Translation

The book of Dvoretsky contains many compositions. Compositions are often some kind of freak positions that happen only once in every two lives. That doesn't mean that we need to dismiss them beforehand. The mechanisms that are at play in pawn endings are finite. It is important to study these mechanisms whenever we can. By translating the positions by a few files and/or ranks, we get a clearer picture on how these mechanisms actually work. Have a look at this position:

Diagram 1.Black to move

8/1k6/1p6/1K6/P1P5/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Only one move draws. White to move draws. It is not immediately clear why.

Let's translate this position over two files.

Diagram 2. Black to move

8/3k4/3p4/3K4/2P1P3/8/8/8 b - - 0 1

Black to move loses.

White to move is a draw.

Black to move

Black must stay in contact with his pawn. So the only feasible moves are 1. ... Ke7 and 1. ... Kc7

The mechanism that white uses is to sac the pawn opposite the black king. Black has to take, and the white king can take back while seizing the opposition. Like:

• 1. ... Ke7
• 2. e5 dxe5
• 3. Kxe5

From there it is an easy win for white.

Diagram 3. Black to move

What white has done:

• sacrificed a pawn to get the black pawn out of the way
• seized that pawn back while grabbing the opposition. Thus keeping the black king at bay.

Notice how universal these mechanisms are. You will find that time and again. There are a finite amount of mechanisms that can be combined in a zillion ways.

It is easy to see how the position from diagram 2 can be mirrored when black plays 1. ... Kc7

White can try a different approach. After 1. ... Ke7

Black to move

• 1. ... Ke7 
• 2.Kc6

Black must grab the opposition with

• 2. ... Ke6

and maintain it by staying within the 6 red circles. Now you can imagine what happen when you shove this position two files to the right. Then you get the freak position of diagram 1 where 3 blue circles are missing. That has an effect on how black can maintain the draw.

White to move

What is the mechanism to draw when white is to move in diagram 2 (=5)?

Diagram 5. White to move

When white sacs a pawn in order to free the path to promotion for the other pawn, the problem is that black maintains the opposition. So white cannot promote his pawn.

If white plays 1.Kd4, he doesn't make progress. The only thing black has to do is to occupy d7 when the white king returns to d5. Thus seizing the opposition.

Conclusion.

Dvoretsky has a penchant for freak positions every now and then. From a didactical point of view that complicates matters unnecessary. By generalizing the position first (translate it to the middle), you can come to grips with the general mechanisms. From there you can better understand how the exceptions work.

Now you can deem what is necessary in order to absorb pawn endings. It is not rocket science, there is a finite amount of mechanisms, and it takes time to learn to see them instead of calculating them. But when you manage to do so, it will be a formidable weapon.

Furthermore, without my learning method it is close to impossible to get the job done. People will waste their time by trying to find the solutions on their own, thus losing the energy to complete the task of absorbing them. When they can calculate it, they will think they are ready.