Mastering

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Key to symbols
Introduction
Editorial preface
Chapter 1. Bishop vs pawns

1.0. Two bishops mate
1.1. Bishop and pawn vs king
1.2. Bishop and pawn vs king and pawns
1.3. Bishop vs more pawns
Chapter 2. Same-colored bishop endgames
2.1. Bishop and pawn vs bishop
2.2 Bishop and two pawns vs bishop or bishop and pawn
2.3. Complex bishop endgames
2.4. Barrier
2.5. Practical games
Chapter 3. Opposite colored bishop endgames
3.1. Bishop and connected pawns vs Bishop
3.2. Bishop and separated pawns vs Bishop
3.3. Complex bishop endgames
3.4. Practical games
Chapter 4. Unusual practical games
Swipe left for next chapter

Csaba Balogh
Adrian Mikhalchishin
Mastering minor piece endgames

Part 1
Cover designer
Piotr Pielach
Typesetting
Piotr Pielach ‹www.i-press.pl›
First edition 2016 by Chess Evolution
Mastering minor piece endgames. Part 1

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KEY TO SYMBOLS
= Equality or equal chances

² White has a slight advantage
³ Black has a slight advantage
± White is better
µ Black is better
+- White has a decisive advantage
-+ Black has a decisive advantage
∞ unclear
© with compensation
„ with counterplay
ƒ with initiative
‚ with an attack
… with the idea
™ only move
N novelty
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check
# mate
INTRODUCTION
The second book of the series “The Modern Endgame Manual” is all about bishop endgames. We decided to share the
“Minor pieces” endings between 2 books, “Bishop endgames” and “Bishop vs knight, and knight endgames”.
Bishop endgames can basically be divided into 3 main chapters:
• Bishop vs bishop of the same color
• Bishop vs bishop of opposite colors
• Bishop vs pawns.
Bishop endgames are usually extremely tricky, with perhaps not so many theoretical positions to learn, but a lot of
positions where the result is pretty unclear until the very end in a practical game. This is especially true of opposite-
colored bishop endgames, where small nuances can decide the outcome of the game.
The bishop is a great fighter when it comes to stopping an opponent’s pawns and is an extremely useful piece at long
distance, for example when the pawns are running on both sides. On the other hand, when it comes to a short-range
battle, we discover that sometimes a bishop is not much better than a lowly pawn.
Also, the bishop can cover only 32 squares, which makes him a piece that requires good-handling.
A great example of this are the positions where one side has a king+bishop+a- or h- pawn, but with a bishop operating
on the opposite color to that of the promotion square, while the other side has just his king in the corner of the
promotion square. This position is a theoretical draw, which is actually quite shocking! A full piece and a pawn up and
just a draw?! A very special case indeed in the game of chess.
But never fear, the current book will lead you step-by-step - from the very simple to the hugely complex — and you will
be introduced to the theoretical knowledge you need, and also how to apply it in bishop endgame praxis.
However, for most of the bishop endgames we should remember only one rule: The bishop is a long range piece and it is
great in open positions, especially when the fight comes to a long diagonal, but on the other hand the bishop generally
struggles when it finds itself in closed positions.
The material inside this book is very useful for players at every level, from the complete beginner up to GM standard!
After a deep study of this book you will be able to call yourself quite an expert, something you will hopefully prove in
your future games!
EDITORIAL PREFACE
In this series of nine endgame books, FIDE Senior Trainer Adrian Mikhalchishin, FIDE Senior Trainer Efstratios Grivas
and IGM Csaba Balogh combine their experience as trainers and as practical players to create something very special.
The authors aim for very understandable explanations of every endgame position in each book.
The specification:
• 1st book — Queen and pawn endgames.
• 2–3 — Minor piece endgames (bishop and knight endgames).
• 4–5 — These will feature the fight between different material constellations.
• 6–8 — These books are going to focus on the most common endgames, which are of course rook endings.
• 9th — This book will focus on exchanges and simplifications.
The main concept of each book is to provide theoretical knowledge which can be used in practical games. It means the
focus of the books will be on positions which are the most likely to occur - and the practical playing of them.
That’s why you will firstly meet the theoretical part, and secondly the practical examples of how games actually
continued in a particular endgame.
Yes, you’re right, you won’t find too many very complicated studies, stunning manouevres or rarely-appearing positions
— and there is a simple reason why not!
How often do we see positions, for example two knights vs pawn where one knight is blocking the pawn and the other
one tries to get the king to the corner before releasing the second knight for the mate? Or constellations with crazy
material on the board? This might happen in one game out of 100! You could spend hundreds of hours working on
something that might bring you “only” a single point more out of 100 games!
Our approach is quite different: let’s make more points in the other 99 games! And who knows, we might also be lucky
in the remaining one, but actually, statistically, it would almost not matter.
“The Modern Endgame Manual” will make an expert out of you in most of the endgames which are going to appear in
your long career as a chess player!
CHAPTER 1
BISHOP VS PAWNS
1.0. TWO BISHOPS MATE
In this pre-chapter — before moving on to the ‘real’ bishop endgames — we learn how to deliver mate with two
bishops. It is different to the knight and bishop mate, when we must know the technique otherwise we might fail. Here
everything goes smoothly even if we have never studied it before. The pair of bishops in general are extremely
powerful, and in an open position they cover the entire board.
1
Theoretical position
There is no good or bad corner with the two bishops: White can squeeze the king wherever he wants and then the mate
is automatic.
1.Kd4
White must use all his pieces for the squeezing. Without the king, there will be no mate.
1...Ke6 2.Kc5 Ke7 3.Kd5
The king cannot escape through the kingside as the bishops cover all the squares.
3...Kd7 4.Be5 Ke7 5.Bg6 Kd7 6.Bd6
Within a few moves the king is already on the back rank.
6...Kc8 7.Kc6 Kd8 8.Bf7 Kc8 9.Be7

The easiest method is to proceed square-by-square.
9...Kb8 10.Kb6 Kc8 11.Be6+ Kb8 12.Bd6+ Ka8 13.Bd5#
It’s as easy as that. We don’t need to memorize anything here.

1.1. BISHOP AND PAWN VS KING
In this chapter we get to learn about some essential theoretical positions which have huge practical importance.
1
If we have an a- or h-pawn in a bishop endgame, we should always keep in mind the color of the pawn’s promotion
square; whether if it matches the color of our bishop or not. If it does, then we can easily make a queen from our pawn.
1.a5+ Ka6 2.Bd5 Ka7 3.Kb5 Kb8 4.Kb6+–
The king must leave the corner and the pawn promotes.
2
However if the promotion square of the a- or h-pawn does not match the color of the bishop and the opponent’s king
stands in front of the pawn, the position is a theoretical draw. This is an extremely important idea for the defensive side
and everybody should know it.
1.a5 Ka8 2.Kb6
2.a6 does not change anything. 2...Kb8 3.Kb6 Ka8= White cannot make progress, Black just moves ...Kb8-a8 and
stalemate saves him.
2...Kb8 3.Be5+ Ka8
White cannot squeeze the king out from the corner because of stalemate.
4.Kc7 Ka7 5.Bd4+

5...Ka8!=
Black must always stay in the corner and the game is drawn. But not 5...Ka6? which allows 6.Bb6 Kb5 7.Kb7+–
3
The result remains the same if the defensive side has an extra pawn. The idea could be that there will be no stalemate as
Black has a pawn, but actually it does not affect anything as Black advances his pawn.
1.a5 f4 2.a6+ Ka8 3.Kb6 f3

And Black either sacrifices his pawn or after
4.Bf2
White blocks it, but now it is the same as if it wasn’t on the board at all.
4...Kb8=
4
Now we will learn some techniques concerning how the black king could be prevented from occupying the corner if the
promotion square does not fit to the bishop’s color. One of the most important motifs is the following:
1.Ba7!
Otherwise Black goes to the corner.
1...Kc6 2.Kc4!
Please note, if the white king wasn’t this close, the game would end in a draw because of the ...Kb5 threat. White would
be forced to move his bishop to save the pawn, but then the king gets back to the corner. Now, however, White
manages to squeeze the king out from the c-file.
2...Kc7 3.Kb5 Kc8 4.Kb6 Kd7 5.Bb8+–
5
Another very important motif to avoid the king’s occupancy of the corner is
1.Kd4! Ke6 2.Kc5! Kd7 3.Kb6! Kc8
4.Bd6!+–
This is the key move and Black must forget about reaching the corner.
6
Frink
From Frink’s study we learn another nice motif to stop the king from getting into the corner. Black is threatening Kg1,
therefore the bishop must move — but only one move is winning.
1.Bd7! Ke3 2.h4 Ke4!
2...Kf4 loses to 3.Kd4+– and the king is forced to move back to the 3rd rank.
3.h5 Ke5 4.h6 Kf6
5.Be8!+–
Cutting the king off from the corner. Bh5 would be just as effective.
7
If the stronger side has any pawn other than an a- or h-pawn, the position is always winning automatically. There is only
one exception! Let’s take a look at why White cannot win now.
1.Kb5 Ka8
Black just repeats moves on the b7-a8 squares with his king and White cannot make progress. The problem is that he
cannot release his bishop from the a7 square, because any attempts with the king to get closer (from a6 or c8) lead to
stalemate!
2.Bb8
This leads to a draw as Black can take the opposition
2...Kxb8 3.Ka6 Ka8=
In the next chapter we will see some typical examples of how this endgame might easily arise from a practical game.
1.2. BISHOP AND PAWN VS KING AND PAWNS
This chapter continues with many theoretical positions which are essential knowledge for all players.
1
Here is another famous and frequently-seen theoretical position. The a8 corner does not match the color of the bishop,
but the king can be cut off from reaching the coner with Bd6. However the a4 pawn saves Black, since whenever the
white king returns to pick up the pawn, Black will have enough time to get back to the corner.
Rauzer made some very deep studies almost 100 years ago of this kind of positions. As we see, the defensive method is
quite simple: the only important thing he must know is that he should always keep his king in the upper-half of the
board...let’s see how this looks in practice.
1.Bd6!
Otherwise the king gets to a8 and there is nothing to discuss.
1...Kd8 2.Kb7 Kd7 3.Bc7
White slowly squeezes out the black king. He must send it as far as possible from the a8 corner.
3...Ke6 4.Kc6 Ke7! 5.Bb6 Ke6 6.Bc5 Ke5
There is nothing wrong with 6...Kf7 as after 7.Kb5 the black king gets back to the corner 7...Ke6 8.Kxa4 Kd7 9.Kb5
Kc7 10.Ka6 Kb8=
7.Bf8
7...Ke6!
Always stay in the upper-half of the board! Let’s study what happens if Black is not familiar with the correct defensive
method and instead crosses the middle of the board to stay as close to the corner as possible. 7...Kd4? loses to 8.Bd6!
The only winning move! We will understand soon the importance of occupying the h2-b8 diagonal... 8...Ke4 (8...Kc4
is met by 9.Bc5! Kd3 10.Kb5 and the king never gets back to the corner. 10...Ke4 11.Kxa4 Kd5 12.Kb5+–) 9.Kb5
Kd5
10.Bh2! This is the point! White controls the h2-b8 diagonal with his bishop and the king cannot get back to the
corner... 10...Ke6 11.Kxa4 Kd7 12.Kb5 Kc8 13.Kb6+–
8.Bd6 Kf7
If the bishop was somewhere on, say, the f4-g3-h2 squares, White could win with Kb5-Ke6, Kxa4-Kd7, Kb5-Kc8 and
Kb6. However Black goes ...Ke6 with a tempo (attacking the bishop), which is enough to get back to the corner in
time. White cannot improve things by having the bishop on h2, because then from e6 the king could go to e7, staying
close enough to the corner. Therefore White tries to the squeeze the king even further.
9.Kd7 Kf6 10.Bh2 Kf7 11.Be5 Kg6
Using the position of the e5 bishop, so that if the white king goes towards the a4 pawn, ...Kf5 wins an important tempo.
11...Kf8= also holds.
12.Ke6
12.Kc6 Kf5!=
12...Kg5
12...Kh7 is also possible.
13.Bb2 Kg6 14.Bf6 Kh6 15.Kf7 Kh7

Black cannot get further from the corner, but it costs White also if he strays too far from the a4 pawn. We must stop
here for a moment and imagine if the white pawn was on a2 in the initial position. In this case, White wins by playing
Bg7, stalemating the black king and forcing him to push a3, which could then be taken by the bishop.
16.Be5 Kh6 17.Bg7+ Kh7 18.Kf8 Kg6 19.Kg8
White tries to force the king to leave the upper-half of the board, but he cannot succeed...
19...Kf5 20.Kf7 Kg5 21.Bf8
21.Ke6 Kg6=; 21.Bf6+ Kh6=
21...Kf5 22.Be7
22.Bg7 Kg5=
22...Ke5
White has done his best to get the black king to the center, but now it threatens to run back to the corner through d5-c6-
b7. This has to be prevented, but then the king gets back comfortably to its rightful position in the upper half of the
board.
23.Ke8 Ke6 24.Bf8 Kf6=
White cannot make progress.
2
It is very important to note that an extra b-pawn changes the outcome, despite the wrong color of the promotion square
and the fact that the black king is already in the corner. The reason for this is a ‘stalemate’ concept, which eventually
forces Black to push b4...
1.Bd6+ Ka7
1...Kc8 2.Bc7+–
2.Kc7 Ka6 3.Bb4!
White must avoid a trick before stalemating the king...

The careless 3.Bc5? falls into the instructive trap.
3...b4! 4.axb4 (4.Bxb4 Ka7=) 4...Kb5!= and Black advances his a-pawn, forces White to stop it with the bishop and
give up his b4 pawn.
3...Ka7 4.Bc5+ Ka6 5.Kc6 Ka5 6.Bd4!
6...b4
6...Ka6 leads to the same after 7.Bb6! b4 8.axb4 a3 9.b5#
7.Bb6+! Ka6 8.axb4 a3 9.b5#
3
If we move all the pawns one rank forward, the position is drawn again because the stalemate idea does not exist
anymore, although Black must still be a bit careful.
1...Kb7!
This or ...Ka7 must be played. Black cannot allow the white king get to a6, because once again the stalemating tricks
become valid, viz: 1...Kb8?
loses to 2.Ka6! Kc7 Black must leave the corner, but he will never get back there again after (2...Ka8 3.Bg3!+– is the
problem.) 3.Ka7! Kc8 (3...Kc6 4.Bxb6+–) 4.Bxb6 Kd7 5.Kb7+–
1...Kb7! 2.Be3 Ka7

Without the king on a6, White cannot win.
3.Kc6 Ka6
3...Ka8 or Kb8 are also possible now, as White cannot play Ka6...
4.Kc7
4.Bxb6=
4...Ka7=
4
This is another very important theoretical position. Despite the fact that the a8 square matches the color of the bishop,
White cannot win. Black just plays ...Kb8-c8 and White has no chance to win the a7 pawn because attempts to squeeze
the black king out lead to stalemate.
1.Kc6 Kc8 2.Be6+ Kb8 3.Bd7 Ka8=
White cannot make progress.
5
This one is quite funny, as the pawn chain might continue as long as we want (pair of pawns on c4-c5, d3-d4) and the
position remains drawn. The only vulnerable pawn is still the one on a7, but White cannot get access to it, because of
the usual stalemate motifs.
1.Kc6 Kc8 2.Be6+ Kb8 3.Kd6 Ka8=
6
If we move all pieces one file to the right, the outcome remains the same. White should try to win the b7 pawn, but he
does not have access to it. Black just waits with Kc8-d8 or, if White allows, he can also move into the corner. White
cannot make progress either way.
1.Kd6 Kb8
1...Kd8=
2.Kd7+ Ka8=
If we move all the pieces one more square to the right in the initial position, it is already winning, as White has access to
the c7 pawn with his king via a6-b7.
7
This pawn chain might also continue as long as we want, but the outcome remains the same: White should attempt get
to the b7 pawn, but he cannot because of the stalemate.
1.Bf6 Kb8 2.Kd7 Ka8=
8
Even if White had a light-squared bishop the outcome remains the same. Black just waits with ...Kb8-a8 and White
cannot play Kc7 because of stalemate.
1.Kd7 Ka8
A nice trick is
2.Bc6
Or Ba6 at some point, but Black just ignores it and plays
2...Kb8! and after 3.Kd6
he can already capture the bishop.
3...bxc6 4.Kxc6 Kc8=
9
Surprisingly the position is still drawn if we add two a-pawns to the board.
1.Kd8 Ka8 2.Bc6
2.Bc4 Kb8 3.Kd7 Ka8 4.Bxa6 bxa6 with a theoretically-drawn pawn endgame because of the stalemate when the white
king moves to the c-file. 5.Kc6 Kb8 6.b7 Ka7 7.Kc7=
2...Kb8!=
There is no way to make progress.
10
Here is a trick which allows White to fight against the black king’s march to the b8 square. The only winning move is
1.Bg4! Ke7 2.Ke5 Kd8 3.Kd6+–
11
Here are some practical examples illustrating how we can get to that unusual theoretical draw with the pawn on b6 and
bishop on b7.
1...c6! 2.b6
2.bxc6 Kc7=
2...Kb7=
and Black sacrifices his c-pawn followed by waiting with his king on b7-a8.
In the next example we meet with the same motif, just in a slightly different form. This theoretical position has arisen
many times in practical games and the stronger side has often forgotten about the hidden trap:
12
L. Paulsen
J. Metger
Nurnberg, 1888
The corner does not match the bishop, but the black king is cut-off. All White needs to do is drive his king to b5.
However, the execution requires care!
1.Kc4?
The most direct move also fails: 1.Kc5?

1...b6+!= and the black king either enters the corner or after 2.axb6+ Kb7= we reach the theoretical draw.
The winning move was 1.Kd4! Going around with the king, sidestepping the c5 and c4 squares. 1...Kc6
(1...b5 2.a6! and the king cannot get to the corner. 2...Kc6 3.Kc3+–; 1...b6 can be answered by 2.a6! Kc6 3.Kc4+–)
2.Bb6! Precision is needed again. (2.Kc3? allows 2...b6! 3.a6 Kb5=) 2...Kd6 (2...Kb5 3.Kd5 Ka6 4.Kd6+–) 3.Kc4
Kc6 4.Kb4 Kd7 5.Kc5 Kc8 6.Ba7! Preventing ...Kb8 and the white king reaches the b6 square soon. 6...Kc7 7.Kb5
Kd7 8.Bb8! White can already extract his bishop. 8...Kc8 9.Bf4+–
1.Kc4? b5+!
Black escapes to a theoretical draw.
2.axb6+
2.Kxb5 Kb7=
2...Kb7=
13
P. Harikrishna
R. Edouard
Gibraltar, 2014
65.Kxh5
Another attempt to win was 65.Bd4 Kc7 66.Kxh5 (If White tries to cut off the path to b8-a8 with 66.Be5+ then
66...Kc6 and the bishop is forced to retreat because of the b6 threat. 67.Bd4 (67.Kxh5 b6 68.a6 b5= holds easily.)
67...Kc7=) 66...Kb8 67.Kg6 Ka8 68.Kf7 Kb8 69.Ke7 Ka8 70.Kd7 Kb8 71.Bc5
Here is another important theoretical draw. Without the b7 pawn there would be nothing left to comment on, but now
White can hope for some kind of zugzwang, one which forces the b-pawn to move thus allowing axb6, converting it
into a winning b-pawn. However Black is saved by the help of the stalemate again! 71...Ka8 72.Kc7 b6! 73.axb6=
(73.Kxb6 is the only move to avoid stalemate, but then White cannot win the a-pawn. 73...Kb8=)
65.Kxh5 b6!
Black knows the theory.
66.axb6
66.Bxb6 Kc8 67.a6 Kb8=

66.a6
66...Kc6 67.Bb8 b5=
66...Kc6! 1/2
White made a few more moves and then agreed to the draw.
14
Kiriakov
This study by Kiriakov also ends with the same motif.
1.Kc1! Ba2 2.Kd2!!

A fantastic and totally unexpected move. Black is in zugzwang, so he must retreat with his king. 2.Kb2
loses to 2...Bb3! 3.cxb3+ Kd3–+ As we know, this pawn endgame is lost. Black first takes on e3, then wins b3 by the
outflanking manouevre. His king will stay on the 3rd rank, which means he is winning regardless oif who takes the
opposition.
2...Kc5 3.c3! b3 4.Kc1=
and White can give up both of his pawns when the game is drawn.
15
Theoretical draw
This is a less-well-known but very instructive theoretical draw. It seems as though White only needs to wait with Kd3-
c2 or with bishop moves until Black runs out of all his tempi, then his king has to move, after which the c3 pawn can be
taken. Then White wins as the a8 square matches the color of the bishop. However the truth is quite different...
1...a5! 2.Kd3
2.a4
is met by 2...Ka3! and White is in zugzwang or 3.Kxc3= is stalemate.
2...a4 3.Be6
3...Ka3!
This is the point! The bishop is tied to defense of the a2 pawn and the king must stay next to the c3 pawn. Black
threatens to win with ...Kb2, but even if he just waits with ...Kb4-a3 the game is drawn as
4.Kxc3
is always stalemate!
16
Prokes
Let’s take a look at some instructive studies. In this composition of Prokes’, Black seems to be close to a draw as ...Kb3
and ...b4-a4 are coming, but White can win with
1.Kc5! b4 2.Kc4! bxa3 3.b3#
17
Bondarevsky
In this study by Bondarevksy, White has a miraculous escape with
1.Kf8!
1.Ke6? loses to 1...Bc5 2.Kf5 Bf8–+

1.f8=Q? Bc5+ 2.Kf7 Bxf8–+
1.Kf8! g5 2.Ke7! g4 3.Ke6!
Black must lose an important tempo on stopping the f-pawn, but he is still one tempo ahead...
3...Bc5 4.Kd5!=
Winning another tempo by attacking the bishop and ...Ke4 comes next move, soon winning the g4 pawn.
18
Reti
This study of Reti’s is similar to the previous one. How can White catch the b-pawn with his king?
1.Kd7!!
1.d7 Bg5–+
1.Kd7!! b5 2.Ke6! b4
Otherwise Kd5.
3.d7!
But not 3.Kf5? which loses to 3...b3 4.d7 Ba5!–+
3...Bg5
4.Kf5!
Winning the critical tempo required to catch the b-pawn
4...Be7 5.Ke4 Kg7 6.Kd4 Kf7 7.Kc4
The king arrives just in time before Black can take the d7 pawn.
7...Ke6 8.d8=Q! Bxd8 9.Kxb4=
19
I. Bukavshin
A. Moiseenko
European Championship, 2015
A very interesting theoretical draw. The color of the h1 corner is not good for Black, but it should not matter because
White cannot trade pawns (as f5 is met by... g5 and g4 by ...h4). Therefore Black should win after activating the king.
However the truth is somewhat different...
45...Kg8 46.Ke4 Kf7 47.Kf3
White intends to push g4 as it cannot be taken because after Kxg4, h4-h5 inevitably comes and trades off the last
standing pawn. Trying to reach the game’s position via a different move order by playing 47.f5 fails to do the job,
because Black can answer with 47...g5 48.h3 Ke7! 49.Kd5
(White has no time to play 49.g4 because Black reaches the d6 square with the king. 49...hxg4 50.hxg4 Kd6–+ and the
king goes to e5 next move and soon catches the g4 pawn.) 49...g4! This is the key! Black separates the f5 pawn from
the others... 50.hxg4 hxg4 51.Ke4 Bh6! prevents Kf4! The rest is just a matter of technique. 52.Ke5 Kf7! 53.f6
Otherwise Black plays ...Kf6. Now he must prevent Kf5 with 53...Kg6 54.Ke6 Bg5 55.f7 Bh6 56.Ke7 Kf5 57.f8=Q+
Bxf8+ 58.Kxf8 Ke4–+ wins.
However 47.h3 is also strong. 47...Ke7 (47...Kf6 48.g4) 48.Kd5 will transpose to the game.
47...Kf6
47...Ke6 does not work because of 48.g4 h4
(48...hxg4+ 49.Kxg4= and h4-h5 next. 48...Kd5 49.f5=) 49.f5+! leaves Black with a single h-pawn, which is not
winning with the dark-squared bishop. 49...gxf5 50.gxf5+ Kxf5 51.Kg2=
48.h3
48.g4 h4 49.h3 is equally good as it transposes to the game.
48...Bf8 49.g4 h4
49...hxg4+ 50.Kxg4! is the only move to hold and h4-h5 follows. (50.hxg4?
also looks good at first sight, but Black wins after some subtle maneuvering: 50...Ke7! Black must go around with his
king and he must sidestep the f5 check to save his final pawn... 51.Ke4 Kd6 Compared to the game, Black has reached
the 6th rank with his king and from now on the squeezing goes more-or-less automatically... 52.Kd4 (52.g5 Ke6–+;
52.f5 g5–+) 52...Bg7+ 53.Ke4 Bb2–+ White finds himself in zugzwangs: ...Kd5 is coming next.)
50.Ke4
50.f5 g5 51.Ke4 is again a transposition to the game.
50...Bb4 51.f5 g5
White has done a great job from the initial position in our game as he has set all his pawns on light squares where the
bishop cannot attack them. Black has managed to save the g-pawn, but surprisingly it is not enough to win. Let’s see
the reasons why not...
52.Kd5
White keeps the king in the cage and does not open a path towards the h3 pawn.
52...Ke7 53.Kc6!
It is very important that the king isn’t allowed to d6 or e5! White must always control these two squares and he will hold
the draw...
53...Ba3 54.Kd5 Kd7 55.Ke5
Black would like to go around with his king, but suddenly White finds his counterplay in Kf6! Let’s just demonstrate
the win if Black reaches the d6 square with the king: 55.Ke4?? Kd6 56.Kd4 Bb2+ 57.Ke4 Bf6–+ The king is forced to
retreat and Black gets to e5. Later he uses the same technique and soon he gets access to the h3 pawn.
55...Bb2+
The king cannot be allowed to get to f6. 55...Kc6 also leads to a draw after 56.Kf6 Bc1 57.Kg6 Kd6 58.f6 Ke6 59.f7
Ba3 60.Kxg5=
56.Kd5 Bg7 57.Kc5
White has a very easy task: he simply needs to control the d6 and e5 squares...
57...Be5 58.Kd5 Bb8 59.Kc5 Bc7 60.Kd5 Bd6
Black has finally managed to place his opponent in zugzwang, but it is still not enough because suddenly the bishop
finds itself misplaced on d6, occupying the king’s ideal spot...
61.Ke4 Bf4
61...Kc6 would be the thematic ‘squeezing’ technique, but it allows quick counterplay again: 62.f6! The black king has
strayed too far away from the kingside... 62...Kd7 63.Kf5 Bf4 64.Kg6 Ke8 65.Kg7 Be5 66.Kg6= forces the draw.
62.Kd5
White occupies the correct square again and keeps the black king in his cage, far from the d6 square.
62...Ke7 63.Kc6 Kf7 64.Kd5 1/2
Black tried for some time, but White just continued defending with the known technique and held the draw.
1.3. BISHOP VS MORE PAWNS
In this chapter we examine how the bishop fights against two or three pawns. We will learn the most important ideas for
the defensive and attacking sides, as well as some theoretical positions.
1
Practical position
When the bishop is fighting against two separated passed pawns, the ideal for the defensive side is if he can stop the
pawns from one diagonal.
1...Bb3!
and Black holds the draw without any difficulties. 1...Bg6? 2.c4! Black has no time to put his bishop on the a2-g8
diagonal because the c-pawn has already crossed the 4th rank. The bishop cannot fight against the two pawns any
longer and the king is too remote to be able to help. 2...Kf2 3.c5 Ke3 4.c6 Kd4 5.c7 Bf5 6.f7+–
2
Practical position
The pawns are separated and the bishop has no chance to hold them from one diagonal. They are not far advanced yet,
though, and the question is whether the black king can come back in time to catch one of them. White should push the
more advanced passer to tie down the bishop.
1.a5!
1.h4? spoils the win because after 1...Bb4! 2.h5 Bd2! the bishop successfully stops both pawns and they are not yet
advanced enough to sacrifice one of them and promote the other.
1.a5! Ke2 2.a6 Bc5 3.h4! Kd3 4.h5 Kc4
4...Be3 no longer helps as the a-pawn is far-enough advanced. White wins after 5.h6!+–
5.h6 Kb5 6.h7
Just in time before Black is able to eliminate the a6 pawn while stopping the other one with ...Bd4.
6...Bd4 7.a7+–
3
Weenink
In this beautiful study by Weenink, White creates two passed pawns which cannot be stopped by the bishop. The direct
f4 is obviously met by gxf3, but...
1.Bg2!! Bxg2 2.f4!
The black king is too far removed. One pawn has already reached the 6th rank, so ...Be4 does not hold the f-pawn.
2...h5
2...gxf3 3.Kf2!+– and the pawn is unstoppable.
3.f5 h4 4.f6 h3 5.Kf2! Bd5 6.Kg3+–
and White promotes one of his pawns soon.
4
Practical position
The connected passed pawns are supported by the king. In this case the defensive side can only hold the pawns with the
help of the king. Naturally, the ideal defensive setup is if the king is in front of the pawns. In this case the draw is
inevitable. However sometimes it is not possible, and in this case the defensive side should always aim for getting
behind the passed pawns. It is very important to learn the following method.
1...Kc2! 2.b5 Kb3 3.a5
3.b6 Ba6!= and Black wins the a-pawn. (3...Bg2 loses to 4.a5 Bb7 5.Kb5+– and a6 next wins.)
3...Ka4!
The king could only join the fight from the a-file, otherwise the c5 king blocks its way.
4.a6 Ka5 5.a7 Bg2 6.b6 Ka6=
5
Practical position
The route is blocked to get the king in front of the pawns, therefore the only chance to hold is to get behind the pawns.
1...Kd6! 2.g5
2.h5 Ke5 3.h6 Kf4=
2...Ke5 3.Kg6
3.h5 Kf5 4.g6 Kg5=

