Triangulation (chess)

In chess, triangulation is a maneuvering technique, typically employed in king and pawn endgames, where one player forces their opponent to move their king to a specific square by using a sequence of moves that form a triangle. This maneuver gains the player the opposition, which allows them to advance their pawn or force a favorable exchange.

The player executing the triangulation maneuvers their king through a series of three squares, ultimately returning to their original position. The opponent's king is also forced to move, but in a way that relinquishes a key square or the opposition. The purpose is to gain a tempo advantage, effectively handing the move to the opponent when they are in a less favorable position.

Triangulation is most effective when the pawn structure restricts the opponent's king's movement, and the player executing the triangulation has sufficient space to maneuver their own king. The success of a triangulation relies on careful calculation and understanding of the endgame principles, especially the concept of opposition.