← Endgame Basics
The square of the pawn
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
h8
g
f
e
d
c
b
a
Step 1 of 2
Picture a square with the pawn's promotion path as one edge. If the defending king can step inside that square on its move, it catches the pawn — no move-counting needed. The h5 pawn's square is h5-h8-e8-e5; the black king on d6 is right on its edge.