Having trouble understanding a tricky K + P endgame

Thank you for your replies!

I get that white wins if he can get Kb3 while his opponent is on b5 (regardless of who is to move), but I'm having a lot of trouble triangulating to get that position. I find triangulation very difficult at this point of my chess career.

Maybe I answered my own question and should work on this mysterious shuffling of kings back and forth.

I still find it quite difficult though

It might be helpful to look at the "key squares of blocked pawns". Imagine the pawn on c2 is gone, there are only the pawns on e4 and e5. The key squares (=the squares where the white king has to be) for White to win the pawn on e5 are d5/c5/b5/b6 (and on the other side f5/g5/h5/h6). You need to manoeuver your king towards these key squares, using methods like triangulation, opposition...

this exercise involves the use of corresponding squares not triangulation.

triangulation is making two moves with the king to recreate the same position with it being the opponents king's move.

Agree.

I'll add 2 suggestions:

1. for corresponding squares, look at the position near the end [just before black plays Kd4] where you win. Print a board you can write on, then start numbering squares from there to see how they correspond.

2. Practically, most of us will get this at the end of an OTB game and be in time trouble so unable to do the corresponding squares analysis. There are 2 valuable 'take-aways' for most of us. First is the winning position and its idea that is your goal if you are a pawn ahead. Second is the drawing positions black has if white misplays it [your goal as defender]. Understanding both are very useful when in time trouble and you & opponent dont have time to analyze.

The objective of king and pawn endgame should be to create a passed pawn and to promote it (preferably 2 moves) before your opponent's or to promote your single pawn safely without a stalemate , when you have multiple pieces it is important to calculate in advance and take in consideration what the opponent might do and play accordingly . Understanding the capture sequence to gain advantage is something that takes practice but is useful. Try practicing in different positions of this endgame with variety of elos and look at videos and lessons on this topic .

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