The opposition

With opposition, the king that must move has to give way.

In this lesson

Opposition: the kings face each other with one square between. Whoever has to move must give way. It is White’s move — Black has the opposition.
But White has a spare move: the pawn! After e3, it is Black who must move — and give way.
Keep the opposition: make a pawn move so that Black has to move the king.
Compare: if the pawn already stood on e3, White would have no spare move — and the game would be a draw.
With the king in front of the pawn on the sixth rank, White always wins. Step to the side — not forward — and the pawn walks home.
Step to the side with your king. Then the pawn cannot be stopped.
Black to move. Is this stalemate?
Careful here! Pushing the pawn lets the black king block it and draw. Take the opposition with your king instead.
Don’t push! Find the winning king move.
Time to practice!