3.g6 Kf5 4.g7 Bxg7 5.Kxg7 Kg4= A long route from d7, but the king arrives just in time.
3...Kf4
3...Ke6 also holds, but Black must find an only move... 4.h5
White is actually threatening Kh7 after which g6-h6-g7 is unstoppable. The only move to prevent this plan is 4...Bc1!
(4...Ke7 5.Kh7+– Black cannot hold the pawns. The funny thing is even after 5...Bf6 White plays 6.g6! and h6-g7
appear next. (6.gxf6+ Kxf6=) 6...Kf8 7.h6+–) 5.h6 Now the simplest is 5...Bxg5 (5...Be3 Keeping the g5 pawn (to
avoid Kh7) is also good enough 6.h7 Bd4=) 6.Kxg5 Kf7=
4.h5 Kg4 5.h6 Bc3 6.h7
We have reached a very important theoretical position. The threat is Kh6 followed by g6-g7. Black has only one way to
save the game:
6...Bh8!
and the point is after

7.Kh6 Kf5! 8.g6 Kf6!=
The only constellation of the black pieces to avoid the promotion of the connected passed pawns.
6
Practical position
Compared to the previous position we have moved the bishop from b2 to a3. White is winning now after
1.Kf7!
Preventing the black king from going in front of the pawns.

1...Be7
Which pawn to advance now? 1...Kd6 is too slow here because after 2.g5 Bb2 3.g6+– Black should already play ...Kf5
to stop the pawns.
2.g5!
Using the tactical idea that White is threatening to push g6 since the h4 pawn cannot be taken. 2.h5 leads to draw after
2...Bg5 3.Kg6 Be3 4.h6 Ke7=
2...Kd6 3.g6+–
7
V. Gavrikov
Y. Chikhovani
USSR, 1979
The following instructive practical game summarizes the ideas that we encountered and learned throughout the previous
examples.
1.Ka5
White decides to stay close to the pawns to support them. 1.Kc5 Kf6 2.Kd6
The other attempt was to keep the king away from the pawns, but in this case Black can fix the pawns with his bishop
2...Bd1! 3.a5 Be2! This technique is very important and frequently used in bishop endgames. The pawns can no longer
support each other so White must go there with his king — but this allows the black king to get in front of the pawns.
4.b4 Bf1 5.Kc6 Ke7 6.b5 Kd8= (or 6...Bxb5+ 7.Kxb5 Kd7 8.Kb6 Kc8=)
1.Ka5 Kf6 2.b4 Ke5!
The black king goes behind the pawns. To get the king in front of the pawns no longer works, e.g. 2...Ke7 3.b5 Kd7?
(It is not too late to change direction with 3...Kd6! 4.Kb6

(4.Ka6 Kc5 5.b6 Bf3 6.b7 Bxb7+ 7.Kxb7 Kb4=) 4...Bd1! Forcing a5 before going to e2. (4...Be2? loses to 5.Ka7!+–
and b6-a5-a6-b7 cannot be stopped.) 5.a5 Be2! White cannot now play Ka7. This is the key! 6.a6 Bxb5 7.Kxb5 Kc7=)
4.Ka6!
White is winning now, because his king gets to a7 after which the pawns promote immediately. The black king could
not get in front of the pawns and it is not in time to get behind them. (4.Kb6 allows 4...Bd1! 5.a5 Be2=) 4...Kc8
(4...Bd1 5.b6! Bxa4 6.b7 Kc7 7.Ka7+–) 5.Ka7!+– and b6 comes next followed by a5-a6-b7.
3.b5 Kd4 4.Kb6
White fails by one tempo after 4.b6 Bf3 5.Ka6 (5.Kb5 Be2+ 6.Kc6 Bf3+ 7.Kc7 Kc5=) 5...Kc5 6.a5 (6.b7 Bxb7+
7.Kxb7 Kb4=) 6...Kb4!=
4...Bf3
4...Kc4 will transpose to the game.
5.a5 Kc4 6.a6 Kb4 7.a7
As we know, the only move to stop Ka6 and b6-b7 is
7...Ba8! 1/2
Draw agreed in view of 7...Ba8 8.Ka6 Kc5 9.b6 Kc6=
8
R. Molina
Y. Marrero Lopez
Santos ARG, 2012
69.f6?
The most natural move spoils the win. White should have kept the king away from the pawns by using the method of
shouldering. 69.Ke5! Ke3 70.f6 Kf3 71.f7 Be7
72.Kf5! Another shouldering to avoid the black king getting to g5. The rest is automatic. (White had to avoid the trap of
72.g5? Kg4 73.g6 Kg5! 74.g7 Bf6+!=) 72...Kg3 73.g5 Kh4 74.g6 Bf8 75.Kf6 Kh5 76.g7+–
69.f6? Ke4! 70.f7 Bh6 71.Kf6
The last trap could have been set by playing

71.g5 and now the only move is 71...Bg7! (71...Bf8? loses to 72.Kf6! with g6-g7 is coming next. (72.g6 is the wrong
start as it allows 72...Bg7! 73.Ke7 Kf5=) 72...Ba3 73.g6 Bb2+ 74.Ke7+– If Black could play ...Kg5 now, he could
save the game as f8=Q is met by ...Ba3 and g6 falls at the end, while after Kg5-Ke8 Bg7 blocks the pawns. The
problem is that after ...Kf5, the f-pawn promotes with check.) 72.g6 Kf4 73.Ke7 Kf5=
71...Kf4 72.Kg6 Bf8 73.g5
All moves are good now, one of them is
73...Be7 74.Kh5 Kf5 75.g6 Bf8= 1/2
9
Minev
Dukanovic
Belgrade, 1977
In closing this chapter we will examine two practical games, both of which are theoretical positions. In this first one the
black king is ideally placed in front of the pawns, but three pawns are advancing and it is not so easy to hold them.
Black failed to find the only move that saves the game.
1...Bc3?
It is actually quite natural to wait on the long diagonal and see how White plans to make progress. However, it was
necessary to provoke the g6 move with 1...Bc1! 2.h7 (2.g6+ Black must be careful. ...Ke7 and ...Kg8 hold, but the
natural ...Kf6 loses the game. Let’s see the reasons why: 2...Ke7= is the easiest. Black provokes h7 and he occupies the
long diagonal with the bishop. This is the ideal defense, when the bishop can hold all the pawns on one diagonal.
a) 2...Kg8 3.h7+ Kh8 4.f6 Bb2! will be the same as our main line with 2.h7.
b) 2...Kf6? loses because everything now comes with tempo
3.h7! Kg7 4.f6+! Kh8 5.Ke6 Bg5 (5...Bh6 6.Kf7+–) 6.g7+! Kxh7 7.Kf7+–);
2...Kg7 3.g6 Bb2 (3...Kh8 is also possible 4.f6 Bb2 5.f7
5...Bg7= and Black just moves with his bishop on the f8-g7-h6 squares, using the fact that Ke8 and f8=Q lead to
stalemate.) 4.Ke6
4...Kh8! The only move! Black sets up the stalemate trick. White cannot make progress without f6, but whenever he
goes there Bxf6 Kxf6 leads to stalemate. (All other moves are losing. For instance if Black waits with 4...Bc3? 5.f6+!
Bxf6 6.h8=Q+! Kxh8 7.Kxf6 Kg8 8.g7+–) 5.Kf7 Bc3 6.f6 Bxf6 7.Kxf6=
1...Bc3? 2.h7! Kg7
2...Bb2 3.f6+– closes the diagonal.
3.Ke6! Kxh7
3...Kh8 would be more tenacious, although it also loses after 4.f6 Bb2 5.Kf7 Bc3
The winning plan is really pleasant and instructive. White must actually force Black to capture the h7 pawn to avoid the
stalemate tricks. It can be done by 6.Ke8! (6.g6? Bxf6 7.Kxf6=) 6...Kxh7 (6...Bb2 leads to a winning pawn endgame
after 7.f7 Ba3 8.f8=Q+ Bxf8 9.Kxf8 Kxh7 10.Kf7 Kh8 11.Kg6! Kg8 12.Kh6 Kh8 13.g6 Kg8 14.g7+–) 7.Kf7! This
is the great idea! The king has just gone from f7 to e8 and now when the pawn is taken on h7, he returns and g6-g7
cannot be prevented. 7...Kh8 8.g6 Bxf6 9.Kxf6 Kg8 10.g7+–
4.Kf7!
The pawns cannot be stopped.
4...Kh8 5.g6 Bb2 6.f6+– 1–0
10
P. Eljanov
P. Cramling
Estonia, 2016
It is very useful to be familiar with theoretical endgames like the following one. It is impossible to calculate it until the
end, but if we know the correct evaluation we can save a lot of time and we will have no doubts about entering into it or
not.
60...Kd7
It is clear that Black must try to go towards c8, otherwise the white king shoulders it with Kb6-b7 and promotes his a-
or b-pawn automatically.
61.Kb6 Kc8
We have reached the critical position. The question is whether advancing the pawns or preventing Black to get the king
to b8 is the more important.
62.a5?
This is a rapid game and most probably both players were low on time, therefore we should not blame either of them for
a mistake. However if we want to draw an objective conclusion, then we must realize that this move spoils the win.
After 62.Ka7! Black cannot stop the promotion of the b-pawn. 62...Be2 The best chance. 63.b5! The only winning
move! As we already know from the previous examples the connected pawns promote with the king on a7. (The most
natural 63.c5 fails again because Black is just in time to make holes between the pawns with 63...Bd1! 64.a5 (64.b5
Bxa4 65.b6 Bc6=) 64...Be2=) 63...Bxc4 64.b6 Bd5 65.a5+– followed by a6 and b7.
62...Kb8!
Black shows great understanding by preventing Ka7!
63.c5 Bf3
64.c6
Black has to decide on which diagonal he wants to keep his bishop. Objectively everything leads to draw, but as we will
see, White can create far fewer problems if he keeps the bishop on the long h1–a8 diagonal.
64...Bg4
64...Be4 is better and now, in comparison to the game, on c7 check Black wants to play ...Kc8 and keep the diagonal
controlled by the bishop. 65.c7+ (65.a6 Bf3 66.a7+ Ka8 67.c7 Bb7 68.b5 Bc8=) 65...Kc8 66.b5
(66.Ka7 Bd3=) 66...Bd3! Not allowing the king to a7! 67.a6 Bxb5 Staying on the f1–a6 diagonal also holds (to avoid
Ka7), but this is prettier. 68.a7 Bc6!=
65.b5 Bh3 66.Kc5
A much more poisonous attempt would have been 66.a6 when Black needs to find an only move! 66...Bf1! Black holds
in any case. (66...Bg4? has the brilliant refutation that we have already seen in the previous game 67.a7+ Ka8 68.Kc7!
Bf3 (68...Kxa7 69.b6++–)
69.Kd8! (As we know, Black’s defensive idea was to meet 69.b6 by 69...Bxc6! 70.Kxc6 and it is stalemate!) 69...Kxa7
70.Kc7!!+–) 67.a7+ (67.c7+ Kc8 68.a7 Bg2=) 67...Ka8 68.c7 Bh3=
66...Bf1 67.b6 Ba6 68.Kd6 Kc8

White cannot make progress. After some final futile attempts, he agrees to a draw.
69.Ke6
69.b7+ Bxb7=
69.c7 Bf1 70.Kc6 Bg2+ and Black just keeps the pawns blockaded with ...Bg2-f1 moves.
69...Bc4+ 70.Ke7 Bb5 71.Kd6 Ba6 72.Kd5 Bf1 73.Kc5 Be2 1/2
Black’s stubborn defense paid off.
11
N. Short
U. Adianto
Tallinn, 1998
It is difficult to assess the following endgame at first sight. White has three connected passers supported by the king,
however they are not yet far advanced. If White could get all his pawns to the 5th rank the position is already winning,
but only one precise way leads to the victory...
54.Kg3
Threatening g5 followed by Kg4 when the pawns inevitably cross the middle of the board. Black must try to get
between the pawns with his king.
54...Kg6
54...Kf6 also loses after 55.h5! Be3

In general the bishop should keep the pawns under attack to limit the movement of the king and to try to provoke a hole
between them to occupy it with his own king. Here, however, it does not help 56.Kf3! The king is heading to e4 in
order to push g5 without allowing the king to f5. 56...Bd2 57.Ke4 Bc1 58.g5+ Ke6 Otherwise Kf5-g4 and White
reaches the 5th rank with the pawns. 59.h6 Kf7 60.Kf5+– followed by Kg4 and f5.
55.Kf3?
This natural move — transferring the king to e4 — spoils the win. White should have played 55.f5+! Kh6 (If 55...Kf6
56.Kf4! Using the unfortunate position of the bishop on d4. As we will see in the future course of the game, if it was on
c3 then Black could hold because of the d2 check followed by attacking the h4 pawn with ...Be1. White wants to play
g5-h5 and the only attempt to prevent it also fails 56...Be5+ 57.Ke4 Bg3 58.g5++– and h5 next.)
56.g5+!
Another only move! It is very concrete, every tempo counts. (56.Kf4 spoils the win again after 56...Bf2 57.g5+ Kh5 and
the problem is that after 58.f6 Bxh4! it can be taken because of ...Bxg5 check and then ...Be7 stops the pawn.) 56...Kh5
57.f6 Black has no defence. 57...Be5+ 58.Kf3! White must focus on his most advanced pawns and go with the king to
support them. 58...Kxh4 59.Ke4 Bc3 Otherwise if Black leaves the attack of the f6 pawn, g6 promotes the g-pawn
immediately. 60.Kf5 Kh5 61.g6 Kh6
White only wins because the c-pawns are on the board. Especially the one on c5 which prevents Black from getting the
bishop to the a3-f8 diagonal in the following critical line: 62.g7 Kh7 63.Ke6! Kg8 (63...Bxf6 64.Kxf6 Kg8 loses also
because of the c-pawns... 65.Ke6+–) 64.f7+! Kxg7 65.Ke7+– and Black cannot play ...Bb4.
55...Bc3!
The game is already drawn. Let’s try to understand the difference.

56.Ke4
If White plays now 56.f5+ Kf6 57.Kf4
With the threat of g5-h5. Black can create a hole in the pawn chain by attacking them with the bishop: 57...Bd2+!
58.Ke4 Be1! 59.g5+ Kf7 60.h5 Bd2! White should play Kg4 followed by advancing his h- or f-pawn, but now he is
forced to push g6 after which Black achieves what he needs by entering his king between the pawns on the dark
squares. Note, also if the black king was on g7, White would win by giving f6 check followed by Kf5! avoiding a
blockade on the dark squares. 61.g6+ Kf6 62.Kd5 Be3 63.Kd6
Placing Black in zugzwang. If the bishop moves then either c5 falls, or the h-pawn can be pushed. However he has
63...Kg7! 64.Ke7 Bd4 and Black can already switch diagonals as h6 is not a threat either the c5 pawn is hanging.
65.Ke6 Bc3=
56...Be1!
Black follows the correct defensive strategy.
57.h5+
White had two other winning attempts, but neither of them leads to success: 57.Kd5
A difficult decision whether Black should take on h4 or protect c5. Actually, only ...Bf2 saves the game 57...Bf2!= and
both h5 or f5 will lead to positions that we discuss throughout the game. (57...Bxh4? loses to 58.Kxc5 Bg3 59.f5+ Kg5
60.Kd5!
White just wants to promote his c-pawn with the help of the king, using the fact that the black king must stay with the
connected passers. 60...Kxg4 loses by one tempo 61.f6 Bf4 62.f7 Bh6 63.c5 Kf5 64.c6+– and Black should already
take on f7 to be able to play ...Bf4.)
57.f5+ Kf6 58.g5+ Kf7 59.h5 Bd2! transposes to the 56.f5 line.
57...Kh6 58.Kd5 Bf2!
58...Bb4? looks very illogical, excluding the bishop from the game — and it also loses after 59.Kd6! Ba3 60.f5 Kg5
61.h6! Kxh6 62.f6+–
59.Ke6 Bd4
The black pieces co-operate perfectly to stop the passers. The only way to attempt to make progress is by f5, but this
simply allows ...Kg5 getting between the pawns.
60.Ke7
60.f5 Kg5=
60...Bg7 61.Ke6 Bd4 62.Ke7 Bg7
62...Bc3 was also good enough, Black just needs to be careful after 63.f5 Kg5 64.h6
And now Black should not get greedy by grabbing the pawn as this allows the run of the f-pawn. He should keep on
waiting on the long diagonal 64...Bd4 (64...Kxh6? 65.f6 Kg5 66.f7 Bg7 67.f8=Q Bxf8+ 68.Kxf8 Kxg4 69.Ke7+–)
65.h7 Bc3= White cannot make progress because if he moves with his king to g8, Black can already take on g4 as after
the promotion Black takes on f5 and his king will stay closer to the c-pawns.
63.Kd6 Bd4 64.Ke6 Bc3
Draw agreed.
1/2
12
S. Movsesian
D. Sadvakasov
Calvia, 2004
A similar endgame to the previous one. As we saw there, Black had problems with the c-pawns because the bishop
could not stop the f-pawn from the a3-f8 diagonal — as well as c5 hanging in some lines. Black does not have such
problems now and he holds with precise defense. For the moment White has 4 pawns, but a4 is going to fall soon.
41.g4 Bb3 42.h4 Bxa4 43.f4
Obviously White must advance his pawns.
43...Bd1 44.Kg3 a4 45.f5

45...Ke5?
Black was afraid of Kf4 followed by h5-h6 and g5. However he should have left his king on f6 to be able to stay
between the pawns in case of h5. Black should have followed the principled defense by keeping the pawns under attack
45...Be2! 46.Kf4 Bd1 47.h5 (If 47.g5+ Kf7 48.Ke5
As we already know, it is very important to avoid the pawns getting to the 5th rank. Black must keep control over the h5
square with 48...Be2! (But not 48...Bf3? which allows 49.g6+! Kg7 50.Kf4!+– with tempo and Kg5 is coming next..)
49.g6+ (49.f6 does not help 49...Bd1 50.Kf5 Bc2+= followed by going back to d1. White cannot make progress.)
49...Kg7 50.Ke6 Bg4!= Saying stop to the pawns.) 47...Kg7! 48.Kg5 Bb3 is the easiest, with the idea of having ...Bf7
check after h6-Kh7-Kh5. (Continuing the waiting policy with 48...Be2 also works, Black just needs to be careful...
49.f6+ Kf7 50.Kf5 Bd1 51.h6 Bc2+ 52.Ke5 Bb1 53.g5 Bc2 54.Kd4 Bb1 55.Kc5
White wants to play Kb4 and after Bc2–h7, trading the h-pawn for a4 when the resulting passed b-pawn decides the
outcome. Black must play 55...Bc2 (55...Bd3 56.Kb4 Bc2 57.h7 Bxh7 58.Kxa4+– White promotes the b-pawn with the
help of the king, and the black king cannot take part in the action.) 56.Kb4 Kg6!= Replacing the bishop in covering the
h7 square.) 49.f6+ (49.h6+ Kh7 50.Kh5 Bf7+=) 49...Kf7=
46.h5!
White is winning now. Black should play ...Kg5, but he cannot. h6 is coming next move, even after ...Kf6!
46...Bb3
46...Kf6 47.h6+– followed by Kf4 and g5: White has crossed the middle of the board with all his pawns.
47.h6 Bg8
48.Kh3!!
Precise calculations help us to find such moves. Black is in zugzwang. The point is that after 48.Kh4 Kf6 Kh5 is met by
Bf7. However if it was Black’s move, all options would just create problems for himself...
48...Bh7
48...Kf6 49.Kh4 Ke5 (49...Bh7 transposes to the game. 49...Bb3 50.g5++– as the pawn cannot be taken.) 50.Kh5!
Black must fight against Kg6! 50...Kf6 (50...Bf7+ 51.Kg5 Bg8 52.Kg6+–; 50...Bh7 51.Kg5+– is another zugzwang.
Either Kf6 or Kg6 next move wins.) 51.g5+ Kxf5 52.g6 Kf6 53.h7 Bxh7 54.gxh7 Kg7 55.Kg5 transposes to the game.
49.Kh4 Kf6 50.Kh5 Bg8
On 50...Kf7 White slowly coordinates his forces with 51.Kg5 Ke7 52.Kf4+– and pushes g5 next move.
51.g5+! Kxf5 52.g6 Kf6 53.h7 Bxh7 54.gxh7 Kg7 55.Kg5 Kxh7
This endgame arises more-or-less by force after 45...Ke5? White is closer to the pawns, but he must be careful about
sacrificing a3, creating an a-pawn followed by getting the king to the corner.
56.Kf6!
The only move! White must keep the king away by ‘shouldering’. 56.Kf5? leads to a draw after 56...Kg7 57.Ke6
57...Kf8 58.Kd7 Kf7 59.Kc6 Ke8 60.Kb5 a3! 61.bxa3 Kd7 62.Kb6 Kc8=
56...Kg8 57.Ke7!
Blocking the king’s route towards the corner.

