Pawn Battle

Pawns and kings, first to promote. Both sides have eight pawns and a king and nothing else, and the first pawn to reach the far rank wins. A side with no legal move loses. Opposition, the rule of the square, passed pawns and outside majorities are not ideas to revise here. They are the entire game.

Start a free game of Pawn Battle in the browser while you read; no sign-up.

The rules

Both sides have eight pawns and a king. Nothing else. The first player to promote a pawn wins; if a side has no legal move, the opponent wins.

Why it is worth playing

Pawn Battle is the endgame you should have studied, played as a whole game. Opposition, the rule of the square, passed pawns and outside majorities are not concepts here. They are the entire game, and you will learn them in an afternoon.

Four plans that win games

Learn the opposition and you win most games

Kings facing each other with one square between: whoever must move gives way. This decides the majority of Pawn Battles.

Create an outside passed pawn

A passed pawn far from the kings drags the enemy king away, and your king eats everything on the other side.

Do not advance pawns without the king

Pawns cannot defend themselves. Every advance should be supported.

Count the pawn race exactly

When both sides have a runner, count to the promotion square. One tempo decides it, every time.

Mistakes that lose games

What it teaches you about standard chess

The endgame, faster than any book

Opposition, the rule of the square, outside passed pawns, the tempo count. These are the four things that decide real endgames and Pawn Battle is nothing but them. An hour here is worth a chapter.

Pawn Battle does what every good variant does: it removes part of chess so that what is left gets your full attention, and the habit comes back with you to the standard game. The full argument, and which variant trains what, is in the coach's guide to variants.

Who it suits

Every improving player, without exception. This is the fastest endgame training available and it does not feel like training.

You can play it right now on any device, in a browser, against a full engine, with no download and no account. If you have never tried a variant before, give it three games rather than one: the first is spent learning the rules, and the second is where it starts being chess.

Common questions

What are the rules of Pawn Battle?

Both sides have eight pawns and a king. Nothing else. The first player to promote a pawn wins; if a side has no legal move, the opponent wins.

Is Pawn Battle hard to learn?

The rules take about two minutes. Every improving player, without exception. This is the fastest endgame training available and it does not feel like training.

What is the best strategy in Pawn Battle?

Learn the opposition and you win most games. Kings facing each other with one square between: whoever must move gives way. This decides the majority of Pawn Battles.

Where can I play Pawn Battle free?

Grandmaster Gains has Pawn Battle playable in the browser against a full engine, free and with no sign-up, alongside nineteen other variants.

Will playing Pawn Battle improve my normal chess?

The endgame, faster than any book. Opposition, the rule of the square, outside passed pawns, the tempo count. These are the four things that decide real endgames and Pawn Battle is nothing but them. An hour here is worth a chapter.

What is the biggest mistake beginners make in Pawn Battle?

Do not rush the pawns forward. Advanced pawns are weak pawns. Bring the king first.

More variants

• Upside-Down Chess: The pieces and pawns swap ranks: pawns on the back, pieces in front.
• Knight Odds: White plays without a knight. The classic teaching handicap.
• Rook Odds: White plays without a rook, a serious handicap for a serious gap.
• Queen Odds: White plays without the queen: the largest classical handicap.