In chess, a king walk, also known as a king march, steel king, or wandering king (, 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 to , or vice versa) to reach a safer position. Alternatively, it may travel up the board, often involved in a against the opposing king.
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."Chess; Theory aside, the king safety is foremost", Robert Byrne, The New York Times, September 7, 1986"Ten Tips to Winning Chess – 7. Keep your king safe" , Arthur Bisguier, United States Chess Federation website In contrast, Wilhelm Steinitz, often known as the father of modern chess, was renowned for his maxim that "the king is a fighting piece"."Wilhelm Steinitz (1836–1900)" , Jeremy Silman"Chess; Girding the king", Robert Byrne, The New York Times, June 27, 1982 Dutch chess historian and author Tim Krabbé has documented over one hundred such games.
Because of the rarity of such tactics, those that reap rewards for the attacking player often have bestowed upon them."Steel king from Utrecht", Open Chess Diary, July 11, 2003"Steel King goes all the way", Open Chess Diary, July 4, 2007 Perhaps the most famous in recent history,"The outrageous king walk", Dennis Monokroussos, ChessBase, April 2, 2006 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.
Example games Short vs. Timman, Tilburg 1991. Alekhine Defense: Modern, Alburt Variation (B04), . 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), . Alekhine conjures up an attack in the endgame, and his king joins the fray.
See also Chess tactics King hunt – where the king is involuntarily chased up the board by the opponent and often checkmated
References
External links "His Majesty steps out" capanegra, Chessgames.com