Morphy was probably the greatest genius of them all.
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[Event "Study"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Unknown"]
[Black "Unknown03"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "David Hayes"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[FEN "8/8/4k3/4p3/4K3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
{ This KP endgame lesson demonstrates the method to draw with a lone king
against a king and pawn. White, a pawn down, can only strive for a draw.
Black naturally tries to promote his extra pawn to a queen and victory. The
two kings are in direct opposition to one another. White will force this
opposition often in the coming moves. } 1. Ke3 { The White king gives ground to
the black forces. White will use direct opposition to prevent the black king
from leading the pawn to the promotion square. When unable to maintain
opposition, White will blockade the advance of the pawn. } 1... Kd5 { The general
technique is the same. Black plays to advance his king in front of his pawn.
If allowed to obtain such an advantage, then the Black king may be able to
clear and hold a safe path for his pawn. } 2. Kd3 { The white king takes the
opposition to block the advance of the black king. } ( { It is worth noting that
white will lose with any other move here, because black will then move his
king in front of his pawn clearing the way for promotion. } 2. Kf3 Kd4 3. Ke2 Ke4 4. Kd2 Kf3 5. Ke1 e4 6. Kf1 e3 7. Ke1 e2 8. Kd2 Kf2 9. Kd3 e1=Q { Black
wins with a large material advantage. } ) 2... e4+ { The pawn inches closer, lusting
for the promotion square. } 3. Ke3 { The White king now blocks the advancement
of the Black pawn. } 3... Ke5 { Black will advance his pawn again using the same
general line of play. Fortunately, White can stop it from promoting by use of
direct opposition, blockade, and eventually stalemate. } 4. Ke2 Kf4 5. Kf2 e3+ 6. Ke2 Ke4 7. Ke1 Kd3 8. Kd1 e2+ 9. Ke1 Ke3 { Stalemate draw.|Black is forced
to move into a position which stalemates white, or abandons his pawn. This
compulsion to move into an inferior position is known as Zugzwang. Thus,
White holds the draw despite black's material advantage. } *