57...Kg7 58.Kd6 Kf6
59.Kc6?
A terrible blunder finishes this instructive endgame. The obvious 59.Kc5 was winning easily, the point being that after
59...Ke7 (59...a3 60.bxa3 Ke7 61.Kc6 Kd8 62.Kb7+– successfully preventing Black’s idea.) 60.Kb4 and Black cannot
create an a-pawn as it will be taken by the king. 60...a3 61.Kxa3+–
59...Ke6 60.Kb5 a3! 61.bxa3 Kd7
and Black gets into the corner.
62.Kb6 Kc8 1/2
13
Z. Ribli
V. Smyslov
Las Palmas, 1982
Just like in the previous two endgames, White has three pawns for the piece. But this time they are not all connected, but
rather two on the kingside and one on the queenside. The black king ideally blocks the b-pawn (if it had to stay with the
kingside pawns White could simply promote his b-pawn with the help of his own king) and the bishop should try to
hold the kingside pawns. We are in a very difficult and critical position, one where even the great Smyslov fails to find
the way to hold. White’s plan is to sacrifice his b-pawn to deflect the king, and meanwhile invade with his own king
and promote the kingside pawns.
62...Bh2?
Black tries to cut the king off along the h2-b8 diagonal. However he should have tried to control the movement of the
kingside pawns. The correct defense was 62...Be5! 63.b6 White must again try the strategy of deflecting the king.
(63.h4 is harmless because of 63...Bf6! and the pawns cannot be advanced.) 63...Kc6 64.Ke4 Bc3 White has two ways
to proceed. 65.h4! This is more testing.
(65.b7 Kxb7 66.Kd5 Kc7 67.Ke6 Kd8 68.Kf7 Kd7 69.f6
White is simply threatening to promote the pawns with h4-g5 and Black must try to catch them with his king. The right
defensive plan is to get behind the pawns with 69...Kd6! 70.h4 (70.Kg6 Ke6 71.f7 Ke7=) 70...Ke5 71.g5 (71.Kg7
makes no difference 71...Ke6 72.g5 hxg5 73.hxg5 Kf5=) 71...hxg5 72.hxg5 Kf5! just in time to meet 73.g6 by
73...Bxf6=) 65...Bf6! Black must create a hole between the pawns to make them less flexible. (65...Kxb6? White is a
tempo ahead compared to the previous 65.b7 line, which is already enough to win the game after 66.Kd5 Kc7 (66...Bf6
does not help either 67.h5 Kc7 68.Ke6 Bc3 69.f6 Kd8
70.g5! and the h-pawn promotes.) 67.Ke6 Kd8 68.Kf7 Kd7 69.g5 hxg5 70.hxg5 Black should already play ...Ke5 to
hold, so he fails by one tempo to get behind the pawns. 70...Kd6 71.g6+–) 66.h5 Bh8! Not the only move, but it is
going to be the key as we will see. (66...Bb2 67.b7 Kxb7 68.Kd5 Kc7 69.Ke6 Kd8 70.Kf7 Bh8! has to be played now
and it transposes to the main line, where we also understand the reasons.) 67.b7 Kxb7 68.Kd5 Kc7 69.Ke6 Kd8
70.Kf7
The point of having the bishop on h8 is to avoid the break-through idea of f6, excluding the bishop from the a1–h8
diagonal, followed by g5. 70...Kd7! (70...Bc3? falls into the trap after 71.g5! hxg5 72.f6+– and the h-pawn promotes
with check.) 71.Kg6 (White cannot make progress after 71.f6 Kd8) 71...Ke7 72.Kxh6
72...Bc3! (It is not too late to go wrong with 72...Kf7? 73.g5 Kg8 (73...Bc3 74.Kh7+–) 74.f6+–) 73.g5 (73.Kg6 Kf8=
is a theoretical draw as we already know from the Eljanov-Cramling game.) 73...Bd2! This is the only way to stop Kh7
after which the g-pawn would promote automatically. 74.Kg6 Kf8 75.h6 Kg8= again with the draw that we learned
from the Eljanov-Cramling game.
Trying to control the f6 square with 62...Bh4? also loses after 63.b6! Kc6 64.Ke4 Kxb6 65.Ke5 Kc7 66.Ke6 Kd8
67.Kf7! Necessary prophylaxis against the black king going in front of the pawns. 67...Kd7 68.f6 Kd6 69.Kg7 Ke5
70.f7 Be7
White needs to solve a calculation problem now. The winning move is 71.h4! (but not 71.f8=Q? which allows
71...Bxf8+ 72.Kxf8 Kf4 73.Kg7 Kg5!= and h5 is coming next with a draw.) 71...Kf4 72.Kxh6! Kxg4 73.h5 Black
cannot avoid the advance of the h-pawn. He should squeeze the king to the h-file, but he fails by one tempo. 73...Kf5
(73...Kh4 74.Kg6+–) 74.Kg7+–
62...Bh2? 63.b6
63...Kd5
This was Black’s strategy. He wanted to hold the b-pawn with the bishop and keep his king in an active position.
63...Kc6 does not help 64.Ke4 Kxb6 65.f6 Kc6 66.f7 Bd6 67.Kf5 Kd7 (67...Kd5 Trying to get behind the pawns loses
as well 68.h4 Bf8 69.Kf6 Kd6 (69...Ke4 makes no sense now 70.g5 hxg5 71.hxg5 Kf4 72.g6+–) 70.g5 hxg5 71.hxg5
Be7+ 72.Kg7 Ke6 73.g6 Kf5 74.Kh7+– and g7 next.) 68.Kf6 Be7+ (68...Bf8 69.h4+–) 69.Kg7 Ke6 70.f8=Q Bxf8+
71.Kxf8 We have already discovered that if the black king was on e5 he could make a draw with ...Kf4, Kg7-Kg5 and
...h5 next. The difference is 71...Kf6 72.h4!+–
64.b7 Bb8 65.h4 Ke5
66.h5!
Preparing for the g5 breakthrough. Black resigned in view of 66.h5 Kf6 (After 66...Kd5 it already works: 67.g5! hxg5
68.h6+–) 67.Ke4 Ke7 (The g4 pawn cannot be taken anyway as the king must stay with the f-pawn 67...Kg5
68.Kd5+–) 68.Kd5 Kf6 69.Kc6 Ke7
Otherwise Kd7 and now: 70.g5! hxg5 71.h6 Kf6 72.Kd7 g4 73.h7 Kg7 74.f6+ Kxh7 75.f7 Kg7 76.Ke8+–
1–0
14
L. Aronian
V. Kramnik
London, 2013
It is clear that White should be close to a draw here: his king is in a great position, he has a free pawn on the kingside,
and a1 is the “wrong-colored corner”. This gives White realistic chances to make a draw. The rest is only about
calculations.
46.Kd6
46.Kf5 was actually also possible. Black should parry the threat of Kg6. 46...Bf7 (46...Bh7+ 47.Ke6 does not change
too much, Kf7 is coming now.) 47.h6 gxh6 48.gxh6 Bg8 49.Kg6 Bb3
The bishop had to switch diagonal, otherwise Kg7 sends away the bishop and promotes the pawn.
Calculation helps to take the right decision. If we try to promote the h-pawn, the pawn endgame is lost, but White can
switch direction and exchange the c3 pawn for that on b5. 50.Kf6 (50.h7? fails by one tempo at the very end...
50...Bc2+ 51.Kg7 Bxh7 52.Kxh7 Kd7 53.Kg7 Ke6 54.Kf8 Kd5 55.Ke7 Kc4 56.Kd6 Kxc3 57.Kc5 Kb3 58.Kxb5
Kxa3= White should play Kc3 to hold.) 50...Bc2 51.Ke6 Kc7 52.Kd5 Kb6 53.Kd4! The final preparation. (53.c4 is
premature in view of 53...b4!) 53...Kc6 54.c4= the king is within the square of the a4 pawn, therefore the breakthrough
with b4 does not work anymore. White trades the b-pawn and gets his king to the corner.
46.Kd6 Kd8!
Black’s only hope is to reach his opponent’s g5 pawn as quickly as possible
47.Kc6
and White is going for the b5 pawn.
47...Ke7 48.Kxb5 Ke6 49.Kxa4 Kf5

We are at the critical position. White has three options to continue with: 50.h6, 50.g6 and 50.Kb5. Only one of them
holds. We must rely on our calculations to choose the right decision. Surprisingly White failed in this game.
50.g6?
Clearly miscalculating the critical lines. Another way to lose was 50.Kb5? Kxg5 51.c4 and now Black needs to find the
strong
51...Kf5! The king is coming back in order to help the Black bishop to stop the pawns. 52.c5 Ke6 53.c6 Kd6 54.Kb6
Bd5 55.c7 Kd7–+ Black stops the pawns with ...Kc8, followed by ...Bf3 winning the h5 pawn. One important detail: if
White sacrifices his pawn with h6 to create an h-pawn, it does not save him as the h1 square matches the color of the
bishop.
50.h6! This move would have saved the game. 50...g6 51.Kb5 Kxg5 52.c4 and now White is in time! Black cannot turn
back to stop the c-pawn, but he must waste some important time to eliminate the h-pawn. 52...Kxh6 53.a4 g5 54.a5 g4
55.a6 g3 56.a7 g2 57.a8=Q= with a draw.
50...Kg5 51.Kb5 Kxh5
Black has enough time to get rid of all the pawns and get back to the queenside.
52.a4 Kxg6 53.a5 Kf6 54.a6
54.c4 also loses after 54...Ke5! 55.a6
55...Kd4! Perhaps this was what White has miscalculated at the critical 50th move? 56.c5 and now Black has only one
way to go. 56...Bc4+! 57.Kb6 Bxa6! capturing both White pawns. 58.Kxa6 Kxc5–+
54...Bd5 55.c4 Ba8
Black easily stops the pawns now.
56.Kb6
56.c5 Ke5 57.c6 Kd6–+
56...Ke5 57.Kc7 g5 58.Kb8 Be4 59.Kc7
59.a7 Kd4–+
59...g4 60.a7 g3 61.c5 Ba8 62.Kb8 Bc6
White resigned as ...Kd5 is coming next, when the white pawns are stopped and the g-pawn promotes.
0–1
CHAPTER 2
SAME-COLORED BISHOP ENDGAMES
2.1. BISHOP AND PAWN VS BISHOP
This will be a very complex chapter, but one which is highly important from a practical point of view. In the final stage
of the game it very useful to know which simplifications lead to theoretically winning positions and which ones to
drawn...and of course, it is good to know the plans for both the defensive and the attacking side as well.
We will start to examine the endings from the a-pawn and proceed with the b-, c-, and finally with the central pawns.
Two general ideas for the defensive side: If the pawn is not advanced too far, the main priority should be to hold it with
the bishop as long as possible and only when it does not work anymore, approach with the king towards the pawn. The
second general rule is the placement of the king. Of course, it is best to have it in front of the pawn, in this case there is
nothing to speak about, but we focus on the examples when it is not possible; in this case the defensive side should try
to hold the opposition to the other king. For example with a d6 pawn and King on e7, Black should have his king on e5.
1
We start with the a-pawn. This is the worst for the defensive side, because the bishop can hold the pawn from only one
diagonal. Usually it is not a problem to send it away by interfering with the help of the king. However, this position is
an exception, because the only square where the bishop could interfere is on b7, but it is controlled by the black pieces.
1.Be6 Be4=
2
If we move all the pieces one rank backward, White is already winning. The reason is simple: White can not only
interfere from b6 (which is again well-controlled) but he has an extra square on a7.
1.Bb8! Be3 2.Ba7
Black is sent away from the diagonal.
2...Bf4 3.Bf2
3...Bb8
The last trick, but a7-b8 is not really a diagonal. Black gets into zugzwang
4.Bb6!+–
To prevent ...Ka5. If the bishop moves to a7, or if the king moves, the bishop is already hanging.
3
If we move all the pieces another rank backwards, White is winning with the same technique.
1.Bb7! Be2 2.Ba6
Winning the fight for the critical diagonal.
2...Bf3 3.Bb5 Bb7

In comparison to the previous example, where Black only had the a7-b8 squares, he now has a6-b7-c8 as a secondary
diagonal to hold the a-pawn. However it is still too short! Black immediately finds himself in zugzwang after
4.Bd7!+–
Due to the zugzwang the bishop is forced to move, but then a6-a7 followed by Bc6 is decisive.
4
A. Dreev
A. Onischuk
Cap d’Agde, 2002
In this example the wrong color of the promoting pawn gives some hope for Black’s salvation. However with good
technique White could have squeezed the bishop out from b8.
1.Kc5?
The winning plan was 1.Be3! to free the b6 square for the king. 1...Kc7 2.Bf2 Black is in zugzwang. 2...Kc8 3.Kc6!
Another zugzwang and now Black must make a decisive weakening. (But not 3.Kb6? Bc7+ 4.Kc6 Kb8= when Black
holds.) 3...Kd8 4.Kb7+–
1.Kc5? Bd6+
Another way to hold is the study-like 1...Kc8 2.Kc6
Thanks to the unfortunate position of the b6 bishop, Black holds with 2...Bc7 3.a7
3...Bb8!!= This fantastic stalemate trick saves Black as his king cannot move to d8. Promoting to a rook is also
stalemate and even bigger under-promotion is not enough for the win.
2.Kd5 Kc8! 3.Kxd6 Kb8
Black survived.
1/2
5
Practical position
It is very interesting to study the following practical position to get familiar with the plans for both sides. White has only
one move and there is big fight for each tempo. We must pay attention to the fact that the promotiona square matches
the color of the bishop.
1.Kb4!
1.Kb6 with the idea of playing Bb5 and advancing the a-pawn two squares must be answered by 1...Ba4! 2.Bb5 Bd1
and White should turn back with the king to let his pawn run.
1.Bb5 is logical, but the drawback is that after 1...Bf7! he should play a4, but he cannot because of Bb3. 2.a3
2...Bb3! In general the defensive side should always try to avoid the advance of the pawn with the bishop, this should be
his main priority and only when he cannot hold anymore, he should bring his king closer. 3.Kb4 Bd1 4.Ba4 Be2 5.Bb3
Ke3 6.a4 (6.Bc4 Bd1) 6...Kd4 Just in time to prevent Bc4. 7.a5 Bf1
Black comfortably holds the diagonal for now and after 8.Ba4 Kd5 9.Bb5 Bg2= the black king reaches the corner.
1.Kb4! Ke3 2.Bb5 Bg6
If 2...Bf7 3.a4 Kd4 4.a5+– and the problem is that Black cannot play ...Kd5 because of Bc4. It will be the same as the
main line.
3.a4 Kd4
4.Bc4!
White cuts the king off from the pawn. Now he prevents ...Kd5 and if Black tries to go around with ...Ke5-d6, then Kc5
blocks the route.
4...Be4 5.a5 Bb7
Black tries to stop the pawn as far back as possible, but
6.Kb5! Bc8 7.Bf1 Kd5 8.Kb6 Kd6
Now of course not Ba6 which could be taken and followed by ...Kc7, but White interferes with the c8 bishop from
another diagonal
9.Bg2!+–
Black has no defense against Bb7 and the a-pawn is unstoppable.
6
Study
We close the story of the a-pawn with a nice study. Black seems set to pick up the h7 pawn in a few moves. White
cannot interfere with Bg7. But...
1.Bc1!
This motif works only with the a-pawn, because the bishop can hold the promoting pawn from only one diagonal. Let’s
say, if we move all the pieces one file to the left, then Black could play ...Bg8 and on Ba2 Bh7 holds the pawn. Now it
does not work and White wins after
1...Ke6 2.Bb2+–
7
Centurini
I would say that, in the bishop and pawn against bishop endgames, the most common case in practical games is when
the stronger side has a b-pawn. Let us study the same theoretical positions as with the a-pawn, in order to familiarize
ourselves with the most important ideas. As we know, with the a-pawn White could not interfere with the h2 bishop and
the position was drawn. The big difference is that the bishop can go to b8 and therefore White is winning.
1.Bh4
The plan is Bf2-a7-b8.
1...Kb5!
The most stubborn defense. Black tries to prevent Ba7 by driving the king to a6. If Black allows Ba7-b8 the game is
over right away. For example 1...Bf4 2.Bf2 Bh2 3.Ba7 Bf4 4.Bb8 Black must switch diagonal to hold the pawn 4...Be3
5.Bh2 Ba7 but the diagonal is too short. White can deflect the bishop with 6.Bg1+–
2.Bf2 Ka6
Black has successfully prevented Ba7 and if White now redirects the bishop to c7 then the black king returns to c6 in
time. Subtle technique is required.
3.Bc5!
White must control the d6 square! Black is in zugzwang, so he must move with his bishop and he cannot go to d6! Let’s
see why it is so important... After 3.Be3 Black could play 3...Bd6! 4.Bg5 Kb5 5.Bd8 Kc6 and White cannot redirect
the bishop to a7 with tempo, because 6.Be7 is met by 6...Bh2 and the c5 square is under control.
3...Be5 4.Be7
Heading to d8-c7. Black must bring back his king to c6.
4...Kb5 5.Bd8 Kc6

And now:
6.Bf6!
Tempo! (If the bishop had gone to g3, then Bh4 wins the critical tempo and in case of Bf4-Bg5 does the job).
6...Bh2 7.Bd4!
and Black is not in time now to play ...Kb5-a6.
7...Bg3 8.Ba7 Bh2 9.Bb8 Bg1 10.Bg3 Ba7 11.Bf2+–
8
If we move all pieces one rank backwards the win is much easier. The technique is the same.
1.Bc8
White goes to b7 with his bishop.
1...Bf3 2.Bb7
Black must transfer his bishop to the c8-a6 diagonal.
2...Be2
The other option is 2...Bg4 which loses to 3.Bg2 Bc8 4.Bf1!+– Zugzwang! The black king cannot move to b5 from
where he could keep the b6 pawn under attack, and for the bishop the diagonal is too short. White controls all the a6-b7
and c8 squares.
3.Bc6 Ba6
4.Bd7!
The same technique as in the 2...Bg4 line. White controls the b5 square to avoid ...Kb5 as well as the b7-c8 squares,
which means that Black is in a decisive zugzwang.
4...Kd5 5.Bc8!+–
9
Let’s move all the pieces yet another rank back. Suddenly the game is drawn! What could be the reason? The
explanation is clear, Black has two diagonals to control the b-pawn (g1-a7 and a5-d8) and both are long enough. He
cannot end up in zugzwang.
1.Bc7
White tries the usual technique.
1...Be3 2.Bb6 Bd2 3.Bc5 Ba5
In the previous example, when all pieces were one rank forward, the winning move was
4.Bd6
with a decisive zugzwang, but now Black has
4...Bd8!
The only square for the bishop, but it is more than enough. Black holds comfortably as the a5-d8 diagonal is long
enough to effectively hold the a-pawn since after
5.Bc7
can be taken
5...Bxc7 6.Kxc7 Kxb5=
10
This position has huge practical significance as the upcoming practical games will show. The position is actually a
mutual zugzwang. If White is on move the game is drawn, while if Black has to play then he is losing. First we will
check what happens with White to move.
1.Bf5
The key is that 1.Bd5 can be answered 1...Kc8!= and the king gets in front of the pawn.
1.Bf5 Bf3 2.Be6
The threat is Bd5. Black is forced to play
2...Bb7!
As we know, to have ...Kc8 after Bd5.
3.Kc5
is the trickiest attempt, but Black stays on the long diagonal with
3...Bf3 4.Bd5 Be2
Black wants to go ...Kc8-b8 with an immediate draw.
5.Bb7 Kd7=
and White cannot make progress.
11
Now, let’s see, what happens if it is Black to move.
1...Ba6
If the bishop stays on the long diagonal with 1...Bg2 2.Bd5! transposes into a winning pawn endgame. 2...Bxd5
Otherwise the pawn promotes. 3.Kxd5 Kd7 4.Kc5 Kd8 5.Kd6! Opposition! 5...Kc8 6.Kc6 Kb8 7.b7+–
1...Ba6 2.Kc6!
Taking the b7 square under control.
2...Bc8
2...Ke7 loses to 3.Bc4! Bc8 (3...Bxc4 4.b7+–) 4.Kc7+–
3.Bc4!
Black cannot hold the a6-c8 diagonal any longer; it is too short for the bishop. The last chance is
3...Bg4
4.Kb7!
The king gets to a7 from where it can easily interfere with the black bishop. This is a very important motif which we
will see a few more times later in this chapter.
4...Bf3+ 5.Ka7 Be4 6.Ba6!
The usual technique to send the bishop away from the long diagonal.
6...Bf3 7.Bb7 Bg4 8.Bg2 Bc8 9.Bh3+–
12
M. Tal
L. Portisch
Bled, 1965
Mikhail Tal was familiar with the ideas of this position and he easily held the draw against Portisch.
1.Bc8! Ke3 2.Bb7 Bd3
And now, as we know, the only move is
3.Bg2! Be2
3...Be4 4.Kf1=
4.Bc6 Bc4
4...Bf3 5.Bxf3 (5.Bb5!? We have already seen this motif with the a-pawn; the unfortunate position of the f3 bishop
allows a pretty stalemate trick with 5...g2 6.Bf1!!) 5...Kxf3 6.Kf1=
5.Bb7 Kf4 6.Bc6 Bd3 7.Bb7 Kg4
Black tries to reach the h2 square with his king to win with the ...Bh3-g2 plan, but White can prevent it by 7...Be4
8.Bc8=
8.Bg2!
White had to prevent the invasion of the king through h3.
8...Ba6
Trying to place White in zugzwang. If the bishop moves, ...Kh3 wins, but now White can move with his king
9.Kd2 1/2
and a draw was agreed.
13
V. Nevednichy
I. Saric
Danube rapid, 2013
This looks like a dead draw, but actually White needs to defend precisely in order to save the game because he cannot
get his king in front of the pawn.
60...Kb5 61.Kd3 Kb4 62.Kd2 Bf4+!
Otherwise White plays Kc1–b1 and he has nothing more to worry about.
63.Kd3
63.Kd1 Kc4 will transpose to the game.
63...Bg5!
White gets into zugzwang! He needs to make the first difficult decision.
64.Ke2!
The correct defence! White drives his king to d1 to stay ready to play Kc1–b1. 64.Ke4? loses to 64...Kc4! The next step
for Black is to transfer his bishop to c3. White cannot parry this. 65.Bd4 Bd2 66.Bb2 Bc3 67.Ba3 Bf6! Black frees the
c3 square for his king. 68.Ke3 Kc3 69.Ke2 Kc2–+ and ...Be7 next deflects the bishop and Black promotes his pawn.
64.Be5? also loses after 64...Ka3! As we know, the king cannot be allowed to the a2 square. 65.Kc4 Ka2 Black sends
the bishop away from the a1–h8 diagonal and wins the game automatically. 66.Kb4 (66.Bd4 does not change anything:
66...Bc1 67.Be5 Bb2 68.Bf4 Bf6 69.Bc1 Be7–+ Followed by Ba3 and Black is winning.) 66...Bc1 67.Ka4 Bb2 68.Bd6
Bf6 69.Ba3 Bg5–+ White is in a decisive zugzwang as Kb4 loses to ...Be7.
64...Kc4! 65.Kd1 Kd3 66.Be5 Bf4!

