Trébuchet in action

 I'm trying to find which methods are practical.

White to move

8/1k6/2p5/2P5/K7/P7/8/8 w - - 1 2

What is going on?

• White must conquer the black pawn
• White cannot go via the left side
• White must go to the key squares of the black pawn via the right side
• Black cannot defend the key squares on the right side because white has a spare tempo (a4)
• Blacks only try is to conquer the white pawn on c5 via the left side
• Square d4 (red a) is mined (typical for the Trébuchet)
• White must avoid d4 until black steps on b5 (blue a)
• The two squares c4 and d5 (marked x) are rigged
• They are the cause that d4 is mined
• c4 is only rigged after the black king steps on b5

INTERMEZZO

I have the idea that I'm not yet finished with the corresponding squares and the Trébuchet. Something is missing. Let me solve that now.

Pick up the white king. Where would you place it? White to move

Assume that the black king is on b6. Pick up the white king in a thought experiment. Where can you place the white king and still force the win? White to move.

• a = mined. This is the only true corresponding square. When both kings are on "a", they are in mutual zugzwang. What is so special about "a"? From d6, the white king does two things: It attacks the black -pawn AND its own pawn
• 1 = the white king attacks the black pawn
• 2 = the white king can reach 1 in one move
• 3 = the white king can reach 2 in one move

White is there no 4?

The situation for the black king is the same. The squares around him are a point reflection of the red symbols. The black king is on a 3. Hence the white king would be losing if it was on a 4.

To be continued ...