Opposition
by
FA Amit K Biswas
FIDE Arbiter, International Rated Chess Player, Chess Coach
Founder of Bengal Chess Wizard and Chess Art Wizard
[Endgame
is the ultimate time to show your excellence in chess. If you are week in
endgame, all your toil may go to waste. To make yourself master in the endgame
you have to know some techniques. These techniques required some tools.
Opposition is one of these tools. We will discuss various types of Opposition
which may not be known to even experience players also. So check it out and
keep in mind with care.]
Introduction:
It
seems that King is a very lazy fighter. So mostly he keeps himself in a shell
of safety. But the actual fact is that, he is the supremo of the team. If he come
up to fight early he may trapped and the game may be lost. So when all other
powers are active, he must be rest in safe zone. When other fighters collapsed,
then he come to the battle field and shows his power. Generally it appears in
the endgame.
Direct Opposition:
In
the direct Kings battle, each of the King wishes to appear first to become face
to face of the opponent King to gather some extra facility. When a King
successfully appears face to face of the opponent King by file or by rank, he
has won the opposition.
Diagram 1 : White King is taking the direct opposition on c5.
Definition:
Direct Opposition is the position in which two Kings face
each other on a rank or file, with only one square between them.
The King not having to move is said to “have the opposition”.
Other Type of Oppositions:
Although the Direct Opposition is the turning
point of the game, we have several other positions from where we can achieve
the Direct Opposition surely. Those positions are also called opposition, but
not the direct one. We will now discuss about those oppositions one by one.
Diagonal Opposition:
When a King placed himself diagonally face to
face one square away from opponent King then it is called Diagonal Opposition.
Diagram 2: White King is taking the diagonal opposition on e5.
Intention :
Either
capturing the Direct Opposition or maintaining the Diagonal Opposition.
Distant Opposition:
Distant Opposition is the position in which two
Kings face each other on a rank or file, with more than one but odd number of
squares between them.
Diagram 3: White King is taking the distant opposition on e2.
Intention :
Either
capturing the Direct Opposition or maintaining the Distant Opposition.
Virtual Opposition:
Virtual Opposition means that the square around
the Kings have corners of the same colour. However, all four corners must have
the same colour. Then the side which is not to move has the opposition.
Diagram 4: White King is taking the Virtual Opposition on a2.
Diagram 5:
White King having the Virtual Opposition.
Intention :
Either
capturing the Direct Opposition or capturing the Diagonal Opposition or
maintaining the Distant Opposition.
For instance Click Here.