We have reached the critical position. In order to save the game, White needs to find or know about the mutual
zugzwang position!
67.Bb2?
White fails! As we know, the bishop should go to b2 only after Be3. 67.Bf6 or any other bishop move along the a1–h8
diagonal holds the draw, only Bb2 loses. Black needs to send the bishop away from the long diagonal. 67...Be3 and
now (67...Bd2 does not threaten anything and White can continue waiting, since after 68.Be5 Bc3 the pawn endgame is
drawn. 69.Bxc3! Kxc3 70.Kc1=) 68.Bb2! Bd4 69.Kc1!= White easily holds the draw.
67...Be3!–+
The game is over now! Black demonstrates it with good technique.
68.Ba3
68.Ba1 Bd4 69.Bxd4 Kxd4 70.Kd2 Kc4 71.Kd1 Kd3! 72.Kc1 Kc3 73.Kb1 b2–+
68...Kc3!
White is in zugzwang again.
69.Be7
69.Ke2 Bc5 70.Bc1 Kc2–+
69...Kb2!
The winning plan is being executed perfectly.
70.Bf6+ Ka2 71.Bc3 Bc5
The bishop is heading to b2!
72.Be5 Ba3 73.Bc3 Bb2 74.Bd2 Bf6 75.Bc1 Be7 0–1
White resigned as ...Ba3 is coming next. 75...Bg5 was also good enough.
14
V. Zvjagintsev
A. Chernin
Portoroz, 1997
The pawn is less advanced here, but the black king is also further away. The winning idea, which Black should fight
against, is b5-b6 followed by taking the king to a7. We have already mentioned that if the pawn is not far-enough
advanced, the defensive side should fight against each pawn push with the bishop and only when he cannot hold
anymore should he approach with his king. This technique should have been employed here as well.
45...Kf6?
White can execute the winning plan now. The right move was 45...Be2! 46.Ba6 Bf3 47.b5 Black cannot fight now with
the bishop, so he must approach with his king. (If 47.Bf1
then again the only move is to fight against the pawn advance with 47...Bc6! (47...Kf6? loses to 48.b5 Ke7 49.Ka6!
(Just not 49.b6? which allows 49...Bb7! and the king cannot get to a6-a7 anymore.) 49...Kd6 50.b6+– Ka7 next and we
already know the rest.) 48.Kb6 Be8 49.Bb5 Bg6 50.Kc7 Kf6 51.Kd6 Trying to keep the king away. 51...Bc2 52.Bc4
Ba4 53.Bd5 Bb5! 54.Bc6 Be2=) 47...Kf6 48.b6 Ke7
49.Bc8 (49.Bf1 Bb7! Only move! Otherwise the king gets to a7. 50.Kb5 Kd8 51.Bh3 Ke7 52.Kc5 Kd8 53.Kd6 and we
have again reached our topic with the mutual zugzwang. 53...Be4 54.Be6 Bb7!=) 49...Kd8! Black must get into the
square of the pawn with tempo in order to stop the Ka6-a7 plan. 50.Bf5 Bb7=
45...Kf6? 46.b5 Ke7 47.b6 Be2
Otherwise Ka6 wins and now
48.Bc6!
But not 48.Ba6? which allows again 48...Bf3 49.Bd3 Bb7=

48...Kd6
48...Kd8 49.Bb5+– does not change anything.
49.Bb5 Bf3 50.Ka6
The king is on a7 and the game is over.
50...Kc5 51.Bf1 1–0
Black resigned.
15
N. Milev
E. Ermenkov
Bulgaria, 1971
We already know the right technique, that the king should stay on the h-file to be able to interfere the bishop. Therefore
the right move is
1.Kh6!
If we are not familiar with the idea, it would probably seem more natural to play 1.Kf6? with the idea of keeping the
‘shoulder’ to the black king, however it allows 1...Ke3! 2.Bf5 (2.Kg7! It is still not too late to admit our mistake and go
to h6 with the king.) 2...Be8 3.Be6 Kf4= and we have reached the theoretical position that we examined in game 9 of
this chapter. Black holds because he cannot set a zugzwang because both diagonals (e8-h5 and b1–h7) are long enough
for the bishop.
1.Kh6! Ke3
1...Ke5 is more natural, but it also loses 2.g6 Kf6 3.g7 Bd5 4.Bc2
With the idea of moving with the king to h7-h8 in order to execute the Bh7-g8 maneuver. Black should try to prevent it
with 4...Bg8 But the g8-h7 diagonal is too short and he finds himself in zugzwang 5.Bd3 Ke7 6.Kg6 Another
zugzwang. 6...Kd7 7.Kf6 Squeezing out the king. No more zugzwangs, but it is enough. White can transfer his bishop
to f7. 7...Kd6 8.Bg6 Kd7 9.Bf7 Bh7
10.Kg5! Ke7 11.Kh6+–
2.Bf5
A bit of a strange move allowing ...Kf4 with tempo, but it does not affect the outcome. He could have gone to c2 with
the bishop. 2.g6 leads to the same winning positions as the 1...Ke5 line.
2...Be8
2...Kf4 3.Bc2 Be8 4.Bd1! Kf5 5.Bh5 Bb5 6.g6+–
3.Bg4! Bf7 4.Bh5 Bg8 5.Be8 Kf4 6.g6 Kf5 7.Bf7 1–0
16
Nunn
We close the examples of the b-pawn with a very instructive composition by Nunn. In case of the best defense, White
must work very hard for the win — but it is achievable.
1.b5 Bd2+ 2.Kb3!
The bishop is moving to a5 from where it must be expelled. 2.Kc4 does not bring success, e.g. 2...Ba5 3.Kd5 Kc2
4.Kc6
4...Kb3! It is very important to defend with the opposition of the kings. Black wants to play ...Kc4 and the secondary
diagonal on a5-d8 is long enough to hold, and if White tries 5.Kb7!? Ka4! is a must. The point is that after 6.Ka6 Bd8=
Black must control the a5 square with the bishop.
2...Ba5 3.Ka4 Bc7 4.Bb4!
White proceeds with the known technique.
4...Bb6!
The most stubborn defense again. Otherwise, after ...Ba5, White could already advance his pawn.
5.Ba5 Be3
6.Kb3!
White switches direction and prevents the black king’s approach. 6.Bc7 brings nothing 6...Kc2 7.Ka5 Kb3 8.Ka6 Ka4=
6...Bf2!
Please notice the most tenacious defense as well. ...Ke2 would met by Kc4. Black rather waits for Kc4 to play ...Kc2,
keeping the opposition behind the king.
7.Bc7! Be1!
This is quite unusual, but a very nice resource. Black wants to play ...Ba5 in case of b6. Simply waiting with 7...Be3
loses faster after 8.Bd6! White does not want to lose time later on with bishop moves, he wants to play Kc4-Bc5 with
tempo. 8...Bb6 9.Kc4 Kc2 10.Kd5 Kb3 11.Kc6!+– and Bc7 or Bc5 wins next depending on which diagonal Black
chooses for the bishop. As we know, if the black king was on c4, the position is a theoretical draw because after Ba5
Bc7 Bxc7 can be taken and then b5 falls.
8.Bb6!!
Well, of course, it is very hard to find these moves over the board. The point is that White must lose a tempo by
triangulation.
8...Bd2 9.Bd8
9...Be3
Black must switch back to the g1–a7 diagonal. 9...Be1 already loses to 10.b6! Ba5 This trick only works with the bishop
on c7. 11.b7+–
10.Kc3!!
It is already too deep for the human mind. White is going to d3 with his king to force the bishop back to g1. The reason
can be found in the line 10.Kc4 Kc2 11.Bc7 and now Black holds with 11...Bd2!! While if the bishop is on g1, the
board is too short to play Bf0!
10...Ke2
The best defense is to prevent Kd3. If Black waits with 10...Bf2 11.Kd3 Black must move to g1 with the bishop.
11...Bg1 White can already play (11...Kc1 12.Bg5++– and Be3 next wins.) 12.Kc4! Kc2
13.Bc7! Bf2 14.Bd6! Bc5 is coming next or after 14...Bb6 15.Kd5!+– and we reach the winning position that we
examined in the 7...Be3 line.
11.Kc4 Bf2
If Black goes 11...Kd2 12.Bc7 he just misses by one tempo. With the king on c2, he could play ...Bd2! 12...Kc2 13.Bd6
Bb6 14.Kd5+–
12.Bc7 Be1!
The right technique, but the black king should stand on c2. Let’s see the difference.
13.Kc5 Kd3
14.Kb6!!
This is the huge difference! If Black could have come behind the king, he would arrive in time with ...Ka4 to prevent
Ba5.
14...Kc4 15.Ka6 Bf2 16.Bb6 Bg3 17.Be3 Bc7
18.Bd2!
Here we are! Black should play ...Ka4 now to hold, but he can’t.
18...Kc5 19.Ba5 Bd6 20.b6 Kc6 21.b7
The rest we already know from the previous examples. White wants to drive his king to the corner to play Bb8.
21...Bb8 22.Be1 Kc5 23.Bf2+ Kc6
24.Bg1!
Zugzwang.
24...Kd7 25.Kb6 Ke7 26.Kc6 Ke6 27.Bb6 Ke7 28.Bc7 Ba7 29.Kb5 Kd7 30.Ka6+–
A brilliant study. Of course, we cannot and do not need to memorize all these things, but we should be familiar with the
basic ideas to employ successfully in our practical games.
17
J. Capablanca
D. Janowsky
New York, 1916
83.Kd5
In this position, Black resigned. Averbakh has pointed out that Black could have saved the game. After playing through
the previous study, all the motifs are already familiar to us.
83...Kf4!
The king heads off to take the opposition behind the white king.
84.Bd4
84.Be5+ Ke3 85.b5 Kd3 86.Kc6 Kc4!= just in time before White could play Bc7.
84...Kf3! 85.b5 Ke2!
Continuing the journey.
86.Kc6 Kd3 87.Bb6 Bg5 88.Bc7 Be3

89.Kd5!
The most dangerous winning attempt. White uses the motif of shouldering to win time for improving his bishop’s
position with Bd6. Black has to find the only move! After the direct 89.Bd6 Kc4 Black is in time to prevent Bc5.
89...Bd2!
A great resource. As we have seen in the previous example, it works only with the bishop on c7, when b6 can be
answered by ...Ba5! Other moves are losing, for instance 89...Kc3? 90.Bd6 Bb6 (90...Kb3 91.Bc5 Ka4 92.Kc6+–)
91.Kc6+– The black king should stay on c4 to hold. White can interpose his bishop on c7 or c5 depending on where the
b6 bishop moves.
90.Bd8
White is already threatening b6 as ...Ba5 loses to b7. Black must retreat with the bishop to e3. 90.b6 Ba5=
90...Be3! 91.Bc7
If White tries 91.Be7

It is not the same as if White could play Bd6 as happened in the 89...Kc3 line. Black can play now 91...Bb6! 92.Kc6
Ba5! and with the bishop on d6 White would win with Bc7, but now he is lacking one tempo which is enough for the
black king to arrive to c4. 93.Bd6 Kc4=
91...Bd2! 92.Kc6 Be3
93.Kb7!
The most dangerous attempt again, which we also saw in the previous example. As we know, Black must follow the
king with the opposition — he should arrive quickly to a4!
93...Kc4 94.Ka6
94...Kb3!
If Black does not use the correct technique he loses, after 94...Bf2? 95.Bb6 Bh4 96.Be3 Bd8 97.Bd2! and Ba5 next.
95.Bb6 Bg5 96.Bf2 Bd8 97.Be1 Ka4!=
Just in time! Black prevents Ba5 and holds the draw.
18
We now move on to the c-pawns. Let’s start with the same theoretical positions as we did before. As we recall, with an
a-pawn this position was drawn, with the b-pawn it was winning for White and with the c-pawn? It is drawn again! The
reason is that the length of the secondary diagonal on a6-c8 is long enough for the bishop.
1.Bb7 Bf5 2.Bc8
The standard technique, Black must switch the diagonal.
2...Be4 3.Bg4 Bb7
The bishop cannot be deflected from b7. If it was Black’s move he could play ...Ba6 and if White takes it under control
with his bishop, then Black can wait with ...Ke6-d6. There is no zugzwang. Please note that the white king cannot get
to the left side of the pawn. We will understand from the upcoming examples that if it gets to b8, White is winning.
4.Be2
4.Bf3 Ba6=
4...Ke6=
19
If we move all pieces one rank backwards it is even easier to hold the draw as the secondary diagonal on a5-d8 is one
square longer...
1.Bb6 Bf4 2.Bc7 Be3 3.Bg3 Bb6 4.Bf2 Ba5 5.Bh4 Bb6=
Black just waits and any Bd8 can be taken as c6 then falls.
20
Here is a very interesting theoretical question: Where should the king move to from the check?
1.Kb8!
With the c-pawn, White should place his king on the left side of the pawn to control as many squares as possible on the
secondary diagonal (a6-c8). 1.Kd8 leads to a draw after 1...Kc5! Moving to d6 to control the d7 square. 2.Bc8 Be2
3.Bb7 Bg4=
1.Kb8! Bb7
1...Kc5 2.Bf1+– the deflection works as the b7 square is under control.
2.Bf1!+–
and Black finds himself in zugzwang.
21
Let’s see what happens if the black king is not squeezed to the back rank. The big difference is that White can interpose
his bishop on d7, but what does he gain?
1.Ke7! Bf5 2.Bc6
The only move to stay in the game is
2...Bc8
3.Kd8! Ba6 4.Kd7!
Black is in zugzwang. The a6-c8 diagonal is too short and White manages to get his king to the left side of the board.
4...Kd4
4...Be2 is met by 5.Kc8!+– and it’s a win as we studied in the previous theoretical game.
5.Kd6!
The king soon gets to the other side of the pawn via the c6 square.
5...Bc8
5...Kc4 loses to 6.Bg2+– Both Bf3 and Be4 are also winning. White must have Bf1 check if Black tries to block the
king’s route with ...Kb5!
6.Bd7 Bb7
7.Be6!
Here is the decisive zugzwang. After any of Black’s moves the king gets to b6 either through c6 or c5.
7...Ba6 8.Kc6+–
22
In the previous example, the bishop was on f3 and White was winning, because after subtle maneuvering the white king
managed to get to the other side of the board. The big difference here is that Black can avoid this plan by driving his
king there.
1...Kd5!
(With the bishop on f3, the ...Kd4-c5 attempts could have been neutralized by Kd6 shouldering)
2.Bb5 Bc8! 3.Kd8 Bb7 4.Kd7 Kc5!
The black king stands perfectly on c5 because it is ready to oppose with ...Kd6 if White goes Kd8 and it blocks the
route through c6-b6 as well.
5.Be2
Black is almost in zugzwang, but he can play
5...Kb6!
And Black holds without any difficulties. If it was his move, he goes back to c5 with the king.
6.Bc4 Kc5=
6...Bc6+ is very illogical, but also good enough for draw, just note that after 7.Kc8 Black must prevent the standard
Kb8 after which the c8-a6 diagonal becomes too short for the black bishop.
The only move is 7...Ka7! and the draw is still in hand. 8.Kd8 Bb7 9.Be6 Kb6 10.Bc8 Bf3 11.Ba6 Bg4=
23
Now let’s study two examples with the pawn on the 6th rank. We already know that with the white king on d7 the
position is a theoretical draw. The defensive side should always oppose his king, so it should now be on b5! However if
White is on move, Black is not in time to get there...
1.Bc7! Be1 2.Bb8! Ba5 3.Ba7!+–
and Black should play ...Kb5 to secure the draw, but it is invalid. Bb6 is coming next and the pawn promotes.
24
With the king on c4, being close to the ideal b5 square (being in opposition to the other king) Black already holds the
draw.
1...Bg3! 2.Bc7 Be1
2...Bh4 is also good.
3.Bb8 Ba5 4.Ba7
An important detail is that 4.Ka6 can be answered by 4...Kc5! Or 4...Kd5 also does the job. (Just not 4...Bd8? because
of 5.Ba7!+– and Bb6 next.)
4...Kb5!=
Just in time and, without Bb6, White cannot make progress.
25
Nunn
This composition of Nunn’s demonstrates well the ideas we have learned. White wins after
1.Ke5! Kc3 2.Kd6
Black must choose which diagonal to stay on. Such decisions are often critical, but here it actually does not matter —
Black loses either way.
2...Bf3
On 2...Bb5 3.Bd7 Ba6 4.c6 Kb4

Precision is needed 5.Bf5! Or Bg4 and Bh3 were also winning. White wants to push c7 and on ...Kb5 Bd3 wins,
otherwise the king goes through to c6-b6. (5.c7? spoils the win because of 5...Bb7! and Black manages to avoid the
king cross to the other side. 6.Be8 Ka5 7.Kc5 Ka6=) 5...Ka5
6.Kc5! Black is in zugzwang. 6...Ka4 is met by 7.Kb6. 6...Bf1 7.c7 Ba6 Black should play ...Bb7 now, but...White
comes first with 8.Kc6!+– and Black is in zugzwang again. Kb6 is coming next.
3.Bd5 Bg4 4.c6 Kb4 5.c7 Bc8
Unfortunately for Black, he cannot play 5...Kb5 because he must waste a decisive tempo to prevent 6.Be6!+–
6.Kc6 Ka5 7.Bc4! Kb4

7...Bg4 8.Kb7+–
8.Bf1 Ka5 9.Be2!+–
The last zugzwang. White completes his plan with Kb6-a7-b8 next.
26
In closing this chapter, we analyze the same positions with a central pawn. This is the ideal situation for the defensive
side, as both diagonals (a5-d8 and h4-d8) are very long, and therefore Black cannot get into zugzwang.
1.Ke8
With the c-pawn this was the winning method, but now the bishop has an extra square on the a5-d8 diagonal, which is
enough to avoid getting into zugzwang. 1.Kc8 Bc7 2.Bd8 (2.Be3 This was the decisive zugzwang when we moved all
the pieces one square to the left, but now Black can simply play 2...Ba5!=) 2...Bf4 3.Ba5 Bg5=
1.Ke8 Kd5!
It is essential to hold the opposition with the king and move it to e6 to control the e7 square. Other moves, for example
waiting with 1...Bc7? lose to 2.Bd8! Bf4 3.Ba5! Bg5 4.Bb4! and Be7 wins next. Black has to be able to play ...Ke6 at
this point!
2.Bd8 Bf2 3.Ba5 Bh4 4.Bb4

4...Ke6!=
Just in time to prevent Be7 and Black holds the draw.

2.2 BISHOP AND TWO PAWNS VS BISHOP OR BISHOP AND PAWN
This chapter still contains many theoretical positions which it is necessary to go through before entering the complex
endgames. The more positions we study, the more ideas we will be familiar with and the easier it will be in the complex
positions to evaluate the different kind of simplifications.
1
Practical position
When the stronger side has connected passed pawns, we must always pay attention to advancing the pawns without
allowing the king to step in between them, unless we can expel it somehow. In this position, White has no chance to
realize his advantage. Black is even threatening sometimes to sacrifice his bishop for the two pawns.
1.Bf2 Bc3 2.Kf1 Bd2 3.Ke2 Bxf4 4.gxf4 Kxf4=
2
Practical position
If the stronger side has two extra pawns, the only kind of endgames worth analyzing are when the color of the side pawn
does not match the bishop. Black has only one way to hold the draw, which is
1...Bb3!
It is more instructive to analyze what happens if Black allows White to push h5. 1...Bd5? 2.h5 This position is winning
for White. The winning plan is to push h6-g7, followed by bringing the king to d4 and trading the bishops with Be4-d5.
However Black can make this task much harder by playing 2...Bf7!
All White’s pieces are tied to each other so only the king can be used to make progress. Black intends to wait with
...Be8-f7. 3.Ke3 White must go with the king to d8 to deprive Black of his ...Be8 tempo and, if the bishop is sent away,
he can then execute the winning plan with h6-g7. 3...Be8 4.Kd4 Bf7 (Black has the chance to go for the h5 pawn, but
then we transpose into an endgame that we learned in the previous chapter 4...Kg5 5.g7 Bf7 6.Ke5 Kxh5 7.Kf6 Bg8
Otherwise Bg6-f7 wins right away. 8.Bg6+ Kh6 9.Be8! After any move, Bf7 sets Black into decisive zugzwang.
9...Bh7 (9...Kh7 10.Bf7+–; 9...Bd5 10.Bf7+–) 10.Bf7+–) 5.Kc5 Be8 6.Kd6 Bf7 7.Kc7 Be8 8.Kd8 Bf7
9.Bd3 Giving the move to Black to force the bishop to reduce the pressure on the g6 pawn 9...Be6 10.h6! Finally the
pawns can advance 10...Bc4 11.g7+– White goes Ke8-f8 and wins.
1...Bb3! 2.Be4
2.Bxb3 Kxg6=
2...Bd1!=
and ...Bh5 is coming next followed by taking on g6.
3
M. Carlsen
V. Kramnik
Moscow, 2013
Black inevitably loses his d-pawn since Ke3, Bb3-c4 is coming next. However if Black could sacrifice his bishop for
the g2 pawn he would be safe. It is interesting to study how White should make progress without allowing Black any
chances of survival.
46...d2 47.Ke3 Ke5 48.g3!
Preventing the black king from getting between the pawns with ...Kf4-g3.
48...Bf5 49.h4 Be6 50.Kxd2
Here we are! Perhaps Black thought that this endgame is drawn, since whenever White pushes g4 (which seems to be
necessary to convert the advantage) Black sacrifices his bishop and then runs to h8 with his king, with a theoretical
draw. However the World Champion shows really subtle technique to win the game.
50...Ke4 51.Ke2
White wants to occupy the e3 square with the king and he prepares to push back the king with Bc2.
51...Bg4+ 52.Ke1 Be6 53.Kf2
Bc2 is inevitable now.
53...Ke5 54.Ke3 Bd7 55.Bc2 Bg4
White is basically forced to find the winning plan, since there is no other way to make progress than by putting the
bishop on g6 and then playing h5.
56.Bg6! Bd7
56...Kf6 57.Kf4!+– is an important intermediate move.
57.h5 Kf6
This allows White to improve his king. 57...Be6 Waiting with the bishop does not help either: 58.h6 Kf6 59.Bb1
followed by Kf4, which transposes to the game, using the fact that Black cannot get his king between the pawns with
...Kg5 because of h7.
58.Kf4 Be6 59.Be4 Kg7
If Black starts to wait with his bishop by playing 59...Bd7 White proceeds with 60.h6! Be6
61.g4! This is the key move and Black cannot sacrifice his bishop now: 61...Bxg4 62.Kxg4 Kf7
63.Bh7!+– Using this known method of preventing the king from getting to the corner. White wins easily.
60.Kg5 Bd7 61.h6+ Kh8
The king is in the corner now, so White needs to be careful with advancing the g-pawn.
62.Kf4 Be6 63.Bf5!
The pawn is ready to go now.
63...Bf7 64.g4
64...Bh5!
A very nice trick to get a theoretical draw. As we know, even with five h-pawns the game would be drawn.
65.g5!
Unfortunately for Black, White is able to keep his g-pawn.
65...Kg8 66.Be6+ Kh7 67.Kf5 Bg6+ 68.Kf6 Kh8!
The last stalemate tricks by Black, but White can easily parry them.
69.Bd7 Bh5
69...Be4 If the bishop stays on this diagonal, White wins by playing 70.Bf5+– followed by g6.
70.Bc6
Black cannot move his bishop now.
70...Kh7 71.Bd5 Bg6
71...Be8 72.Bf7+– followed by g6-g7 wins.

71...Kh8 72.Bf7 wins again. 72...Bg6 is not stalemate as White has 73.Bxg6+–
72.Bg8+! 1–0
A pretty finish to this instructive theoretical endgame.
4
M. Carlsen
F. Caruana
Bilbao, 2012
The main difficulty again in converting the advantage is to avoid the bishop sacrificing itself for the c-pawn, as the a8
corner is wrong again for the bishop.
56.Bb4
Pushing the Black bishop away from the a3-f8 diagonal.
56...Bf4 57.c5 Ka7 58.c6
White’s c-pawn only has 2 squares to go, but Black still has some drawing chances. Carlsen demonstrates perfectly the
winning plan.
58...Kb8 59.a5
White takes the pawn to a6 to avoid giving Black a chance to hold with the king on c8.
59...Ka7 60.a6 Ka8

61.Bc5
Black is paralyzed and the white king is going to d7.
61...Bb8 62.Kc4 Bc7 63.Kd5 Bd8 64.Ke6 Bc7 65.Kd7
White only needs to send the bishop away from the a5-d8 diagonal.
65...Ba5 66.Be7 1–0
Bd8 comes next so Black resigned.
5
A. Khalifman
G. Meier
Legnica, 2013
In comparison to the previous example, White does not have such an active king on b5, while the black king will have a
perfect outpost on c6. The position is an instructive theoretical draw.
53.Bb6 Kc6 54.a5
If White does not play a5, Black just keeps his king on c6 and sooner or later White will need to advance his a-pawn.
54...Kb7
The only way. White wanted to play Be3 with the threat of playing a6 next.
55.Ke4 Ka6 56.Kd5 Bb4
Black never wants to take on a5; he needs to hold the c-pawn at any cost. If it gets to c6 the game is over.
57.Kc6 Bd2 58.Bd8
Of course, Black just allowed c5 because it is blocked by the king. 58.c5? leads to an immediate draw. 58...Bb4 59.Kd5
Bxc5=
58...Be1 59.Kd7
59...Bb4!
Good defense by Black! By no means should he allow White to play c5 now. 59...Bf2 is a blunder as White can play
60.Bb6!+– and c5-c6 is coming.
60.Bc7 Bc5!
Again, the right choice, preparing to cover the c5 square from the diagonal a7-g1.
61.Bd6 Be3 62.Bb4 Kb7
Black just waits and asks to see a progressive plan from his opponent. White still tries a bit and then finally he tries his
best chance...
63.Kd6 Bf2 64.Kd5 Be3 65.Bc3 Bf2 66.Bf6

66...Be1!
Black keeps on playing exact moves! The best position for the black bishop is on b4!
67.Bd8 Bb4 68.Bb6 Be7
For some reason, Black changes his defensive strategy. However White cannot make any significant improvement here
either. 68...Ka6 would, of course, be possible as well, and we would go back to the beginning of the game!
69.Bc5 Bg5 70.Bd4 Bd2 71.Bb6 Bb4 72.Bd8 Ba3 73.Ke6 Bb4
74.a6+!
After moving around for a long time, White tries his last chance.
74...Kxa6 75.Be7
Finally, White gets rid of the black bishop from b4 and advances the c-pawn, however, the a-pawn is gone, so the
position is still a draw. What happened now is just unbelievable! Black simply resigns after defending so well for over
20 moves... The position is a draw, and actually, a draw that is not that hard to find, especially if we are familiar with
the plans learned in the previous chapter. 75.Be7 Ba5 76.c5 Kb5 77.Kd7 Kc4 78.c6 Kd5! Taking the opposition with
the king. Both diagonals are long enough for the bishop to hold the c6 pawn and the draw is inevitable. 79.Bd6 Bb6
80.Bc7 Bf2 81.Bd8 Bg3=
1–0
6
Charushin
Rosengolz
Correspondence, 1986
In this type of ‘two pawns against one’ ending, the only way for White to make progress is to trade the a6 pawn for the
one on g4. Each tempo counts and it is essential to take g4 under the best circumstances. In this particular case, that
means when the black king stands the farthest from the g-pawn.
1.Kf4!
Great preparation! White improves his king’s position so as not to stand in the path of the g-pawn and at the same time
places Black in zugzwang. The only move is ...Ka7, but then the king is one file farther removed from the g-pawn.
1...Ka7
1...Kc7 2.a7 Bf3 3.Bxg4+–

