I just went through lesson 8.2. I’m actually in the middle of a game as I write this (and don’t expect an answer before the game ends, so no worries about cheating). I have a passed pawn. Queens are off the board. Some minor pieces have been traded, but both of us still have both rooks and at least one knight or bishop. I have a passed pawn, and while it could be a protected passed pawn, my opponent has the adjacent pawn blocked with one of his pawns.

How do I decide when is the right time to push the passed pawn? I’m going for it early because I’m thinking it will force my opponent to have to trade off a piece for it, and that will probably lead to a win for me. But is there any good guidance for whether I should push it right away, or wait for some specific circumstance? Should I hold on to it until there are only kings and maybe just one or two minor pieces left? Or do I use it right now to tie up my opponent’s pieces? Would be great to get a little more guidance on making the best use of passed pawns in the earlier stages of the endgame (or later stages of the middle game).

Thanks for your advice here!