An outside passed pawn can distract a king, but its usefulness depends on timing, king activity and the remaining pawns.
What to do
Select a verified exercise with pawns on both sides. Compare advancing the passer with improving the king. Calculate what the defender can capture while following the pawn.
A mistake to avoid
A far-away pawn is not automatically a winning distraction. If it falls too quickly, the defender may return in time.
A detail worth checking
Track tempi explicitly. A distraction that works when the pawn advances immediately may fail after an unnecessary king move. Count actual moves rather than assuming the distant pawn is always a winning asset.
Try this practical check
Play both sides of one training ending and write down the move where the defending king chose a direction. Compare the alternative route afterward.
Related reading
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