2.Bxg4 Bxa6
3.Bf3 Kb6
As we learned, when the pawns are not so far advanced, usually the best chance for the defensive side is to try to hold
the pawn with the bishop for as long as possible. Only when it cannot hold anymore do we approach with king.
Following this principle, Black should have tried 3...Bc8 although it does not save him now, as his king is just too far
removed. 4.Be4 Kb6 5.Bf5 Ba6 6.g4 Kc7 7.g5 Kd6 8.g6 Ke7 9.Kg5 and White is just in time. We can see how
important it was to send the king to a7 in the initial position 9...Kf8 10.Kh6 Bc4 11.Kh7+– White wins with the known
technique. He moves Kh8, pushes g7 and goes around with the bishop to h7-g8.
4.g4 Kc5 5.g5 Kd6 6.g6 Ke6
6...Ke7 leads to the same as the 3...Bc8 line 7.Kg5 Kf8 8.Kh6 Bc4 9.g7+ Kg8
10.Be4! Because of the Bh7 threat, the king cannot stay in front of the pawn and after 10...Kf7 11.Kh7+– wins with the
usual technique.
7.Kg5 Bc4 8.g7
Black resigned, in view of 8.g7 Kf7 9.Kh6 Kf6 10.Kh7 Once again the winning method: 10...Kg5 11.Kh8 Kh6 12.Be4
Heading to g8. 12...Be6 13.Bh7 Bd5 14.Bg8 Be4 15.Bc4 Bh7 16.Bf7+– decisive zugzwang as the secondary diagonal
on h7-g8 is too short.
1–0
7
Practical position
The same situation as in the previous example. White should capture the h5 pawn under the best possible conditions.
His king already stands perfectly on g5, but the black king could be sent a file farther from the kingside.
1.Be8!
Actually 1.b6! does the same job as 1.Be8, but note that White should not hurry to take on h5.
1.Bxh5? spoils the win 1...Bxb5 2.Bg4 Be8 3.Bf5 Kd6 4.Bg6 Ke7! 5.h5 Kf8=
1.Be8! Kb6
And now:
2.Bxh5 Bxb5 3.Bg4 Be8 4.Bf5 Kc7 5.Bg6 Kd8
The last trick, but White is not forced to trade bishops. 5...Bb5 6.h5+– The pawn is unstoppable.
6.Kf6!+–
Preventing ...Ke7 and the h-pawn promotes.
8
M. Taimanov
R. Fischer
Buenos Aires, 1960
Black soon loses his d3 pawn and we reach a similar endgame to that which we analyzed in the previous examples.
Black must get his king next to the g3 pawn to prepare for the exchange of the g3 pawn for the b5 one.
62...Kh5 63.Ke4 Kg4 64.Kxd3 Kf3 65.Bc7 Bf2 66.Bd6 Be1 67.Kd4 Kg4 68.Kc5 b4 69.Kb5 Kf5 70.Kc4
White searches for the best moment to trade the pawns. Black just waits patiently.
70...Ke6 71.Bc7 Kf5 72.Kd3 Kg4 73.Bd6 Bc3 74.Kc4 Be1
75.Bxb4
The black king is on the g-file (instead of f3) and the white king is not standing in the path of its own pawn. White
cannot find a better moment for the trade, but it is not enough.
75...Bxg3 76.Bc3 Bd6
As we see, Fischer follows the principle that the pawn should be held by the bishop first before approaching with the
king.
77.Kd5 Be7 78.Bd4
White wants to play Bc5 followed by advancing the pawn with two squares, therefore the next move is obligatory.
78...Bb4!
Fighting against the pawn advance with the bishop for as long as possible...
79.Kc4 Ba5 80.Bc3 Bd8 81.b4
and now it is time to bring in the king.
81...Kf4 82.b5 Ke4
White sooner-or-later plays Kc5, which will be met by ...Kd3, placing the king ideally in opposition behind the other
king.
83.Bd4 Bc7 84.Kc5 Kd3! 85.Kc6 Kc4!
Perfect defense!
86.Bb6 Bf4 87.Ba7 Bc7
Draw agreed. Other bishop moves were also fine as b6 was not a threat because the bishop moves to the g1–a7 diagonal.
1/2
9
S. Tiviakov
E. Romanov
World Cities, 2012
We switch now to another type of endgame. White has two passed pawns and of course he does not need to exchange
his a-pawn for the one on h6 to make progress. White has a winning endgame, but the technical part is not obvious at
all. The main problem is the wrong corner square on a8. If Black succeeds in sacrificing his bishop for the f-pawn, they
can immediately agree to a draw.
46.a6 Kc6 47.Be3
Sooner-or-later White has to play this move to deprive Black of the ...Kb6 possibility. 47.Kg2!? was a tricky start. The
point is that 47...Kb6 loses to
48.Ba5+!+– In general we should give our opponents a chance to fall into such traps.
47...h5 48.Kg2 Bd8
Black had to allow f4 sooner-or-later, as White was intending to play Kh3-h4, collecting the h5 pawn. 48...Bd6 49.Kh3
Be7 50.f4 transposes to the game.
49.f4
White has to advance his pawns as far as possible.
49...Kc7 50.f5 Kb8
The black king remains ready to collect the a-pawn. This means that he must be able to play ...Ka7 or ...Kb6 at the
moment the bishop leaves the g1–a7 diagonal.
51.Kh3!
The start of the winning plan. White can only make progress if he advances his f-pawn. But in order to do this, he must
send away the d8 bishop from its diagonal. 51.Kf3 Ka8 52.Ke4 doesn’t make sense, as White can never push f6 with
the bishop on d8.
51...Ka8 52.Bf2!
With the idea of Bh4.
52...Bf6 53.Bh4 Bc3

White seems to get nowhere with his brilliant idea, since the Black bishop still controls the f6 square and Black already
wants to collect the a6 pawn. However by sending away the bishop from the right diagonal, White can advance his king
to h4.
54.Bg5! Ka7
54...Be1 doesn’t help. 55.Be3 preventing ...Ka7 and the threat is f6-f7. 55...Bc3 56.Kh4+– wins.
55.Kh4 Kxa6 56.Kxh5 Kb7
We are back once again to the topic of the previous chapter. White wins now as his king is ideally placed on the shorter
side of the pawn...
57.Kg6 Kc6 58.Bh6!
The first step is to play Bg7, which allows f6-f7.
58...Kd7 59.Bg7 Bb4 60.f6 Ke6 61.f7 Bd6

As we know, the winning technique is to expel the bishop with Bf8, but White needs to get his king to g8 first.
62.Bh6!
Preparing for Kg7-g8 and Black can’t parry this.
62...Bb4 63.Kg7 Kf5
Black transfers his king to g6, but it doesn’t help. Waiting with 63...Bc5 doesn’t change the final outcome either:
64.Kg8 Bb4 65.Bf8 Bd2 66.Bc5 Bh6 67.Bd4! followed by Bg7, and the pawn promotes. That is why Black preferred
to have his king on g6.
64.Kg8 Kg6 65.Bf8 Bc3 66.Ba3 Bg7 67.Bc1! 1–0
Black resigned as he is in another, this time deadly, zugzwang.
10
H. Nguyen
G. Szabo
Budapest, 2016
We are now faced with a study-like endgame. Pure calculation is needed to find the right continuation as everything is
decided by one tempo at every turn. In comparison to the previous examples, the kings are reversed and White does not
need to exchange his h-pawn for a4, but he is going to lose a3 and then ...a4 will create counterplay.
57.Kg7?
The winning move was 57.Kg5! Black has two defensive options. 57...Kc3 (If 57...Kc1 58.Bg6 Be2 otherwise the h-
pawn promotes 59.Be8 Bd1
(59...Kb2 Black is too far removed with his king if they trade the a-pawns. 60.Bxa4 Kxa3 61.Bd7 Kb4 62.Bg4 Bd3
63.h5 Kc5 64.Bf5+–) 60.Bxa4! This is the point! 60...Bxa4 61.h5 Kb2 62.h6 Bc2 63.a4!+– Black cannot fight against
the two passed pawns.) 58.Bd1! The only winning move! The idea of 57...Kc1 was to prevent this. 58...Be8 59.Kf6!
Kb2 60.Ke7 Bb5 (60...Bg6 61.Bxa4 Kxa3 62.Be8+– the black king is too far away again.) 61.h5 Kxa3
62.Bc2! Preventing ...Bd3 and the h-pawn is simply unstoppable. As we know, the h-pawns are the worst for the
defensive side, because the pawn can be stopped from only one diagonal and now it is occupied by the white bishop.
62...Kb2 63.h6+–
57.Kg7? Kc1 58.Bg4
The other option was 58.Bg6 Be2 59.Be8 Kb2 60.Bxa4 Kxa3 and the white king is too far away to interpose with the
bishop on g4. As it comes back, the black king also runs back to the corner... 61.Bd7 Kb4 62.Kg6 Kc5 63.Kg5 Kd6=
58...Kb2 59.h5 Bd3 60.h6
If 60.Kf6 Black is saved again by one tempo 60...Kxa3 61.Bf5 Bxf5 62.Kxf5 Kb2 63.h6 a3 64.h7 a2 65.h8=Q+ Kb1=
60...Kxa3 61.Bd7 Kb3 62.Bxa4+ 1/2
11
Averbakh
Averbakh has composed some very instructive studies on the following topic. White has a healthy protected extra pawn
but Black seems to have built a fortress, as without capturing the b5 pawn White cannot win. However White has a
subtle winning plan.
1.Bc6
The first step is to occupy the f1–a6 diagonal with the bishop. This can be easily done with Kd4 and Be4-d3 as all the
pawn endgames are winning.
1...Bf1 2.Be4 Be2 3.Kd4 Bc4 4.Bd3 Be6 5.Kc5 Bd7
The first step is complete, but Black still seems to keep a fortress. However the a4-e8 diagonal is shorter; it actually has
only two squares on d7 and e8 that the bishop could use. White must take away the one on d7. For this, he must lose a
tempo first.
6.Bf1! Be8 7.Bh3! Ka7
The king leaves the b5 pawn for a moment and White immediately uses the opportunity to play (7...Bf7 loses to
8.Bc8++–)
8.Bg2!+–
and Bc6 wins the b5 pawn next. 8.Bc8!+– also sets Black into a decisive zugzwang as the bishop cannot move and
...Kb8 is met by Ba6.
12
Averbakh
The same position but with central pawns is winning far more easily as White has more squares for maneuvering. The
fastest winning plan is
1.Be3 Bg3 2.Ba7!
Bb8 is threatening to win the pawn and after
2...Kc7 3.Ke6+–
The game is over.
13
Averbakh
This is similar to the first Averbakh study with a5 & b4 pawns against b5. The winning technique is the same: to
transfer the bishop to the b1–h7 diagonal. The only difference is that now Black can also switch to the g4-h3 diagonal,
but it does not save him.
1.Bc4! Bc2 2.Bd3 Bd1
2...Ba4 loses like we have seen before 3.Ke5 Bd7 4.Bc2! losing a tempo and after 4...Bc8 5.Ba4! Kg7 (5...Bb7
6.Be8++–) 6.Bb3+– Be6 next. (Or 6.Be8+– )
3.Ke5 Bg4
The winning plan again involves placing Black in zugzwang.
4.Bb5 Bh3 5.Be8+ Kg7 6.Bh5!+–
Black only has bad moves available, all of which are losing immediately.
14
Practical position
In closing this chapter we will examine two examples where the material is balanced, but the huge difference between
the activity of the pieces and the quality of the pawns decide the game. White has a b-passed pawn which ties Black
down, but White must be careful not to allow the sacrifice of the bishop, because the h8 corner is wrong. Both black
pawns are fixed on light squares where the bishop and the king can attack them. White wins after
1.Bc2!
A zugzwang right away. ...Kg6 allows Ke5, while a bishop move either drops the f5 pawn or allows the b-pawn to run.
1...Bb5
1...Kg6 2.Ke5+–;
1...Be6 2.b5 Bd7 3.b6 Bc8 4.Bxf5+–
2.Bxf5 Ba4 3.Bd3 Bc6
White is a pawn up, but he still needs to find a plan to make progress as yet he cannot advance his b-pawn. The solution
lies once again behind a zugzwang, which can be reached after
4.Be2 Be8 5.Bf3!+–
A bishop move either drops the h5 pawn or allows the b-pawn to advance, while ...Kg6 is met by Ke5 and ...Ke6 loses
to Kg5 when h5 falls.
15
Practical position
The material is balanced and very limited, but the huge difference between the two bishops and the two kings, as well as
the two fixed weaknesses on h6 and d6, allow White to win the game.
11.Kf4! Be7 12.Bb4 Bf8 13.Bc3+ Kf7 14.Kf5 Be7 15.Bd2 Bf8
16.Bf4!
A typical zugzwang. Either one of the pawn falls, or Black allows the penetration of the king with Ke6 or Kg6. All
options are hopeless. If it was White’s move now, he could lose the tempo by using the method of triangulation. The
concrete execution is, for example, Bh2-Be7-Bg3-Bf8-Bf4 and we have reached the goal.
2.3. COMPLEX BISHOP ENDGAMES
The difference between the 2.3 and 2.5 chapters, is that the examples in the current one are already complex (there are
many pawns on board), but they could still belong to theoretical positions. We will discuss the following important
topics: “One flank endgames”, “Breakthrough”, “Passed pawn”, “Many weaknesses”.
1
R. Teichmann
F. Marshall
San Sebastian, 1911
We start the chapter with two examples on the topic of equal pawns on one flank. Black clearly has the advantage
because of his more active pieces and the weakness on g2 which ties the white bishop down. Is it enough for the win?
The g2 pawn is only one weakness, the material is quite limited, and if Black tries to make progress with ...f5-g4 it
leads to exchanges — and pawn endgames if White goes Ke2-Bc4 Ke1–Bxf1 lead to a draw.
68...Bd5 69.Ke2!
Fortunately for White the pawn endgame after Bc4 leads to draw, otherwise he would have immediately got into
zugzwang and would have to allow the king to f2 — which is game over.
69...f5
69...Bc4+ 70.Ke1 Bxf1 71.Kxf1 White can wait on g1–f1 and the ‘going behind the pawns’ technique with 71...Kh2
does not bring anything as White can simply play Kf2-f1. 72.Kf2=
70.Ke3 Be6
If Black tries 70...f4+ 71.Ke2 White has a safe barrier and can just play Ke1–e2. 71...Bb7 (On 71...Kh2 the black king
never gets to f1 (which would be decisive as White could not wait with Ke2 anymore) but 72.Kf2= and White now
starts to move with his bishop.) 72.Ke1 Another try could be the sacrifice with 72...Bxf3 73.gxf3 Kxf3
But it also leads to draw 74.Be2+ Kg2 (74...Kg3 75.Bg4 Kg2 76.Ke2=) 75.Bf1+ Kg3 76.Ke2=
71.Ke2
Black had nothing else left than to open the position with
71...g4
The idea is to trade all the pawns on g4 after which Black gets access to the g2 pawn on the long diagonal. The
drawback is, it leads to simplifications and only one pair of pawns remain on the board.
72.hxg4
72.fxg4 fxg4 73.Ke3 leads to a much easier draw as was recommended by Averbakh. 73...Bd7 White has two different
way to secure the draw. (After 73...gxh3 74.gxh3 there is no more target on g2 and whenever Black takes on h3, the
white king gets back to the corner. 74...Bd7 75.Ke2 Bb5+ 76.Ke1=) 74.Ke2 (74.hxg4 Bxg4 75.Bb5 Or other places for
the bishop on the d3-a6 squares. 75...Kxg2
(If Black wants to capture the g2 pawn with the bishop 75...Be6 76.Bc6 Bc4 77.Bb7 Bf1 78.Bc6 Bxg2 79.Bd7=
White holds the draw as Black could only interfere with his bishop on the h3 and g4 squares, but both can be taken
followed by Kf2 with a draw.) 76.Kf4! (But not 76.Bc6+? which loses to 76...Kg3–+ there is no adequate defense
against h3-h2 and Bh3-g2.) 76...Be6 77.Bc6+ Kf2 (If 77...Kh2 78.Be4 h3 79.Bc6 Kg1 80.Kg3 h2= as we learned,
Black cannot win with the h2 pawn, because the only interference square is on g2, but it is well controlled.) 78.Bd5!
The only move! 78...Bd7 (78...Bxd5 79.Kg4=)
79.Bc6! Following the bishop everywhere, using the fact that it never can be taken because of Kg4 79...Bh3 80.Bd5
Bg2 81.Be6=) 74...Bb5+ (74...Bc6 75.hxg4=) 75.Ke1 Bc6
76.Be2! Another only move, but it is good enough. White is safe in any case, for example (Now not 76.hxg4 Bxg2–+
because the h-pawn will promote with check.) 76...Bxg2 77.Bxg4 Bxh3 78.Bxh3 Kxh3 79.Kf2=
72...fxg4
73.Ke3?
A blunder which remained unpunished. It was obligatory to play 73.fxg4 Bxg4+ 74.Ke1! (74.Ke3 loses now to 74...Bd7
75.Bc4 Kxg2 76.Bd5+ (76.Kf4 h3 77.Bd5+ Kf2–+ h2 and then Bh3-g2 wins.) 76...Kg3–+ followed by h3-h2 and Bh3-
g2.) and after the only moves White holds the draw in the following lines 74...Bd7 75.Bc4 Kxg2 (75...Bc6 76.Be6 Bxg2
77.Ke2= with the same idea that we have seen before. Both interposing attemptswith ...Bh3 or ...Bg4 can be taken.)
76.Bd5+ Kg1
77.Ke2! Again the only move! The king must move to take the opposition from behind. 77...h3 78.Kf3 h2 79.Kg3= and
like this, the bishop cannot interject on g2.
73...Bd7?
Wasting the chance. The winning line was 73...gxf3! 74.gxf3
74...Bd7! 75.Ke2 (75.f4 Bg4! 76.Ke4 Kf2–+) 75...Bb5+ 76.Ke1 Bc6 The threat is ...Bxf3 and ...Bg2. The last chance is
77.f4 but now: 77...Bd7! (77...Bg2 78.f5 h3 79.f6= saves white.) 78.Ke2 Bf5 79.Ke1 (79.Ke3 Bg4–+ and Kf2 next
squeezes out the bishop from its position.) 79...Bg4–+
74.fxg4! Bxg4 75.Ke4?
The last mistake. As we have seen in the 72.fxg4 line, the way to draw was 75.Bb5!
75...Bc8 76.Ke3 Bd7! 0–1
Zugzwang! White resigned in view of 76...Bd7 77.Ke2 (77.Ke4 (or 13.Ke2) Black wins by 77...Bc6+ 78.Ke3 Bxg2–+)
77...Bc6–+
2
P. Skatchkov
S. Vokarev
Russia, 2013
This is an unbelievable story. Two grandmasters are playing and obviously the position is a dead draw. But the game
was actually won by Black in 10 moves! We might think, it is only possible if somebody blunders a bishop or
something drastic, but nothing like this happened. Let’s see how it is possible.
28...f5 29.Kg2 Kf7
Of course, ...f4, ...h4 or any other move leads to a draw.
30.Kf3 g5 31.h3 g4+ 32.hxg4 hxg4+ 33.Kg2
Black has managed to advance his pawns a little bit but of course it does not matter at all — the position is still an easy
draw.
33...e5 34.Ba7 Ke6 35.f3
To exchange one more pawn is not a bad idea, but now Black gets at least some theoretical chances to win. 35.e3 Kd5
36.Kf1 Ke4 37.Ke2= leads to a safer draw. Black cannot even try anything.
35...e4 36.fxe4 fxe4 37.Kf2 Kd5
The position is still a draw, but now it is time for White to be slightly careful. Black wants to put his bishop on d4 and
get his king to d1, which would not help much of course, but at least gives some practical chances.
38.Bb6??
What a shocking move! White blunders the only threat Black has.
38...Bd4+!
Black uses his sudden chance!
39.Bxd4 Kxd4
Out of the blue, the pawn endgame is just lost!
40.Kf1
40.Ke1 also loses after
40...Ke3! White is in zugzwang. 41.Kf1 Kd2 42.Kf2 e3+ 43.Kf1 Kd1–+

40...e3!
White resigned in view of 40...e3 41.Ke1 Kc3 42.Kd1 Kb2 winning the e2 pawn by outflanking.
0–1
3
Practical position
We move on now to our next topic, which is the breakthrough. Black hopes that because his pieces are more active he
can do something. However the only weakness is the c4 pawn, which is perfectly guarded by the king, while the black
pawns are actually fixed on dark squares and they can be attacked by the bishop. Standard attacks are too slow, but
after the brilliant
1.Ba5!
White wins. The threat is Bxb6 and the a-pawn promotes
1...bxa5 2.b6!+–
4
Practical position
A similar story. Here Black intends to create a fortress by moving back with his king to c7. White would have no chance
to make progress, because both black pawns are on dark squares, therefore they cannot be attacked and the only attempt
to do something with c5 leads to the annihilation of all the pawns. However White wins with the immediate
breakthrough
1.c5! dxc5
1...bxc5 2.b6 Bc8 3.dxc5 dxc5 4.Kc4 Transposes to the main line.
2.dxc5
Both captures lead to a theoretically lost position.
2...bxc5
2...Bxb5 3.cxb6 Ba6 4.Kb4 Ke5 5.Kc5 Bc8 6.Kc6 Kd4 7.Kc7 Kc5 As we learned, this position with the b6 pawn is
winning, because the secondary diagonal is too short for the bishop. 8.Bc6 Ba6 9.Bd7+– and Black is in zugzwang. If
the king moves then Bc8 wins.
3.b6 Bc8 4.Kc4 Kf6 5.Kxc5 Ke7 6.Kc6 Kd8 7.Bc4 Bg4 8.Kb7!+–
followed by Ka7 and Ba6-b7 as we have already studied in chapter 2.1.
5
L. Van Wely
V. Kramnik
Arnhem, 1990
Black has a more active king and better structure as his pawns are fixing the white weaknesses (g3 and d4) on the dark
squares where the bishop can attack them. Is it enough for the win? How could Black try to make progress? Well, we
cannot answer the first question at first sight over the board. The best we can do is to execute the only existing plan of
invading on the queenside with the king and see how our opponent reacts to it.
43...Bd6
Tying the bishop to the protection of the g3 pawn.
44.Be1 Ke6!
The king heads to b5 which will be followed by ...a5-a4, trying to create an invasion square for the king.
45.Kd3 Kd7 46.Ke2 Kc6 47.Kd3 Kb5 48.Kc2 a5 49.Kd3 a4

The first critical point from White’s point of view. He might try to create a barrier with Kc2, but in this case he must
evaluate the consequences of a3, or he can trade the pawns on a4 which will be followed by the invasion of the king.
50.bxa4+!
The right decision! 50.Kc2? allowing a3 leads to a loss as White cannot build a fortress afterwards. 50...a3 51.Bf2
White tries to prevent the penetration of the king through c3 by preparing to give a check after ...Kb4. However Black
can still execute it by playing (If 51.Kb1 Bb4! works anyway, Black does not need to be afraid of the pawn endgame
52.Bxb4 (52.Bf2 Bd2! 53.Ka2 Kb4 White finds himself in zugzwang. 54.Bg1 Be1 55.Be3 Bxg3 56.Bc1 Bf2 57.Bxa3+
Kc3–+) 52...Kxb4 53.Ka2 Kc3 54.Kxa3 Kxd4
It is true that White has the distant passed pawn, but the d-pawn is more advanced and better supported. 55.Kb2 (55.b4
Kc4 56.Ka4 d4–+ the d-pawn promotes with check.) 55...Kd3 56.b4 Kc4–+) 51...Ka5 52.Be1+ Bb4 53.Bf2
53...Bd2! The bishop cannot be taken and the king invades via b4. 54.Kb1 Kb4 55.Ka2 In the 51.Kb1 line we have
seen this position with White to move. He was in zugzwang. Now it is Black’s turn. The winning plan is to trap the
bishop.
55...Kc3! 56.Kxa3 Kd3 57.b4 Ke2 58.Bg1 Kf1 59.b5 White just fails by one tempo; Black is in time to catch the b-
pawn. 59...Kxg1 60.b6 Ba5 61.b7 Bc7 62.Kb4 Kf2 63.Kc5 Bxg3 64.Kxd5 Bb8 65.Kc6 g3 66.d5 g2 67.d6 g1=Q–+
50...Kxa4
White must make another difficult decision in choosing a defensive strategy. He either defends passively and calculates
if he will be set into zugzwang after the outflanking of the king (or if it is not a real threat). Or he decides to switch to
active defense by giving up the g3 pawn at some point. As we will see, only the second option — the active defense —
saves the game, but White fails to realize the subtleties...
51.Bf2
White could have played 51.Ke3! Kb3 52.Ba5! giving up the g3 pawn, but switching to activity. 52...Bxg3 53.Bd8 The
bishop is heading Bf6-e5 to gain the f4 square for the king. 53...Kb4 54.Bf6 Kc4 (54...Kb5 55.Be5! and Kf4 next. In
the pawn endgame the king can go pick up the g4 pawn as he will stay in the square of the d-pawn afterwards. (If White
carelessly allows the king’s march to f5, he loses as follows: 55.Bg7? Kc6 56.Bf6 Kd7 57.Bg7 Ke6 58.Bf8 Kf5
59.Be7 Bf4+ 60.Kf2 (60.Kd3 g3–+ is also hopeless.) 60...Ke4 61.Bc5 Be3+ 62.Kg3 Bxd4 63.Bb4 Kf5–+)) 55.Bg7
Black could push ...d4 followed by ...Kd5 after taking on e5, therefore White just waits for the proper moment to play
Be5. 55...Bd6 56.Bf6 Bc7 57.Bg7 Kc3 The king has left the c4 square, therefore 58.Be5! now works since Black
cannot play ...Kd5 after d4 check. 58...Bb6 (58...Bxe5 59.dxe5 d4+ 60.Kf2= the pawns promote at the same time and
the king is ideally placed in front of the g-pawn.) 59.Kf4 Bxd4 60.Bc7 Kd3 (60...Bf6 61.Bb6=) 61.Kxg4 Ke4 62.Ba5
Bc5 63.Bc3=
51...Kb3 52.Be1 Kb2 53.Bf2 Kc1 54.Be3+ Kd1
The last critical moment of the game. White faces the same decision again and must choose between the passive Bf2 or
the active Bf4.
55.Bf2?
White believes that the material is too reduced to get into any trouble, however the last two standing pawns of Black can
still decide the outcome in the case of passive defense. 55.Bf4! Bb4
(The pawn endgame is drawn after 55...Bxf4 56.gxf4 Ke1 (56...g3?? 57.Ke3+–) 57.f5!=) 56.Bd2!! This stalemate idea
allows White to set up the ideal active defense, which we discovered in the 51.Ke3 line. Otherwise the bishop goes to
e1 and Black wins as happens in the game... 56...Be7 57.Ba5 Bd6 58.Ke3 Bxg3 59.Bb4! This is a barrier: a very
important topic in the same colored bishop endgames and we will study such situations in details throughout the next
chapter. White cuts the king from the kingside (if it gets to f1, the g-pawn promotes automatically after removing the
bishop from g3. 59...Bb8 60.Bc3 Bg3 61.Ba5 White just waits. If Black turns back with his king to c2-b3, we already
know the defensive plan of Bd8-f6-e5 saves the game. The only other plan is 61...Be1 62.Bc7 g3 63.Kf3 Kc2 64.Ke2
Bf2 65.Kf3 Kd3 66.Be5
Bxd4 Bxg3 is a safe draw for White. However Black can try to place his opponent in zugzwang using triangulation.
66...Kc3! 67.Kg2 Kc4 68.Kf3 Kd3 Here we are! The same position as three moves before just with White is on move.
If the bishop moves on the e5-h8 squares Bxd4 can be already taken, while any move on the f4-b8 diagonal is met by
...Kxd4. The only move is 69.Kg2 Ke4
White faces the same problem again. He cannot move with the bishop and king moves allow further squeezing.
However a stalemate idea saves White from the defeat: 70.Kh3! Kf3 (70...Bxd4 71.Bxg3 is also drawish 71...Be5
(71...Kf3 72.Bd6 Bf6 73.Bc5=) 72.Bf2 Kf3 73.Bb6=) 71.Bxg3! Bxg3= Stalemate!
55...Ba3 56.Ke3 Bc1+ 57.Kd3
57...Bd2!
Black makes progress step-by-step and it is already becoming very unpleasant for White who soon runs out of moves
because his pieces stand too passively.
58.Be3 Be1 59.Bf4 Bf2!
Black only needs to walk towards the g-pawn. White tries to run out with his king, but it is too late to search for
counterplay.
60.Be5 Ke1 61.Kc3 Ke2 62.Kb4 Kf3 63.Kc5 Ke4–+
White resigned in view of the decisive zugzwang. One of the pawns is lost.
0–1
6
A. Stefanova
B. Yildiz
Kazan, 2012
This is an extremely interesting practical endgame to analyze. White has the principled advantage because of the distant
passed pawn. Just like in a pawn endgame, White could exchange it for the pawn on e4 and his king would be closer to
the kingside. White is winning with perfect play.
48.b4?
Of course the right idea in long term, but as it is not running away he could have improved his position on the kingside
first by fixing the opponent’s pawns on light squares where they could be attacked by the bishop. 48.g5! was the right
move from a positional point of view as well objectively 48...Ke5 49.b4 Bd5
a) 49...Kf5 50.h4 Ke5 A funny position. The best move is 51.Bb5! (If White starts with 51.Ba6 Bd5 saves Black
temporarily because of 52.b5 Bc4!) 51...Bd5
(51...Kd5 52.Ba6+– and Bb7 next.) 52.Ba6! And now, when it is Black to move, it is zugzwang. ...Bc6 and ...Ba8 both
lose to b5-b6-b7. Bishop moves on the a2-g8 diagonal allows Bb7, while after 52...Kd6 53.Kd4!+– the days of the e4
pawn (without the king on e5) are numbered.
b) 49...Kd5 loses to 50.Ba6!+– and Black has serious problems dealing with the Bb7 threat. The e4 pawn falls.
50.b5 Ba8 Black intends to play ...Bb7 only after b6, to avoid Ba6.
51.Bg4! White should keep his pawn on b5 to have Bd7-c6 at his disposal. The direct threat is Bc8, when b6-b7 cannot
be prevented. Therefore Black must play 51...Bb7 52.Bd7! with the threat of Bc6, transposing into a winning pawn
endgame 52...Kd6 53.Be8! The bishop has invaded the black camp and causes many problems. Bc6 is hanging in the
air if the king moves back to the e-file, and at the same time he is threatening Bf7-g8 going for the fixed weaknesses.
The only move to avoid it is 53...Bd5 (Black is closer with a tempo and it is enough to save the game after 53.Bc6 Bxc6
54.bxc6 Kxc6 55.Kxe4 Kd6=)
54.Kd4! Black seems to be in zugzwang, but he can still resist with an amazing resource. 54...Kc7! Black just wants to
play ...Kd6-c7 and the bishop is trapped on e8 and cannot fulfill its plan to go Bc6 or Bf7. The bishop cannot be taken
because e3 is unstoppable.
However he is winning after 55.h3!! Spending the tempo on having the black king on c7 at the moment White pushes
h5! 55...Kd6 56.h4 Kc7 57.h5!+– and the point is that after 57...gxh5 58.Kxd5+– is already hanging because the e-
pawn can be stopped by the bishop from h5.
48.b4? Ke5?
It is clear that Black also should have played 48...g5! putting his own pawns on dark squares, opposite to the bishop’s
color and at the same time fixing the white pawns on light squares. 49.b5 Ke5 50.b6 Bc8 51.Bc4
51...Bb7 White is unable to make any further improvement. 52.Bg8 h6 53.Bc4 Bc8 54.Be2 Bb7 55.Bb5 Kd5=
49.h3?
Missing the chance to play 49.g5! transposing into the winning line.
49...h5?!
With this move Black is risking quite a lot. Of course the idea is correct: to exchange as many pawns as possible. But
again, 49...g5 would lead to a much safer draw.
50.gxh5!
The only chance for White is to block the black pawn on white squares.
50...gxh5 51.h4 Bf7

