The king is a fighting piece
Capablanca and Carlsen
In the endgame the king becomes a strong piece. Centralizing it decides most pawn and minor-piece endgames.
Key ideas
- Once the queens are traded, bring your king to the center.
- The king defends its pawns and attacks the opponent's.
- An active king is worth an extra piece.
When to use it
As soon as mating danger is gone, usually after the queens come off.