Two squares diverged on a chessboard: a6 and c6. One square leads to victory, the other to a draw. Which square should the white king chose?

Choosing c6 allows the black king to move to a7. From a7, the black king keeps the a8 corner and the possibility of a stalemate in reach. For example, white’s two principle replies are kc7 or the advancement of the b5 pawn to b6.

If white plays kc7 after ka7, black’s king moves to a8.

If white advances it pawn to b6, black is stalemated. Instead of moving the pawn to b6, white should move its king to c8. This forces the black king to a7. White’s king returns to c7, and now white has the opposition, as black’s king is forced to a8. White returns to the starting position by then moving to b6, as the black king must return to b8.

If white advances its pawn to b6 after black’s king moves to a7, black captures the draw with ka8. For example, moving the white king to c7 is stalemate. Marching the b6 pawn to b7 lets the black king slide onto b8. The only way for white to save the pawn is for its king to guard it from b6, which is stalemate.

Other lines after the pawn advances to b6 also lead to a draw. Because of the cramped position and the black king’s access to a8, any attempt to manipulate the tempo by maneuvering the white king to c5, b5, or d6, for instance, either stalemate or lose the pawn and draw.

The road best taken in this week’s position is for the white king to walk onto a6. This prevents black from occupying a7. If the black king moves to c8 or c7, white’s king occupies a7 and then escorts its pawn to promotion. The black king should move to a8 (ka8) and pray for the white king to move to b6. If so, black draws, as the corner square traps white in lines leading either to stalemate or to the loss of the pawn (see above).

After ka8 white wins by marching its pawn to b6. The king black must move to b8. The pawn marches on to b7.

The white king then steps onto a7, as it prepares to support its pawn’s promotion on b8 on the next move.

Each square on the board is the first step in a road taken. Endgames are often as much about material as about squaring your maneuvering with the position. As Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”