a tempo with the king (taking three moves to reach a square two allow) to put the opponent in zugzwang.
Zugzwang
A position where every legal move worsens your position — but passing is not allowed, so you must move.

See Corresponding squares in your own games

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