Distance Opposition

Its not easy finding examples of Distance Opposition, so where better to look than my own dross and blunders. The example below is against my good mate, chess foe and part-time CPM contributor Ian I'm half-mackem Elcoate. Some better days of Ian's can be found here.

C.Smith - I.Elcoate [C02]
15.02.2001



51...Kd7 52.Nb8+ Kc7??
It seems harsh to call this a blunder but, it allows me to check on a6 taking his King one square further away from the action on the opposite wing. [52...Kc8 Makes a fight of it, although White retains the advantage. 53.Na6 Nxd4 54.Nc5 Kd8 55.Kd3 Nc6 56.Nxe6+ Kd7 57.Nd4 Ne7+- ]

53.Na6+ Kb6 54.Kxc2 Kxa6 55.Kd2 Kb7 56.Ke3 Kc7 57.Kf3 Kd7 58.Kg3 Ke7 59.Kh4 Kf8 60.Kh5!
Essential [
60.Kg5?? draws Kg7 61.Kh5 Kh7= ]

60...Kg7 61.Kg5 Kf7 62.Kh6 1-0
Like me, Ian must have seen the following variation [
62.Kh6 Kf8 63.Kg6 Ke7 64.Kg7 Ke8 65.Kf6 Kd7 66.Kf7 Kc7 67.Kxe6 ] and decided to call it a day.

I must add, in Ian's defence, that this was my only win in three attempts, in the other two games I was despatched with relative ease!

What is this mystical beast known as the opposition? How can this enigma be described in layman's terms? Have a look here.

Its not as easy as it seems