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In chess, a king walk, also known as a king march, steel king, or wandering king (Dutch: wandelkoning, literally "wanderking"), is a maneuver where the king travels a large distance to a different part of the board in the middlegame or opening. During a king walk, the king may travel along its own side of the board (from kingside to queenside, or vice versa) to reach a safer position. Alternatively, it may travel up the board, often involved in a mating attack against the opposing king.[2]
Short vs. Timman, final position
Activating the king before the endgame is a highly unusual occurrence; before the endgame, the safety of the king is considered paramount, and players are recommended to keep it out of harm's way.[3][4] In contrast, Wilhelm Steinitz, often known as the father of modern chess, was renowned for his maxim that "the king is a fighting piece".[5][6] Dutch chess historian and author Tim Krabbé has documented over one hundred such games.[2]
Because of the rarity of such tactics, those that reap rewards for the attacking player often have brilliancy prizes bestowed upon them.[7][8] Perhaps the most famous in recent history,[9] where Nigel Short defeated Jan Timman in Tilburg in 1991, was voted as one of the hundred greatest chess games in a list compiled by master Graham Burgess, and grandmasters John Nunn and John Emms.[10]
- Short vs. Timman, Tilburg 1991. Alekhine Defense: Modern, Alburt Variation (B04), 1–0.[11] Short ties up Timman's pieces and his king can advance.
- Alekhine vs. Yates, London 1922. Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line (D64), 1–0.[12] Alekhine conjures up an attack in the endgame, and his king joins the fray.
- Chess tactics
- King hunt – where the king is involuntarily chased up the board by the opponent and often checkmated
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