White still has all the hopes to convert his advantage, because both black pawns are fixed on light squares and the
distant passed pawn has a big value. The only big problem is that the h8 corner does not match to the color of his
bishop. This is actually enough for Black to save the game.
52.Bb5
52.b5!? leads to a forced draw after 52...Kd5 53.Kf4
53...e3! By sacrificing the e-pawn, Black pushes the white king one step back, giving him just enough time to bring the
king to g8! 54.Kxe3 Be8! 55.b6 (55.Kf4
55...Bxb5! 56.Bxb5 Ke6 57.Kg5 Kf7 58.Kh6 Kg8 Draw.) 55...Kc6
56.Bb5+! The pretty trick that we saw in the Tiviakov-Romanov game in chapter 2.2, but here it does not help.
56...Kxb6 57.Bxe8 Kc7 58.Kf4 (58.Bxh5 Kd6=) 58...Kd8! An important tempo. 59.Bxh5 Ke7 60.Kg5 Kf8 61.Kh6
Kg8= and again Black is in time.
52...Kd5 53.Bd7 Kd6?
A blunder after which White is suddenly winning.

53...Kc4 was the easiest way to make a draw 54.b5 Bd5 White will need to give up the b-pawn to be able to take the h-
pawn in exchange 55.Be8 (55.Bc6 Kc5 56.Bxd5 Kxd5 is just a draw by force, viz: 57.b6 Kc6 58.Kxe4 Kxb6 59.Kf5
Kc6 60.Kg5 Kd6 61.Kxh5 Ke7 62.Kg6 Kf8= just in time.) 55...Kc5 56.Bxh5 Kxb5 57.Bg6 Kc5 58.h5 Kd6 59.h6
Bg8 60.Kxe4 Ke6 with a draw.
54.Ba4!
And suddenly White is winning!
54...Bg6
54...Ke5 55.Bc6 Bg6 56.b5+– and Black loses the e-pawn and with it, the game!
55.Kd4!
It is a huge improvement for White to squeeze out the black king from the excellent central square. The e4 pawn cannot
be defended properly.
55...Kc7
56.Bb5?!
56.Bc2! This move would win on the spot! 56...e3 (56...Kb6 also loses 57.Bxe4 Bxe4 58.Kxe4 Kb5 59.Kf5 Kxb4
60.Kg5 Kc5 61.Kxh5 Kd6 62.Kg6 Ke7 63.Kg7+– and White is in time to prevent Kf8.) 57.Bd1 Kb6
58.Be2!+– The final important detail! White prevents ...Kb5 and takes on e3. Then he takes his king to g5 and grabs the
other weakness as well.
56...Kb6 57.Be2 Kc6 58.Ke5 Kb6 59.Kd5 Bf5 60.Ke5 Bg6

61.Kf6?
This is the last mistake after which the game is drawn. 61.Bc4! would have been the right move. Black is in zugzwang
and needs to take away the c6 square with his king. 61...Kc6 62.Kf6! and only now Kf6 wins the game 62...Be8
63.Kf5 The e-pawn is lost as Black no longer has ...Bc6! 63...e3 64.Kf4+–
61...Be8!
Now the Black bishop is going to b5, securing a draw.
62.Kf5 Bb5! 63.Bxb5 Kxb5 64.Kxe4 Kxb4 65.Kf5 Kc5 66.Kg5 Kd6 67.Kxh5 Ke7 68.Kg6 Kf8 69.Kh7 Kf7 70.h5
Kf8 1/2
The game finally finished in a draw. There were many mistakes, but they were all very instructive ones that we should
learn from.
7
A. Savina
S. Gvetadze
Chakvi, 2015
The material may be balanced, but both white pieces are more active and all the black pawns are fixed on dark squares.
Nevertheless, Black could have saved the game with active defense. Let’s analyze how as it is very instructive.
83...Bf8?
Too passive and Black is lost now. 83...Kf7! 84.Kc4! (84.Ke4
is harmless now. As we recall from the last game of chapter 2.2, we had the same position but without the two g-pawns,
and here White could play Kf5. That position was winning. The big difference is that after 84...g6 85.Be3 Bf8 86.Bf4
Black is not forced to take on h5 which would allow the white king to occupy the f5 square, but rather he holds the
tension and White cannot make progress. 86...Kf6=) 84...g6 85.Kb5 gxh5 86.gxh5 Bg5 Active defense with the bishop!
87.Kc6 Ke7
Both black pawns are fixed and with subtle bishop maneuvers White can win one of them by placing Black in
zugzwang. 88.Bc3 Bh4 89.Bd2 Bg5 90.Bb4 Bf4 91.Ba3!
Here is the zugzwang! If Black waits with the bishop, Bc1 wins the h6 pawn. Surprisingly Black can launch his own
counterplay and he is just in time to save the game. 91...Kf6 92.Bxd6 Bd2 93.Bc7 Bb4! Black holds the pawn as long
as he can 94.Bb6 (94.Bf4 also leads to a draw 94...Kf5 95.Bxh6 Kg4 96.Be3 Kxh5 97.Bc5 Be1 The black king gets
back in time. We only focus now on the main line 98.d6 Kg6 99.d7 Bh4 Usually the winning plan is to drive the king
to c8 and play Bd8, but now it fails by one tempo... 100.Kc7 Kf7 101.Kc8
101...Ke6! as we know, it is very important to take the direct opposition with the king, therefore we must hurry to c6!
102.Bb6 Kd5! 103.Bd8 Be1 104.Bg5 Ba5 105.Bf4 and at the moment when Bc7 would be decisive, the black king just
arrives to save the game 105...Kc6!=) 94...Kg5 95.Bc5 Bd2 96.d6 Kxh5 97.d7 Bg5 98.Kc7 Kg6 99.Kc8 The black
king is not in time to get back to c6, but now the h-pawn creates counterplay just in time. 99...h5 100.Bb6 h4 101.Bd8
Bxd8 102.Kxd8 h3=
83...Bf8? 84.Kc4! Kd7
84...Kf7 It is too late for this plan 85.Kb5 g6 86.Kc6 gxh5 87.gxh5 Ke7 88.Bb2 Kf7 89.Ba3 the pawn is lost and the
counterplay is too slow 89...Kf6 90.Bxd6 Bg7 91.Bc5 Kg5 92.Be7+ Kxh5 93.d6 Bc3 94.d7 Ba5 95.Kb7 Kg6
96.Kc8+– taking the d8 square under control and Bd6-c7 is coming after any move. The h-pawn is too far away from
promotion.
85.Kb5 Kc7
86.Ka6!
White proceeds by outflanking. He can create a zugzwang any time he likes as the f8 bishop is tied to defense and White
can always give away the right to move with a bishop pass.
86...Kc8 87.Kb6 Kd7 88.Kb7 Ke8
Trying to create a barrier with 88...Be7 89.Bxg7 Bg5 fails, because White has all the time to improve his position. He
brings his king back to the center and trades the bishops. 90.Bc3 Be3 91.Ka6 Bg5 92.Kb5 Ke7 93.Kc4 Kf7 94.Kd3
Bf4 95.Ke4 Bg5 96.Bd4+–
89.Kc6 Kf7
89...Kd8 90.Bb6++– Bc7 next is equally hopeless.
90.Kd7 g6
90...Be7 91.Bxg7+–
91.hxg6+ Kxg6 92.Ke8!
The bishop is trapped and the pawn endgame is lost. The destiny of the poor bishop after playing 83...Bf8 in the initial
position.
92...Bg7 93.Bxg7 Kxg7 94.Ke7 Kg6 95.Kxd6 Kg5 96.Ke5+–
Black resigned in few moves.
1–0
8
Averbakh
Here is a classic composition by Averbakh on the topic of “fixed weaknesses”. Black has actually three fixed
weaknesses on d5-f5-h5. If it was Black’s move he would be in zugzwang. How to give the right to move to Black?
Simple triangulation does not work, because Black has three squares on both e8-g6 and e6-g8 diagonals with the
bishop. White must instead start a hidden maneuver to accomplish the plan.
1.Be2! Be8 2.Bd3! Bg6
2...Bd7 loses to 3.Bc2 Be6 4.Bd1 Bf7 5.Bf3+– and the job is done.
3.Bc2 Bh7 4.Bb3!
White must calculate precisely at which moment he should switch back to f3. 4.Bd1 is still met by 4...Bg6 5.Bf3 Bf7
4...Bg8
And now:
5.Bd1! Bf7 6.Bf3+–

2.4. BARRIER
I decided to dedicate a separate chapter to this topic, because this is one of the most important defensive resources for
the weaker side to save the game in same-colored bishop endgames. As we will see in all the examples, the weaker side
will be materially behind, but he will try to create an unbreakable barrier.
1
Practical position
Here is a simple illustration of the barrier. White is a healthy pawn up, but he has zero chance to win the game because
without the dark-squared bishop he cannot even touch the d6 king and the e5 pawn.
2
A. Matanovic
W. Uhlmann
Skopje, 1976
White wins the d5 pawn and obtains a healthy extra pawn. However Black builds an unbreakable barrier and holds the
draw
50...Bc6 51.Bxd5
51.cxd5 does not change anything and is actually an even worse attempt, because now the black king can keep its
excellent outpost on d6 51...Be8=
51...Be8 52.c5+ Kc7
This is a classic barrier. White is a clear pawn up, but the c-pawn itself is not enough to win the game as it is impossible
to get past the black king. White must win another pawn, which could be only done with the king as they are on the
opposite-coloured square from his white-squared bishop. White can try three directions to invade with his king.
Through d5-e6, e4-f5 or g4-h5. As we can see, all of them are light squares which can be controlled by the black
bishop.
53.Ke4
53.Be4 Bf7=
53...Bg6+ 54.Kf3 Bf5 55.Be4 Bd7=
Black has a lot of space to move with his bishop and he easily holds all the entrances.
3
P. Stefanov
A. Beliavsky
Bucharest, 1980
Here is another instructive example. Black has built a barrier and he holds the draw despite the very dangerous passed
pawn on c6. The main problem is that all the white pawns are fixed on light squares and he cannot use his pieces with
full power as they are obliged to take care of them.
72.Kd3
Another winning attempt is 72.c7 with the idea being to deflect the black king from its excellent central position and to
occupy its place with the king to get access to the g5 pawn. 72...Bb7 73.Bd3 The threat of Bf5 forces Black to retreat
73...Kd6 74.Kd4
74...Bc8! This is the precise defense. Black actually does not need the c7 pawn at all. It is more important to hold the
barrier, blocking all the entrances inside the camp and for that he must keep his king on d6. 75.Bf5 leads to a draw at
the end (On 75.Be2 Black just waits with 75...Bd7=) 75...Bxf5 76.gxf5 Kxc7 77.Ke5 Kd7 78.f6 g4 79.Kf4 Ke6
80.Kxg4 Kxf6 81.Kf4=
72.Kd3 Bd5!
Black brings his bishop back to e6 from where it keeps the g4 pawn under attack and prevents the promotion of the c-
pawn.
73.Ke3 Be6 74.Bf3 Bc8= 1/2
Black has just started waiting with his bishop and White has no chance to invade with his king and bishop comfortably
holds the passed pawn. The players agreed to a draw soon afterwards.
4
M. Vachier-Lagrave
C. Balogh
Legnica, 2013
Black is a healthy extra pawn up, but it is the one on e6 which is currently pretty useless. Also, after trading it with ...e5,
White will have a perfect barrier with the king on d3. The situation, however, is trickier, as because Black can try to go
behind the b3 pawn. White must defend precisely.
49...Kg4 50.Bd2 Kf3 51.Be1
White is fighting against the king’s march to the queenside.
51...Kg2
The king is heading to the e1 square, but of course it will not be easy to get the bishop out from the diagonal.
52.Bd2 Kf2 53.Bb4 a6
I decided to put my pawn on a light square to avoid getting attacked later on. There was a nice trick, for example, after
53...Kf1 White cannot trap the bishop with 54.Bc5 with the idea of paralyzing Black, because of 54...e5! 55.Bxb6 e4+!
This intermediate check wins the game. 56.Ke3 axb6–+
54.Bd2 Bc7
Black need not hurry to make progress, since White can only pass with his bishop...
55.Bc3 Bf4 56.Bb4 Kf1!
Getting ready to bring the bishop to e1 to send its opposite number away from the e1–a5 diagonal.
57.Bc3 Bg5 58.Bb4 Bh4 59.Ba5

59...Be1!
This is basically the same as if Black had a pawn on e2 and he is fighting to expel the light squared bishop from the e1
square.
60.Bd8
White transfers his bishop to the h4-e1 diagonal this time, but this is one square shorter than e1–a5, and it is enough for
Black to get him into zugzwang!
60...Bb4 61.Bh4 Ba3 62.Kd2!
Good prophylaxis against the ...Bc1 threat. 62.Bg3 would have been met by 62...Bc1 63.Bh4 Bf4! and White is in
zugzwang. If the king moves, ...Ke2 comes closer, while on any bishop move, ...Ke1 is possible.
62...Bd6 63.Ke3
63...Bh2!
White is in zugzwang. He must allow Black to play ...Ke1!
64.Bg5
64.Kd3 Bf4! and ...Ke1 next.

64.Kd2 Bf4+ 65.Kd3 Bh6 66.Bg3
66...Bg5! the bishop cannot hold the diagonal and again, ...Ke1 next.
64...Ke1 65.Kd3 Kd1

I got closer to my aim of getting my king to b2, but this time I need to send away the bishop from the c1–h6 diagonal. It
can only be done if I transfer my bishop to c1.
66.Bd2 Bd6 67.Bg5 Ba3
68.Kc3!!
Brilliant defense by my opponent! Only this hidden idea saves White from losing! If White continues waiting, then
68.Bf4 Bc1 69.Bd6 Bd2 70.Bc5
70...Be1! This is the key and it wins for Black. ...Kc1 is threatened now, because after Ba3, Black has ...Kb1. White is
forced to play 71.Ba3 but Black can create a zugzwang with a triangulation! 71...Bf2 72.Kc3 Bg3 73.Kd3 (73.Bb2
loses to 73...e5!–+ and ...e4 next, as the pawn cannot be taken.) 73...Be1 Here we are! Only the bishop can move now.
74.Bb2 (74.Bd6 Kc1–+ wins.) 74...Bb4 and here is another zugzwang. Black wins. 75.Ba1 Kc1–+
68...a5
I was very unhappy to make this move, putting my pawn on a dark square, but I could not make progress otherwise. The
point of the 68.Kc3 move is that after 68...Bc1 White has 69.Bxc1! Kxc1
70.b4! and the pawn endgame is drawn. White holds the draw by keeping the opposition with the king. 70...Kb1 71.Kb3
Ka1 72.Ka3 Kb1 73.Kb3 Kc1 74.Kc3=;
68...Ke2 would have been another way to progress, but this time White can trap the bishop by 69.b4! The only move to
rescue it from the threat of Kb3 is 69...Kd1 but now 70.Kb3 Bc1 71.Bxc1 Kxc1 72.Kc3= and we have the same draw.
69.Kd3 Bc1
With the pawn on a5 I already cannot win the game, as White has a target there.
70.Bd8 Bd2 71.Be7!
Another only move to have Ba3 check on ...Kc1.
71...Kc1 72.Ba3+ Kd1 73.Be7 Bb4
73...Be1 The triangulation no longer helps. 74.Bg5 Bg3 75.Bd8 White can force the bishop back to e1...
74.Bg5
I had to admit that my opponent had built an unbreakable barrier and agreed to a draw.
1/2
5
I. Cheparinov
D. Anton Guijarro
European Championship, 2016
Here is another typical example of the barrier. White is a pawn up, but he has no chances to win. The f-pawn itself
cannot be promoted because it cannot go through the f6 king with the absence of the dark-squared bishop. The black
pawns stand ideally on dark squares, where they cannot be attacked by the bishop, while the white pawns on a4-b5
become a target if the bishop leaves c2. White must try to invade with his king and Black’s task is to avoid it with the
bishop.
56.Kf3 Bd5+ 57.Ke3 Bf7 58.Kd4 Be6
Black is just waiting. White cannot make progress for the moment, therefore he tries to open the queenside with a5 to
get access to the c7 pawn from behind.
59.Kc3 Bd5 60.Kb4 Bb7 61.a5 bxa5+ 62.Kxa5

Black must control the a6 square now, therefore he stops waiting with the bishop and makes moves with the king
instead .
62...Ke6 63.Kb4 Kf6 64.Kc5
The new invasion square is on c6, which Black has to take care of.
64...Bf3 65.Bd3
65.Bb3 allows 65...Kf5 66.Bd5 Be2 67.Kc6 Kxf4= because even if White manages to win the c7 pawn after defending
the b5 pawn, Black just takes on b5 and runs back to the corner as the h8 square does not match the color of the white
bishop.
65...Bg2 66.Kd4 Bf3 67.Ke3 Bd5 68.Bf1
Of course, White has all the time for manoeuvring with his pieces.
68...Bf7 69.Ke4 Be8 70.Bd3 Bd7 71.Kd5

White has found the ideal place for his bishop on d3 from where it protects the b5 pawn and prevents ...Kf5. It is all
very nice, but he still cannot break through with his king.
71...Be8 72.Kc5 Ke6 73.Be4 Kf6 74.Bd3 Bd7 75.Bf1 Kg6 76.Bd3+ Kf6
White could not make progress and a draw was soon agreed.
1/2
6
A. Morozevich
V. Artemiev
Moscow (rapid), 2014
White is a pawn up, but he has a very bad pawn structure mainly because it is fixed. He can only create a passed pawn
by trading pawns, but reducing the material brings the defending side closer to the desired draw. The black pawns are
fixed on the light squares, which matches the color of the white bishop, but the black king safely protects them. Black
holds the draw rather comfortably...
49.g3 Bb1 50.Ke1
White invades with his king on the queenside. Black cannot avoid it by transferring his own king to d6, because it is
forced to guard the pawn on g6 against the potential Bd3 threat, aiming to exchange the bishops.
50...Be4 51.Kd2 Bf5
Black patiently waits.
52.Bf3 Ke7
This move is unnecessary but nevertheless possible because White cannot trade the bishops with Bd3 now.
53.Kc3 Kf6
The king returns to its ideal place and Black continues waiting with his bishop.
54.Kb4 Bh3 55.Kc5 Bf5 56.Kd6

