Beginning chess players should study tactics more than any other aspect of chess.
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[Event "rated untimed match"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "White player"] [Black "Black player"] [Result "*"] [BlackElo "0"] [FEN "8/Pk6/1P6/8/4K3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] [TimeControl "0"] [WhiteElo "0"] { A King and 2 Connected Passed Pawns.|This king and pawn endgame lesson demonstrates how two pawns win against a lone king.|The black monarch may not capture the rear pawn, or in any way leave the lead pawn because the lead pawn will immediately advance to promote. Two connected passed pawns will effectively tie up a king this way.|White must be alert to avoid stalemate positions and prosecute the win. } 1. Kd5 { White's king approaches to support the advance of his pawns. } 1... Ka8 { Black can only wait and hope for a blunder from White. } ( { Other moves lose quickly. } 1... Kxb6 2. a8=Q Kc7 3. Qa7+ Kc8 4. Kd6 Kd8 5. Qd7# ) 2. Kc5 ( { White must avoid stalemate blunders like this: } 2. Kc6 ) 2... Kb7 3. a8=Q+ { Brutally forcing the black king out of his blockade position. } ( { Even underpromoting works: } 3. a8=B+ Kb8 4. Kd6 Kxa8 5. Kc6 Kb8 6. b7 Ka7 7. Kc7 Ka6 8. b8=Q Ka5 9. Qb3 Ka6 10. Qb6# ) 3... Kxa8 { The new queen must be eliminated. } 4. Kc6 { The white king leads his pawn down the board. } 4... Kb8 5. b7 Ka7 6. Kc7 { White seizes control of the promotion square. } 6... Ka6 7. b8=Q Ka5 8. Qb3 Ka6 9. Qa4# *