In the guide to winning with a pawn on the 6th rank, we learned about key squares:

If the Black king reaches any of the key squares, Black will win — no matter where the White king is.

The defender must prevent the opposing king from reaching these key squares. If the attacking king is already on the 6th rank, the only way to stop it is by taking the opposition:

Examples

Black’s king has reached the 6th rank. If White plays 1.Kf1?, Black takes a key square with 1...Kd2! and wins. Instead, White must play 1.Kd1!, seizing the opposition and securing a draw:

If Black advances the pawn with 1...e2+, White replies 2.Ke1!. Now Black’s king must either abandon the pawn or allow stalemate after 2...Ke3.

If Black retreats the king instead, for example 1...Kd4, White can still hold the draw. The simplest method is to shuffle the king between the two squares in front of the pawn (e1 and e2). From there, White is always ready to meet a later Kd3 with Kd1, and Kf3 with Kf1.

White’s last move 1.g6+? was a mistake. How can Black achieve a draw now, thanks to the pawn being a knight pawn? Click the diagram to solve the puzzle.