56...Bh3!
It is important to wait on the h3-g4-f5 squares to avoid the g4 break. 56...Bd3? allows 57.g4! hxg4 58.Bxg4+– and the
e6 pawn is lost.
57.e4
The attempt to get three pawns for the bishop is rather dangerous for White: 57.Bxd5? exd5 58.Kxd5 Bg2+! 59.Kc5
(White gets into zugzwang after 59.e4? Bf3–+ and the e4 pawn falls.) 59...Ke6! The white pawns are excellently
blockaded. 60.Kc4 otherwise Black goes ...Kd5. 60...Bd5+! It is important to transfer the bishop to f3 before invading
with the king. (The direct 60...Kf5? runs into 61.d5 Ke4
Everything seems to be under control as the bishop stops the d-pawn from h3, but suddenly 62.g4!! Bf3 (62...Bh3
63.f5!) 63.f5! keeping the h3-c8 diagonal closed! 63...Ke5! The only move, otherwise Black even loses.
64.d6! An only move also for White! The bishop was threatening to take on d5 with check. 64...Kxd6 65.gxh5 gxh5
66.Kd4= followed by e4-e5 and driving the king to f4-g5. The game ends in a draw!) 61.Kc5 Bf3 62.Kc4 Kf5! 63.d5
Ke4! already works as g4 makes no sense for White. Black wins. 64.d6 Bg4–+
57...dxe4 58.Bxe4
A pair of pawns has been traded, but White is still very far from creating a passed pawn.
58...Bg4 59.Bc6
White plays out all of his cards! Black must be very careful.
59...Bd1!
Black realizes the danger and continues defending precisely! He must change the diagonal of his bishop. 59...Bh3? or
59...Bf5 was wrong in view of 60.Bd7! Bf5 61.Bc8! An important waiting move and after both ...Bg4 and ...Bh3, d5
wins! 61...Bg4 62.d5! exd5 63.Bxg4 hxg4 64.Kxd5+–
60.Be4
60.Bd7 Bb3!= Black holds!
60...Bb3
In comparison to the positions when the d5 and e3 pawns were still on the board, Black had to be careful to not allow
g4. However without the pawn on d5, the e6 pawn is safe!
61.Kd7 Ba4+ 62.Kd8
62...Bb5!
Black keeps a barrier and prevents the king’s march to h7!
63.Bc2 Bc6 64.Kc7 Bb5 65.Bb3 Ke7 66.Bd1 Bc4
Black has already shown the right defensive ideas against all the dangerous attempts. It is time to wait for White to
make some progress.
67.Bf3 Bd3 68.Kc6 Bc2 69.Kc5 Bd3 70.d5
White decides to trade one more pawn, but the material is reduced again. There was no good way to make some
progress in any event.
70...exd5 71.Kd4 Bb1 72.Ke5 Kf7 73.Bxd5+ Kg7
The problem remains the same for White! He still lacks a passed pawn and the only way to create one is by trading even
more pawns...
74.Be6 Bc2 75.f5 gxf5 76.Bxf5 Bd1!
Of course Black must keep the bishops until the end! White is still missing a passed pawn and after playing g4, Black
just takes everything and the pawn endgame is a theoretical draw.
77.Be4 Kh6!
It is important to protect the h6 pawn in order to avoid the last trick of Kf4 followed by Bf3!
78.Kf4 Ba4 79.Bf3 Be8 80.Ke5 Bd7 81.Kf6 Bc8 82.Be4 Bd7 83.Bf5 Bb5 1/2
Draw agreed! Nice defense by Black!
7
P. Negi
Liu Guanchu
Chinese league, 2012
This is a unique endgame. Black seems to be completely winning as he’ll soon start to collect the weak pawns one-by-
one. However, White found an incredible practical chance...
45...Be3
Maybe Black was expecting resignation, but...
46.f5!!
After 46.g3 Black wins easily with 46...h4! 47.gxh4 Bxf4 Taking the e5 pawn secures an easy win with the connected e-
and f- passed pawns.
46...gxf5?
It’s incredible but after this logical move the position is drawn, despite the fact that Black will get the e5 pawn soon.
46...exf5! was the right move, but here also Black’s winning plan is far from obvious. First, let’s get to the critical
position... 47.Kd1 Kd3 48.Bd6 Bd4 49.Ke1 Ke4 Black collects the second pawn. 50.Ke2 Bxe5 51.Be7 The main
problem is the fact that the h1 promotion square doesn’t match the Black bishop. White’s pawns are excellently placed
to meet Black’s only idea of advancing the pawns... The upcoming position could be reached by many different move
orders. 51...f4 52.Bc5 g5 53.Be7 f6 54.Bd8 Bd4 We have reached another critical position. Black has created a hidden
threat, which we will discuss in 55.Be7... (54...g4? would be a huge mistake, since after 55.hxg4 hxg4 Black’s only
attempt to create a passed pawn would be f3, but after gxf3 gxf3 Kf1, Black can’t progress with his doubled f-pawn.)
55.Bc7 To prevent the f3 sacrifice, but it allows another idea. (55.Be7
55...f3+! is the right way to break White’s defense. 56.gxf3+ Kf4 Black wants to penetrate with ...Kg3. 57.h4 (57.Bd6+
doesn’t prevent it because of 57...Be5) and now 57...g4! It’s very important not to be too greedy. The connected passed
pawns decide the game. (57...gxh4? would spoil the win. 58.Bxf6! h3
59.Kf1! Kxf3 60.Be5!! The only move to stop the pawn, but it is enough. 60...Bxe5 61.Kg1= and draw.) 58.fxg4 hxg4
Black wins automatically.) 55...f5! Now Black can push ...g4, since after hxg4, he can recapture with the f-pawn, but of
course White does not intend to help with hxg4... 56.Bd8 g4 57.Bg5 Be5 58.Bh4 Now the most precise way to win is
58...Kd5! with the idea of pushing ...f3, and gxf3 doesn’t come with check anymore. 59.Be1
(59.Kf1 leads to the same after 59...f3! 60.gxf3 gxh3!) 59...f3+! 60.gxf3 gxh3 The white king is forced to stop the h-
pawn, but it allows Black to win the f-pawn and, with it, the game. 61.Kf1 Kd4 62.Bd2 Kd3 63.Bg5 Bg3 White can’t
hold the e2-e3 squares for long, because of the Be1–d2 threat! 64.Kg1 (64.Bh6 Be1! and Bd2, Ke3!) 64...Ke2 65.f4
Kf3 66.Kh1 Bxf4 67.Be7 Black must only be careful not to allow White to give up the bishop for his f-pawn, but this
is already easily achievable in many different ways. One of them is 67...Ke4 68.Bf8 Bb8 69.Bh6 Ba7 70.Kh2 Be3
71.Bf8 f4 72.Kxh3 f3 73.Bb4 Kd3 74.Be1 Ke2 75.Bh4 Bf4!–+ Black is in zugzwang and he must leave the diagonal.
47.Kd1 Kd3 48.Ke1 Bd4 49.Bd6 Ke4 50.Ke2 Bxe5 51.Bc5
The game is quite an easy draw, but Black finds the only attempt to win and his opponent fails to realize its point. The
problem is the same once again, that the h1 square is wrong for the bishop. Black doesn’t even have the chance to play
...f3, since he can only support it from e4 with the king or the pawn. The only thing what White must be careful about is
not to let the Black king get to g3, but this is a not-so-difficult task.
51...Bd4 52.Bd6 e5 53.Be7! Kf4
53...f4 is a hopeless attempt. 54.Bh4 Kf5 55.Be7 e4 56.Bh4
White has built a barrier. Black doesn’t even have the smallest chance to improve his position.
54.Bh4!
When the Black king is on f4, White’s bishop must be ready to pass on the h4, f2 and e1 squares. If the Black bishop
leaves the g1–a7 diagonal to limit the places of his colleague, White can play Kf2 as well.
54...Bc5 55.Be1 Ke4 56.Bh4 Kf4 57.Be1 Be7 58.Bf2 Bb4 59.Bh4 Bc5 60.Be1
After trying for a while, Black finds his last chance!
60...Bg1! 61.Bh4 e4!

The final critical position. Black has found the excellent idea of pushing ...e3, followed by ...Bf2 forcing White’s bishop
to allow ...Kg3, since the pawn endgame would be winning for Black. White should have found the only move to hold
the draw.
62.Be1?
62.Kf1! The bishop must be expelled from g1 to prevent ...e3-...Bf2. 62...Bh2 (On 62...Bd4 White returns to 63.Ke2)
63.Ke2 e3 (63...Bg3 64.Bd8 Black has successfully sent away the bishop, but his own piece deprives Black from
playing Kg3. That’s why e3-Bf2 is much more effective!) This is very important now. Black has refreshed the threat of
Bg1–f2, so the only move is 64.Kf1! using the fact that Black doesn’t have ...Ke3 anymore. 64...Bg3 (64...Ke4 65.Ke2
Black can’t break through.) 65.Bd8 Bf2 66.Bc7+ Kg5 67.Ke2= with a draw.
62...e3!
Now Black is winning, and the correct technique was well demonstrated by the Chinese player!
63.Kf1
63.Bh4 Bf2 64.Bd8 (64.Bxf2 The pawn endgame is equally hopeless. 64...exf2 65.Kxf2 h4! Zugzwang! 66.Kf1 Kg3
67.Kg1 f4 and f3 next.) 64...Kg3 65.Kf1 e2+ will be the same as the game. 66.Kxe2 Kxg2
63...Bf2 64.Ba5 Kg3! 65.Bc7+

65...f4!
Black has successfully installed his king on g3. The barrier no longer holds.
66.Bd6 h4 67.Bc7 f5 68.Bd6
68...e2+ 69.Kxe2 Kxg2 70.Bxf4 Bg3 71.Be3 f4 72.Bc5
Despite the corner being ‘bad’, White’s king can be squeezed out. 72.Bxf4 Bxf4 73.Ke1 Bg3+ 74.Ke2 Bf2–+
72...f3+ 73.Kd3 Kxh3 0–1

8
C. Balogh
D. Baramidze
Austria, 2012
White is winning, but he must be careful to avoid the hidden threat of allowing Black to build a barrier.
81.Bb6?
After this careless move Black achieves what he wanted. It was necessary to keep an eye on the e5 pawn to prevent
...Kg6 and ...f5! 81.Bc3! Kg6 82.f3! Bc5+ 83.Ke2 Bb6 84.g4! This is the winning position, but it still requires good
technique. Black has nothing else other than passing with the bishop. 84...Bc5 85.Be1! White prepares the plan with
Kd3-c4-d5, but first he had to prevent ...Bf2. 85...Bb6 86.Kd3 Ba7 87.Kc4 At this moment, due to the gxh5, Kd5-e6
threat, Black is forced to take on g4, which is clearly an improvement for the attacking side. 87...hxg4 (87...Be3
88.gxh5+ Kf7 (88...Kxh5 89.Kd5 Kg6 90.Ke6+– White is going to exchange his h-pawn for the f6 pawn, after which
e5 will fall as well.) 89.Kd3 Bh6
90.Bd2! Unfortunately for Black, the pawn endgame loses by just one tempo... 90...Kg7 (90...Bf8 91.Kc4+–) 91.Bxh6+
Kxh6 92.Kc4 Kxh5 93.Kd5 Kxh4 94.Ke6 Kg5 95.Kf7! f5 96.Ke6 fxe4 97.fxe4 Kf4 98.Kd5+–) 88.fxg4 Be3
(88...Kf7 89.h5 Be3 90.Kd3 transposes to the main line.) 89.Kd3 Here we have another important moment where we
have to find the right plan. After forcing Black to take on g4, the King must change his direction! (89.Kd5 Kf7 90.h5
Bc1 when it would be hard to make progress, but of course with 91.Kc4! White can change his mind at any time.)
89...Bf4 90.Bd2 Bg3 91.h5+ Kf7 92.Ke2 Kg7 93.Kf3 Bh4 94.Kg2 Kf7 95.Kh3 Bf2
96.g5! This is the point. White penetrates via the f5 square and collects the e5 pawn as well. The position is winning
thanks to the dark-squared bishop, which corresponds to the promotion square on h8. 96...fxg5 97.Kg4 Bd4 (97...Bc5
98.Bxg5 Ke6 99.h6 Bf8 100.h7 Bg7 101.Bh4 Bh8 102.Kg5 Kf7 103.Kf5 Bg7 104.Bg3+–) 98.Bxg5 Kg7 (98...Ke6
99.h6 Kf7 100.Kf5+–) 99.Kf5 Bc3 100.Bf6+ Kh6 101.Bxe5 Be1 102.Kg4+– and the two extra pawns secure an easy
win.
81.Bb6? Kg6!
Now the position is drawn! Black can push ...f5!
82.Kd3!?
At this moment I thought that my opponent was already going to play f5, so I tried this tricky move, to lure the Black
king to e6, which again would give me time to play f3 and g4. On 82.f3 f5! is in time!
82.Bc7 doesn’t prevent it either: 82...Bc5+ 83.Ke2 f5! with a draw. We will discuss this position below!
82...f5!
83.f3
83.exf5+ Kxf5 84.f3 (84.Be3 e4+= Despite being a healthy pawn up, White has no chance to bring home the full point,
because Black has succeeded in setting up an ideal blockade position with the pawns. Any pawn moves lead to
exchanges and soon White runs out of material...) 84...Bb4 85.Bf2 Ba5= White cannot make progress. He must cover
the e1 square with the bishop, the pawns are immobile, while on 86.Kc4 Black can simplify with ...e4.
83...Bb4
83...Kf6 was also a draw 84.Kc4 Ke6 85.exf5+ Kxf5 86.Kd5 Bb4! An accurate move! 87.Bc7 Bc3= and again Black
has managed to construct a barrier!
84.Bf2 Kf6 85.Kc4 Bd2

86.Kd5
Now the king has reached the nice looking d5 square, but still — after a great ‘only’ move — Black holds the draw.
86...f4!
Other moves were losing easily, but now unfortunately I could not play 87.g4, which means that Black has built a
successful barrier again. 86...Bc1 87.Bb6 fxe4 88.Kxe4 Ke6 89.Bd8 Bd2 90.g4+–;
86...Ba5 87.Be3+–
87.gxf4
87.g4 hxg4 88.fxg4 Be3! This is the key move to save the game. 89.Be1 f3=
87...Bxf4 88.Bb6 Ke7 89.Bc7 Kf6 90.Bd8+ Kf7 91.Kd6 Bg3 92.Bg5
92...Bh2!=
and White has no way to improve his position. Black either passes with ...Bg3-h2 or with ...Kf7-f6. Another
unbreakable barrier.
93.Kd7 Bg3 94.Kd6
94.f4 leads to a draw as well 94...Bxf4 95.Bxf4 exf4 96.e5 f3 97.e6+ Kg7 98.e7 f2 99.e8=Q f1=Q 100.Qxh5 Qf7+=
94...Bh2 95.Kd5 Bg3 96.Bd8 Bf4 97.Kd6 Bg3 98.Bg5 Bh2 99.Kd5 Bg3 1/2
9
A. Grischuk
H. Nakamura
Thessaloniki, 2013
Black tries to build a barrier. His king is ideally placed on d7, from where it not only blocks the d-pawn but also the
king’s route to e6. The doubled f-pawns also improve Black’s survival chances, as White cannot create a new passed
pawn. What might the winning plan be, if there is one?
90...Ba3 91.Bb6
Grischuk improves his bishop by transferring it to the a3-f8 diagonal.
91...Bc1 92.Bc5 Be3
Black has nothing better than to wait with his bishop. Grischuk follows the right strategy in these endgames. He makes
some waiting moves in order to gain time (30 seconds increments per move), and when he believes it should be enough,
he goes for the critical continuation.
93.Bb4 Bf2 94.Bf8 Be3 95.Bc5 Bg1 96.Ba3 Be3 97.Ke4 Bd2 98.Bc5 Ke8
Black waits with his king now, because White does not threat to invade on e6. But, obviously, on Kd5, Black would
immediately go back to d7.
99.d5!
This is the start of the winning plan. White prepares to attack the f6 pawn with the bishop and also with the king from
g6, in order to lure the Black king to f7. This clears the path of the d-pawn.
99...Kd7 100.Be3!
Before placing the bishop on d4 White sends the bishop away from the c1–h6 diagonal, in order to be able to play Kf4.
100...Ba5 101.Bd4 Bd8

102.Bc3!
A good waiting move, in order to have Bb4 in case of ...Kd6 at some moment, and to avoid the Kf4-Kd6 Kg4 Kxd5
tempo gain.
102...Be7 103.Kf4 Bd6+
103...Kd6? is not possible because of 104.Bb4+
104.Kg4 Ke7
The next step of the winning plan is to oust the blockader of the d-pawn. If White hurries with Kh5-Kf7, he cannot
threaten to trade the bishops. So, first he drives it to f4.
105.Bd2! Bc5 106.Bf4 Bb4
After the bishop has taken control over the d6 square, the king continues its journey.
107.Kh5 Kf7 108.Bg3 Bc5
White has already progressed a lot — it is time to take the next step: to lure the black king from the g6 square by
advancing the d-pawn.
109.d6! Bd4 110.Bh4
White wants to push d7 and on ...Ke7, Kg6 Kxd7, Bxf6.
110...Bb6
110...Bc3 111.d7 Ke7 112.Kg6 Kxd7 113.Bxf6 Here the second f-pawn plays an important role. Black cannot sacrifice
his bishop for f5. 113...Bb4 114.Bg7+– The pawn automatically promotes.
111.d7 Bd8
Black tries his best chance — he blocks the pawn with the bishop and tries to keep the king away from the g6 square.
Grischuk finds a very nice way to proceed.
112.Kh6!
Placing Black in zugzwang. He cannot move with the king since it allows Kg6 and all his bishop moves are met by the
same trick...
112...Ba5
112...Bb6 113.Bf2!
112...Bc7 113.Bg3!
113.Be1! Bb6
114.Bb4!
White has transferred his bishop to the a3-f8 diagonal in order to cut the black king off from the e7 square. The final
part of the winning plan is easy; White only needs to bring his king around the board and get it to c8...
114...Bd8 115.Kh5 Kg7 116.Bd6 Kh7 117.Kh4 Kh6 118.Kg4
Black is in zugzwang and must retreat with the king...
118...Kg7 119.Kf4 Kh6 120.Ke4 Kg5 121.Bf4+ 1–0
Black resigned in view of Kd5-Kc6 and Bc7. Nice technique by White! The barrier was not successful this time, but
one can see how hard White had to work to break it despite being two pawns up.
10
J. Donner
V. Smyslov
Havana, 1964
Here is another example where White pins all his hopes on building a barrier. The d-pawn itself cannot be promoted so
the only chance to win the game is to get access to the kingside pawns with the king, but the white bishop will do its
best to prevent it at any cost. The only winning plan was beautifully executed by Smyslov.
67...h4!
The direct 67...Bd4? leads only to a draw: 68.Bxd4 Kxd4 69.Kxd2 h4 70.g5! Ke5 71.Ke3 Kf5 72.f4= and White holds.
67...h4! 68.Bf2 Bc3!
Black needs his ...g5 tempo as well as the f-pawn moves for the future. He protects his d2 pawn with the bishop to
replace his king.In the event of Bxh4 Ke3, the king would collect all the pawns, therefore White must find some other
move — but all of them leave the h4 pawn on the board. In other words, White is in zugzwang.
69.Bg1
69...Bd4!
Perfect timing for simplification. This is the only winning plan in the position.
70.Bxd4
If 70.Bh2 g5–+ and ...Ke3 wins next.
70...Kxd4 71.Kxd2 Ke5 72.Ke3
72...g5!
White resigned in view of 72...g5 73.f4+ (73.Ke2 Kf4 74.Kf2 f6–+ and the king invades.) 73...gxf4+ 74.Kf3 and now,
again, Black uses his last tempo to place White in zugzwang 74...f6! 75.Kf2 Ke4 76.Ke2 f3+ 77.Kf1
77...f2! The only winning plan again! (77...Ke3 78.Ke1 f2+ 79.Kf1 Kf3 80.g5!=; 77...Kf4 78.Kf2) 78.Kxf2 (78.Ke2
f1=Q+ 79.Kxf1 Kf3–+) 78...Kf4 Yet another zugzwang. 79.Kg2 Ke3 80.Kg1 Kf3 81.Kh2 Kf2–+ White wins h3 and
then the g4 pawn by outflanking.
0–1
2.5. PRACTICAL GAMES
This is the closing chapter of our same-colored bishop endgames study. We will examine many practical games in
which both sides have plenty of pawns on board.
1
A. Khalifman
V. Laznicka
Plovdiv, 2012
This position looks like a dead draw but, as we will see, White won the game quite convincingly. Let’s see how this
occurs...
First of all, let’s summarize what we see. White has a potential passed pawn on the kingside, which in every endgame is
a big plus for the superior side, while Black’s a- and c-pawns are well blockaded by the b3 pawn. If Black pushes any
of his pawns to a dark square then they become a potential target.
In addition, White’s king stands more actively. These are all the pluses of the White side, however the position should
be drawish of course, since there are only 3–3 pawns on board without any crucial damage on Black’s side. White
prepares the creation of the passed pawn on the kingside, while Black has nothing better to do than wait.
37.Bg3 Bf8 38.h4 Be7 39.h5 Bf8 40.Bf4 Be7 41.Ke4 Bd8
Black rightly expects that his opponent will push g5 and he wants to keep that pawn under attack. As we will see, this
does not prevent White from creating a passed pawn. Occupying the long diagonal would lead to the same position
after 41...Bb4 42.g5 Bc3 43.Be3 Bb2 44.Kf4 (44.Bd4 leads to forced draw 44...Bxd4 45.Kxd4 Kf5 46.g6 hxg6
47.hxg6 Kxg6 48.Kc5 Kf5 49.Kxc6 Ke4 50.Kb6 Kd4 51.Kxa6 Kc3=) 44...Bc3 45.Kg4 Bb2 46.g6! hxg6 47.hxg6
Kf6 48.Kh5 Kg7 49.Kg5 we will see this position later.
42.g5! Be7 43.Bd2 Bd8

44.g6!
At first sight White blunders the pawn, but of course there is a trick behind the move.
44...hxg6 45.hxg6
There are only 2–2 pawns left on the board, but White retains all the advantages that we discussed in the preamble.
45...Be7
45...Kf6 does not work as after 46.Bg5+! White wins.
46.Bc3 Ba3
Sooner-or-later Black had to change the diagonal... 46...Bd8 47.Kf4 Be7 48.Kg4 and due to the threat of Kh5-h6, Black
must transpose to the game with ...Ba3.
47.Kf4 Bc1+ 48.Kg4 Be3 49.Kh5 Bc1

50.Ba5
50.Bg7 would have been a very tricky continuation as well, e.g. 50...Ke7! Only move! Black’s king must go behind the
pawn. (50...Bd2 would lose instructively, viz: 51.Bh6 Bc3 52.Be3 White threatens to play Kh6 and transpose to the
game 52...Bg7
53.Kg5 Now Black can only move with his king, but he soon finds himself in zugzwang... 53...Ke5 54.Bd2 Ke6 55.Bb4
Here is the zugzwang! Black must allow Kf5, after which White transfers his bishop to f6. 55...Kd5 56.Kf5 c5 57.Bd2
Kd6 58.Bg5 Kd7 (58...Kd5 59.Bf6 Bh6 60.Be5!+– Black has nothing against the plan of Kf6, Bb2, Kf7 and Bc1.)
59.Bf6 Bh6 60.Ke5+– and Kd5 collects the pawn.) 51.Bh6 Bb2 52.Be3 Kf8 53.Kh6 Kg8 54.Kg5 Kg7 55.Kf5 Bc3
56.Bc5 Bb2 This is the only way for Black to hold: a passive defense, which is very hard to find for many players in
general. Here I couldn’t find a plan for White to improve his position.
50...Be3?
A decisive mistake. He should have taken his king to g7 to get the position we mentioned in the 50.Bg7 line.
50...Kf6 51.Bd8+ Kg7
51.Bd8+–
Suddenly, it seems to be over. White manages to play Bg5 and Kh6, after which his position is winning.
51...Bf4 52.Bg5 Be5 53.Kh6
Black, realizing that he is lost, tries his last chance to create a passed pawn, but it is too little, too late...
53...c5 54.Bd2 Kd5
Waiting with 54...Bd4 loses to the known motif 55.Kh7 Be5 56.Bh6 Bd4 57.Bg7! Be3 58.Bc3 and the g-pawn
promotes.
55.Kh7 c4 56.bxc4+ Kc5 57.Kg8!

Not the only way to win, but the prettiest one. White plays Kf7 and Bg5-f6 in the next moves. He holds the a-pawn as
long as he can and, after moving the bishop to f6, the g-pawn promotes right away – which is not the case if White
plays Bh6-g7 after which White also needs to remove his bishop.
57...Bd4 58.Kf7 Kxc4 59.Bg5
Black resigned.
1–0
2
Z. Zorigt
B. Korzin
Budva, 1963
Black just played ...g5, overlooking the typical breakthrough motif
1.g4!
White gets a passed h-pawn which decides the game, but there are still some problems to solve
1...gxh4 2.gxh5 Bg5 3.Bf8 h3 4.Kf3 Kd5
After the breakthrough Black also obtained a passed pawn which he uses to deflect the white king and activate his own.
We have reached another critical position from White’s point of view:
5.h6?
This natural-looking move could have cost White the full point. He should have protected his e5 pawn first with 5.Bg7
and only then advanced the h-pawn 5...Kc4 6.h6 Bxh6 7.Bxh6 Kxc3 8.Bf8! Kd4 9.Bd6 Kd5 10.Kg3 f6 11.Kxh3 fxe5
12.Bc5+– and the king stands close enough to the e-pawns to have no doubts about the outcome.
5...Bxh6?
Black thought his position was hopeless, but he missed a golden opportunity. The pawn endgame that would have arisen
after 5...Kxe5! is drawn! E.g. 6.Bg7+ Bf6 7.Kg3 Kf5 8.Kxh3 Kg6 9.Bxf6 Kxf6
The h-pawn is neutralized, but White has a very important resource to create another passed pawn with c4. To execute it
properly he must first get his king inside the square of the c4 pawn, otherwise Black promotes first. Therefore 10.Kg4
(10.Kg3 Kg6 11.Kf2 f5! will be the same as the main line.) 10...Kg6 11.Kf4 Kxh6 The breakthrough already works as
the king is within the square of the c-pawn 12.c4! bxc4 13.b5
The b-pawn is unstoppable, but the black pawns support each other and they promote at the same time 13...f5 14.b6 c3
15.Ke3 f4+ 16.Kd3 f3=
6.Bxh6 Kxe5 7.Bg7+ Kd5 8.Kg3 f5 9.Kxh3 e5 10.Kg3 Ke4 11.Bh8!
Black gets into zugzwang
11...f4+ 12.Kg4 f3 13.Kg3
the pawns start to fall. Black resigned in view of 13.Kg3 Ke3 14.Bxe5 f2 15.Bd4++–
1–0
3
M. Kraemer
E. Bacrot
Germany, 2013
Black is better with his more active king, but White has no weaknesses and the limited number of pawns should
guarantee him a more-or-less easy draw.
46.Bh5 Bc6 47.g3
This is the most principled move, putting the pawns on dark squares where Black’s bishop can’t attack them. After 47.f3
Black has the chance to disturb the kingside pawns with 47...Bb5 and Bf1.
On the other hand 47.Bf3!? was also possible 47...Bxf3 48.gxf3 Kc4 49.Kc2 Kb4 50.Kc1 Kb3 51.Kb1= Black has a
nice position, but he can’t make progress.
47...fxg3 48.fxg3 Bd7!

White has a wide range of choice, but only one idea leads to a draw.
49.h4?
The decisive mistake! The pawn endgame after 49.Bg4? is winning for Black. 49...Bxg4 50.hxg4 Ke4 51.Ke2 h6!–+
White is in zugzwang. The Black king penetrates from one side or the other. 49.g4 is bad after 49...Bb5 and there are
problems with the kingside pawns.
49.Bd1! was the most precise, counterattacking the a4 pawn, followed by pushing h4 on the next move. Black has no
chance to win. 49.Be2! was also good, with the same idea as Bd1. 49...Bxh3 50.Bb5= White wins back the pawn and
holds the draw.
49...g4!
Suddenly, Black is winning. White can’t avoid the penetration of the king. He must try to bring back his bishop, but it’s
not in time to solve the problems.
50.Bf7 Ke4 51.Ke2
Otherwise ...Kf3 wins.

