What is the opposition chess tactic?
Opposition is a chess tactic that involves placing two kings or a king and a pawn on adjacent squares on the same rank, file, or diagonal. The player whose king is closer to the center is said to have the opposition. Having the opposition allows the player to control the center and to create a tactical or positional advantage. The opposition is a fundamental concept in the endgame, it can be used to control the center, to create a passed pawn, to restrict the opponent’s king or to generate a tactical opportunity.
King and Pawn endgame
One of the most common examples of opposition is the move Kd6 in the King and Pawn endgame which creates a passed pawn and restrict the opponent’s king mobility.
Rook and King endgame
Another common example is the move Ke4 in the Rook and King endgame which creates a passed pawn and restrict the opponent’s king mobility.
Restrict the mobility of the opponent’s king
Opposition can also be used to restrict the mobility of the opponent’s king by creating a line of attack that forces the opponent’s king to move in a certain way. This can be done by attacking a key square or a valuable piece, forcing the opponent to move the king or to lose it.
How to prevent opposition?
To prevent opposition, players should try to anticipate the opponent’s moves and try to control the key squares on the board. They should also try to keep their pieces active and try to create a passed pawn, which can restrict the opponent’s king mobility.