51...Bb5+!
White is forced to give access to the opponent’s king.
52.Kf2
52.Kd2 Kf3–+
52...Kd3
53.h5!?
White sets a last trap, but Bacrot does not fall into it.
53...h6!
After the hasty 53...Kc2? White has 54.Bg6+! Bd3 (54...hxg6? 55.h6!+– wins.) 55.Be8 Kb3 56.Ke3 Bc2 57.Kf4 Kxb2
58.Bxa4 Bxa4 59.Kxg4= and Black will succeed to exchange the h7 pawn.
54.Be6
54.Bg6+ doesn’t change much. 54...Kd2–+ and Kc1 next.
54...Kc2 55.Bxg4 Kxb2
White resigned in view of the following line: 55...Kxb2 56.Be6 a3
57.g4 (57.Kf3 gives Black enough time to play 57...Ba4! 58.g4 Bb3 59.Bxb3 Kxb3 60.g5 a2–+ Black is faster.)
57...Bd7! is a very important intermediate move, after which Black collects the g4 pawn and the full point.(But not
57...Ba4? because of 58.g5!)
0–1
4
Yu Yangyi
Wang Rui
China, 2012
White is clearly better thanks to his more active pieces, but the pawn structure on the kingside is very tricky. The white
pawns are fixed on light squares, which could be very bad if the black bishop was able to attack them. However in the
present case they completely restrict the movement of the bishop.
59.Ka6!
The king must stay on a6 and we will soon understand why... 59.Be8 Kd8 60.Bg6 Now the Black bishop is paralyzed,
but Black can block the king’s route using the opposition. 60...Kc7 61.Ka6 Kc6
59.Ka6! Bf7 60.Ba4! Bg8
Another defensive idea could be to build a fortress by transferring the king to e7 followed by waiting with ...Bg8-f7.
60...Kd8 61.Kb7 Ke7 62.Kc7 Bg8 63.Bc6 Bf7
The only way to make progress and to win the game is really surprising... 64.Bd7! Bg8 65.Be6!! Temporarily
sacrificing a pawn, but the arising endgame is winning 65...Bxe6 66.fxe6 Kxe6 67.Kc6! Black is in zugzwang. He
loses the d5 pawn, but the key is the pawn on h5 which holds the black pawn majority on the kingside 67...f5 (The
passive defense with 67...Ke7 doesn’t work, e.g. 68.Kxd5 Kd7 69.c4 the classic example of the distant passed pawn.
69...Ke7 70.c5 dxc5 71.dxc5 Kd7 72.c6+ Kc7 73.Kc5+– followed by stalemating Black, forcing him to sacrifice his
pawns.) 68.gxf5+ Kxf5 69.Kxd5 g5 70.hxg6 Black must lose a very important tempo on capturing the g6 pawn.
70...Kxg6 71.Kxd6 h5
72.Ke5! The only win! White wants to catch the h-pawn and the only move to avoid it is 72...Kg5 but it walks into the
promotion of the d-pawn with check. (72...h4 73.Kf4+–) 73.d5 h4 74.d6 h3 75.d7 h2 76.d8=Q++–
61.Be8! Kd8
61...Bh7 62.Bf7!+–
62.Bg6! Kc7
63.Ka7!
Here we are! Black has to move his king, but this opens a path for White. Just like in a pawn endgame, White wins with
the opposition.
63...Kc6
63...Kc8 64.Kb6+–
64.Kb8! Kb5 65.Kc7 Kc4 66.Kxd6 Kxc3 67.Ke7! Kxd4 68.Kf8
The destiny of the poor black bishop.
68...Kc3 69.Kxg8 d4 70.Be8 1–0
Black resigned. It’s quite funny that White wins even after allowing Black to promote a queen. 70.Kxg7 d3 71.Kxh6 d2
72.Kg7 d1=Q 73.h6+–
Black has no sensible way of stopping the h-pawn, while the bishop covers the king from the checks on both sides.
5
A. Czebe
P. Prohaszka
Budapest, 2007
Here is a study-like practical game. Black is a pawn up and he seemingly has a more active bishop, but he is actually
just lost. The key factor is that all the white pawns fix the black ones on dark squares, where the bishop can attack
them. The black bishop does not have a target and it is obliged to merely defend his pawns.
1.Bd8!
Entering into the black camp and going for the g7 pawn. Otherwise Black could have played ...Kc8.
1...Bc3
1...Bb2 was more precise, in this case White would have won as he did in the game, because the text move allowed a
much easier win.
2.Be7 Kc6
The black king is also tied to defending his pawns.
3.Bf8
White could have won instantly by 3.Ke2! Bb2 4.Kd2!+– and Black has no defense against Bf8 after which the h6
pawn also falls as the bishop cannot get back to g5.
3...Bd2 4.Bxg7 Bg5
The first step is complete. White has won the g7 pawn, but he just restored the material balance with it.
How to make progress now? The black bishop seem to defend everything. White should kick it out with h4, but the most
direct attempt with Kg3 runs into ...Bf4 check and the king must retreat to f3 to control the e5 passed pawn.
5.Bf8!
A brilliant maneuver! White brings his bishop back to e1 to support the h4 push.
5...Kb6 6.Be7 Kc6 7.Bd8! Kd6 8.Ba5 Kc6 9.Be1! Kd6 10.h4! Bf4
Mission fulfilled! The bishop has lost its outpost on g5. How to proceed?
11.Ba5!
Yes, the bishop heads back behind the pawns and Black can no longer protect them with Bg5.
11...Kd7 12.Bb6 Kc6 13.Bd8+–
Black resigned.
1–0
6
E. Bacrot
S. Tiviakov
Germany, 2013
The following endgame goes highly against the chess ‘rules’... White has all the advantages to have a won endgame, but
it is only drawn! His king is better and keeps the g6 pawn under attack, all the Black pawns are fixed on the light
squares where the white bishop might attack them. The pawns on the queenside are also ideally placed from White’s
point of view. The black bishop has two tasks: it must hold the b1–g6 diagonal (to avoid Bd3 winning the g6 pawn) and
also, when White plays Bf1 with the idea of Bh3-c8, it is obligatory to play ...Bf5. Usually, such endgames can be won
via zugzwang, but here it does not help...
46.a4 Bb1 47.Bc4 Bc2
Black has an easy job, simply wasting time with the bishop. It is White’s turn to find a breakthrough.
48.Be2
Black can never trade the a4 pawn for the one on g6, since it would lead to the loss of the h5 pawn as well. On the other
hand, he is unable to create a passed pawn on the queenside because of the excellent placement of the b4 and c5 pawns.
48...Ke6 49.Bc4+ Ke7 50.Bf1
Bh3 is the threat, so Black is forced to play
50...Bf5! 51.Be2
A small tactical trick to win with Bxh5, but of course, Black parries it.
51...Ke6 52.Bc4+ Ke7

53.a5!?
White prepares to breakthrough with b5. This is a known motif in many endgames, so it is worth remembering it! 53.b5
was the other option to make some progress. 53...a5 Black can lock the queenside.
a) 53...cxb5!? 54.axb5 a5 is also possible. Suddenly, Black can also put his hopes on his passed pawn.
b) It is instructive that taking twice on b5 loses. 53...axb5 54.axb5 cxb5 55.Bxb5
55...Bc2 Black gets into zugzwang after 56.Be2! Bf3 is the threat. 56...Be4 (56...Kd7 57.Bf3 Kc7 58.Bd5+– and Bf7
next.) 57.Bc4!+– Here is the zugzwang! The black king cannot move — it either allows Bf7 or Kf6 — while in case of
bishop moves, both Bd5 and Bd3 are decisive!
54.b6 Creating the potential threat of Ba6, but Black gets counterplay. 54...Bc2! 55.Ba6 Bxa4 56.Bxb7 Kd7 and,
suddenly, the a-pawn is more dangerous than the one on b6.
53...Bc2 54.Kf4!
Luring the Black king from the queenside in order to break through successfully. Black cannot allow Ke5, so the next
move is forced. 54.Be2 Bb1 55.Bf3 Bd3 Here might come the break with 56.b5 but unfortunately for White the Black
king is too close to the c-pawn.
56...cxb5! (56...axb5? 57.Bxc6! would be the point. 57...bxc6 58.a6+– and the pawn promotes.) 57.Bxb7 b4 and Black
is all right!
54...Kf6!
54...Bb1? easily loses after 55.Ke5 Bc2
56.Bf1 Bh3 is threatened. 56...Bf5 57.f4!+– Zugzwang! The bishop cannot control both Bh3 and Bd3, while moves of
the king allow Kf6 or Kd6.
55.b5!! axb5 56.Bxb5 Bf5!
The only move. Otherwise, White could have taken on c6 followed by a6-a7. 56...cxb5? loses to 57.c6! bxc6 58.a6+–
Here is another point of 54.Kf4: to control the e4 square.
57.Bf1 Bd7 58.a6 bxa6 59.Bxa6
Black has defended successfully so far. There are only 3–3 pawns remaining, but White has set a very deep trap.
59...Be6 60.Bf1 Bc8?!
Black does not see the trap, but this is still not the final mistake. 60...Bb3! 61.Bg2 Ba4= followed by ...Bb5-a4 was an
easy draw.
61.Bg2
61...Bd7?
It is very strange, but this most natural move is the decisive mistake and White wins now. The extremely ugly 61...Bb7
followed by ...Ba8-b7 would have held the draw. White cannot create a zugzwang here... 62.Be4 Ba8
62.Bf3 Be8 63.Be4 Bd7

64.Bg2!
This is the first zugzwang! The king cannot be allowed to g5, since Be4 would win after all. Black must play
64...Be8 65.Bh3!
Further squeezing the bishop with
65...Bf7
65...Ke7 is refuted by 66.Kg5 Kf7 67.Bg2 Bd7 68.Be4+–
66.Bd7! Bd5
67.Be8!
This was the very well hidden trap from Bacrot, and Black is lost! He cannot hold the h1–a8 diagonal, since ...Bg2 and
...Bh1 are met with f3, winning the c6 pawn.
67...Kg7
67...Bh1 68.f3+–;
67...Ke7 68.Bxg6+–
68.Kg5 Be4 69.f4!
Another zugzwang, which helps White to improve his king’s position.
69...Kh7 70.Kf6 Kh6 71.Ke5 Bg2 72.Kd6
An instructive endgame.
1–0
7
N. Short
S. Rublevsky
Poikovsky, 2012
White is a pawn up, but the doubled a-pawns can hardly be counted as a healthy extra pawn. However, if White could
exchange his a3 one for that on b7 (by pushing c5 and then a4-a5-a6) then the pawn on a2 already becomes a decisive
factor. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic hope.
34.c5!
Very strong and probably the only chance to continue playing for a win. White fixes the pawn on b7 and ensures a route
for his king to get to d4 and later to e5. Other moves would have allowed Black to play, e.g. 34.g4?! c5! It’s very
important to take the d4 square under control. 35.a4 b6 leaves White without any chances of winning this game. The
king cannot invade and his pawns are now fixed on light squares.
34.c5! Bd5
Black wins back the pawn. It was necessary to do it, otherwise the plan of creating a passed pawn with a4-a5-a6
becomes real.
35.Kc3 Bxa2 36.Bd3 Be6
Black is acting against White’s only idea — to play g4-g5 followed by Kd4-Ke5.
37.a4 Kd7 38.Kd4 Bb3?!
It’s hard to understand why Black decided to move his bishop to b3 and not keep it on the c8-h3 diagonal. 38...Ke7
39.a5 Bd7 40.h3 Bc8 41.g4 Bd7 White still can’t play g5 because the pawn on h3 is hanging. 42.Bf1 Bc8 43.g5
Finally White has managed to push g5, but Black keeps his passive defense. 43...Bd7 44.h4 Bc8 White can’t improve
his position much more. The only try is to get the bishop to g8. 45.Bc4 Be6= and Black holds without any difficulties.
39.a5 Ke6
Black continues with his errant plan. It wasn’t too late to play ...Ke7 followed by ...Be6-Bc8.
40.Be4!
Black wanted to play ...f5 creating a barrier preventing the king getting to e5. Now the threat of Bxc6 and promoting the
a-pawn forces the black king to retreat.
40...Kd7 41.g4!
The fight continues for the e5 square.
41...Ba4
Black protects the c6 pawn to avoid the sacrifice and free his king to play ...Ke7 after g5. It was the last chance for
Black to play 41...Be6 42.g5 Ke7 because the sacrifice on c6 does not work as the bishop gets back in time to c8-b7.
42.h4 Ke7
43.g5
The principled positional follow-up, but we must never forget about the concrete options. White actually could have
obtained a winning position by playing 43.f5! Kf7 (43...g5 44.hxg5 fxg5 45.Ke5+–; 43...gxf5 drops a pawn after
44.Bxf5 h6 45.Bc8+–) 44.fxg6+! hxg6 45.h5! the standard way of creating a distant passed pawn. White also gets the
very important f5 square for his bishop which is going to penetrate from c8. 45...g5 46.Bf5 Bb5 47.h6 Kg8 48.Bc8 Ba6
49.Ke4 White inevitably invades and starts to collect the weak pawns. 49...Kf7 50.h7! (Just not the direct 50.Kf5??
Bd3#) 50...Kg7 51.Kf5 Bd3+ 52.Ke6 Ba6 53.h8=Q+ Kxh8 54.Kxf6+–
43...Bb5
It is very instructive to check what happens if Black tries to lock the position with 43...f5 44.Bd3 White has in mind to
play Bc4-g8, so Black must put his bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal. 44...Bb3 45.Ke5
The king finally gets to e5, but of course he still needs to go either to f6 or d6 to win the game. How can this be
achieved? 45...Bd5 46.a6! Removing a pair of pawns and making c6 vulnerable. 46...bxa6 47.Bxa6 Bb3
48.Be2! White advances his pawn to h6 to fix the main weakness on h7 and to prepare for a breakthrough. 48...Bd5
49.h5 The capture on h5 would lead to the loss of the f5 pawn. Black is in zugzwang as his king must control the d6
and f6 squares and the bishop must choose a diagonal. It must either give up h1–a8 or a2-g8. In both cases, White can
attack a weakness. 49...Bb3 50.Bf3! Ba4 51.h6! Bb5
Black is obliged to wait with ...Ba4-b5. White has a very nice winning plan. 52.Bh5! trying to break through with the
sacrifice on g6! The only way to avoid it is 52...Kf7 53.Bd1! Ke7 Otherwise Kd6, 54.Kd4! The king is going around to
b6! Black cannot move his king there (to c7) as it must stay with the kingside pawns to be able to play Bxh7 Kf7.
(54.Bb3 unfortunately does not bring success because after 54...Bd3 55.Bg8 White is not threatening anything because
Bxh7 is met by ...Kf7 and the bishop is trapped.) 54...Bf1 55.Bh5! Winning an important tempo again with the same
breakthrough idea. 55...Kf7 56.Bf3 Bb5 57.Kc3! Continuing the journey. 57...Ke7 58.Kb4 Ke6 59.Ka5 Ke7 60.Kb6
Kd7 all Black’s pieces are tied-up and the win can be achieved by the usual trick. 61.Bh5!+–
44.Bg2!
With the g5 push White was not only fighting for the e5 square, but he also opened the h3-c8 diagonal to gain access to
the b7 pawn.
44...Kf7 45.Bh3 Kg7 46.Bc8 Ba6
Black is completely paralyzed but it’s still not so easy to break through.
47.Ke4 Kf7
48.f5!
The battle between the pawns start, with the aim to get an invasion square for the white king.
48...Kg7 49.Kf4 Kf7 50.fxg6+ hxg6 51.Ke4 Kg7 52.gxf6+ Kxf6 53.Kf4!
Here is a zugzwang. Black needs to retreat with the king.
53...Kf7 54.Ke5 Ke7 55.Bg4
White wants to combine the threat of playing Bc8 and to bring the bishop to the b1–h7 diagonal.
55...Bc4 56.Bf3 Bd3
Black doesn’t allow Be4.
57.Bg4 Bc4
58.Bd1!
With the idea to get the bishop to c2.
58...Be6
The only way to temporarily prevent Bc2 was 58...Bd3 but after
59.Bf3!+– Black finds himself in a decisive zugzwang. King moves allow either Kf6 or Kd6, both of which are fatal.
...Bc2 or ...Bb1 allows the Bxc6 sacrifice and the a-pawn promotes, while the bishop moves along the f1–a6 diagonal
allow White to occupy the e4 square and ...Bf5 loses to h5.
59.Bc2 Bf7 60.Bd3!
The final precise move. Black finds himself in zugzwang. He has nothing better, than
60...Be8
And only now
61.Be4!
Sets up the final zugzwang.
61...Bf7 62.Bxc6! 1–0
A very interesting endgame to study.
8
C. Pritchett
A. Beliavsky
Novi Sad, 1990
Black has the principal advantage of having a clearly better pawn structure. All his pawns stand on light squares (after
f5) while the white ones are fixed on the dark squares. Although it is not easy to attack them with the bishop as White
seems to have enough control.
40...Bd8!
The plan is to play ...f5 and ...h4-h3, further improving the structure by fixing the pawn on h2. As we will see, this is
going to play the key role in Black’s success.
41.Bb4 f5 42.Bd2 h4 43.Bf4
Preventing h3 by taking 43.gxh4? destroys his own pawn structure. It just makes for easier access for Black towards the
h2 and f2 pawns. 43...Bxh4 44.Be3
If we take a closer look, we realize that if it is White’s turn he is in zugzwang. The bishop cannot move and king moves
allow ...Kd5. Black loses the tempo with a pretty triangulation 44...Kd7 45.d5 (45.Kd3 Kd6 46.Kc4 Kc6–+ Mission
complete. Black occupies the d5 square next move.) 45...e5 Black’s plan is ...Be7-d6 and then wins the h2 pawn with
...e4. After some move like 46.Bc5 Bg5–+ and Bf4 wins next.
43...h3 44.Bd2
44...Bc7!
White is in zugzwang. Black played his last move in connection with the ...f4 break. If he manages to execute it, the
threat of taking twice on g3 and promoting the h-pawn will be decisive. This is actually the main point of advancing the
pawn to h3. White must keep control over the f4 square, but then the bishop has to leave the e1–a5 diagonal and Black
invades through that. However White could have saved himself with a miraculous escape which was very hard to find
for a human over the board...
45.Be3?
The decisive mistake.

45.Bc3? was also losing after 45...f4–+;
The only move was 45.Bf4! Ba5
(The pawn endgame is also instructive 45...Bxf4 46.gxf4 Kd6

Precise calculation shows that only one move saves the game. 47.Kd3! Other moves were losing. (47.a5? Kc6 48.Kb4
Kd5 49.Kc3 Ke4–+; or 47.Kc3? Kd5 48.Kd3 a5 49.Kc3 Ke4 50.Kc4 Kf3 51.Kb5 Kxf2 52.Kxa5 g3–+) 47...Kd5
48.a5! Kd6 49.Kc3!= The defensive strategy to avoid getting into decisive zugzwang is to meet the ...Kd5 move by
Kd3!; the ...Kc6 move by Kc4!; and the ...Kd6 move by Kc3! and White holds the draw.) 46.d5+! Only active defense
helps! White sacrifices a pawn, but creates counterplay by opening a route for his king towards the f5 pawn. 46...exd5+
47.Kd4 Black cannot avoid Ke5 after which f5 and g4 fall. Black must try to do something with the d-pawn. 47...Bb6+
48.Ke5 Bxf2 49.Kxf5 d4 White has time to take on g4 as well and he still catches the d-pawn. 50.Kxg4 d3 51.Kf3=
45...Ba5!
The bishop heads for e1 with the intention of placing White in zugzwang. If the king had to move, Black could occupy
the d5 square.
46.Bf4 Be1 47.Be3
How to give the move to White to be able to play ...Kd5? Of course, there is a concrete way to do it by playing ...a5, but
in principle it is better to avoid placing the pawn on a dark square if there is another way to give the tempo to the
opponent. Black can triangulate with his king!
47...Kd6! 48.Bf4+ Kd7 49.Be3 Kc6!
Here we are!
50.Kd3
50.d5+ is not the same as in the 45.Bf4 line 50...exd5+ 51.Kd4 f4! is the prettiest winning line. Black breaks through in
order to promote his h-pawn. 52.Bxf4 (On 52.gxf4 Black continues the break with 52...g3! 53.fxg3 Bxg3! 54.Bg1
Bxf4–+) 52...Bxf2+ 53.Ke5 d4 54.Kf5
At first sight White has enough time to take on g4 and then to catch the d-pawn, but Black can heat up the things with
54...Bxg3! 55.Bxg3 d3 56.Bf4 g3!–+ One of the pawns promote!
50...Kd5
Black has expended a lot of effort, but finally his king has occupied the ideal outpost on d5.
51.Ke2 Bc3 52.Kd3
52...Bb2!
This is already the decisive zugzwang, showing the strength of the d5 king and the difference between active and
passive pieces. White loses material and the rest is easy. Black has several ways to convert the advantage and in the
game he transfers his bishop to b6 with the idea of pushing ...e5 at some point.
53.f4 gxf3 54.Bf2 Bc1 55.Kc2 Bg5 56.Kd3 Bf6 57.Be3 Bd8 58.Bd2 f2 59.Ke2 Kxd4 60.Be3+ Ke4 61.Bxf2 Bc7 0–1
9
S. Ivanov
A. Tari
Stockholm, 2015
White is more active and his pawn structure is much better. However the position is quite closed, so Black might hope
to build a barrier. Let’s see how White can convert his advantage.
33.c4!
Fixing the structure and opening the a1–h8 diagonal for the bishop from where it attacks the g7 weakness. He is now
ready to transpose into a winning pawn endgame with Be5 because of the threat of Bc7.
33...Ke7
The alternative defense was 33...Bf8 protecting the g7 pawn with the bishop and controlling the c7 square (against Bc3-
e5-c7) with the king, but it also fails... 34.Bc3 Kd6 35.Be5+ Kd7 36.Kf3 Kd8
37.f5! The decisive break. White either creates a passed pawn or he opens a path for his king to penetrate. 37...Kd7
(37...gxf5 38.h5+– followed by Kf4-f5 and Black cannot play ...g6 because of h6.) 38.fxg6 fxg6 39.Kg4 Kd8 40.h5+–
34.Bc3 f5+
34...Kf8 simply loses to 35.Be5! Bxe5 36.Kxe5 Ke7 37.d6+ Kd7 38.Kd5+–
35.gxf6+ gxf6
36.f5!
The final important move, otherwise Black locks the position with ...f5. Now the distant passed pawn on the h-file
decides the game.
36...Kf7 37.fxg6+ Kxg6 38.h5+! Kg5
After 38...Kxh5 39.Kf5+– we can see the superiority of White’s pawn structure. Black has no chance to create a passer
and his pawns start to fall one after another.
39.Bd2+ Kg4
Black tries to avoid Kf5, but now the h-pawn becomes too strong. 39...Kxh5 does not change anything. 40.Kf5 Be5
White has many ways to win. A nice one is 41.Bc1 placing Black in zugzwang. The bishop cannot move and after
41...Kh4 42.Bg5+ fxg5 43.Kxe5 g4 44.d6+– White promotes the pawn with check.
40.h6 f5+ 41.Kd3 Be5 42.h7 f4 43.Bc3 1–0
10
L. Polugaevsky
H. Mecking
Mar del Plata, 1971
White cannot dream about anything nicer in a same-colored bishop endgame than the following example. White has a
more active king and all his pawns will stand on dark squares while the black ones are all fixed on light ones, where
they are going to be attacked by the bishop. Black has no counterplay at all, but it still requires technique to convert this
advantage.
40.h4 Bf3 41.b4
The last two pawns have also moved to dark squares.
41...Bh1 42.Be2!
The bishop invades via the h3-c8 diagonal.

42...Bg2 43.Bg4 Be4
With the following nice maneuver White invades the opponent’s camp and creates further weaknesses.
44.Bc8! Kc7 45.Be6! Kd6 46.Bg8! h6 47.Bf7!
Black is in zugzwang. The bishop is tied to protecting two pawns and the king must control the d5 and e5 squares.
47...h5
Another sad choice, but there was no other move. Black has fixed his last pawn on a light square as well. 47...Kc6
48.Ke5+–
48.Be8 Bc2 49.Bf7 Be4

50.f5!
Here comes the breakthrough! White exchanges his f-pawn for the one on d5. This creates a passed e-pawn and opens
the position for the king to invade...
50...Bxf5
50...gxf5 51.Bxh5+– The distant passed h-pawn decides the game.
51.Bxd5 Bc8 52.e4!
Black is in zugzwang. The bishop and pawns cannot move and any king moves allow the penetration of the white king.
52...Ke7 53.Ke5
Yet another zugzwang and the white king goes to f6 next move. Black tries a last desperate attempt to complicate
matters, but of course the position is hopeless.
53...g5 54.hxg5 h4 55.g6 h3 56.g7 h2 57.g8=Q h1=Q 58.Qf7+ Kd8 59.Qf8+
Black resigned. Either Qd6 mate or after Kd7 — Be6 wins.
1–0
11
A. Wojtkiewicz
A. Khalifman
Rakvere, 1993
The white king cannot invade, but the weaknesses on d5 and b7 are enough to win the game. The technique is very
instructive: White first restricts the movement of the black bishop.
33.f5! Bf7 34.b4 Be8 35.b5!
White puts all his pawns on light squares. This would be an anti-positional idea if the black bishop was outside his own
camp and could attack the pawns. However, now it is completely paralyzed. Ii is important to mention that if the b7
pawn was on a7, Black could transfer his bishop to b7 and build an unbreakable barrier. Now, White goes to b3 and
wins the d5 weakness with e4.
35...Bf7 36.Bd1! Bg8 37.Bb3 Bf7 38.e4 Bg8 39.Ba2 Bf7 40.Bxd5 Bxd5 41.exd5
Now again with the pawn on a7 (instead of b7) White just could not make progress, but the current pawn structure
allows a nice breakthrough.
41...Kc7 42.Kc3!
The idea of Kb4 and a5 forces Black to move to d6 with the king.
42...Kd6 43.Kc4 Ke5
43...Kd7 was also losing to 44.Kb4! Kd6 45.a5! Kxd5 (45...bxa5+ 46.Kxa5 Kxd5 47.Kb6 Kc4 48.Kxb7 Kxb5
49.Kc7+–) 46.a6 bxa6 47.bxa6 Kc6
48.Ka4! Only but good enough. 48...b5+ (48...Kc7 49.Kb5+–) 49.Ka5+–

Black wins back the pawn and he seems to be completely fine, but now comes...
44.a5! bxa5 45.Kc5 a4 46.d6 b6+ 47.Kc6 a3 48.d7 a2 49.d8=Q a1=Q 50.Qd6+
50.Qxb6+–
50...Ke4 51.Kxb6+– 1–0
with an easy technical win. Black soon resigned.
12
A. Naiditsch
D. Wagner
Baden Baden, 2014
This is a typical Berlin Defense endgame and one that White was aiming for. He is practically a pawn up, because he
has a pawn majority on the kingside, while on the queenside the three pawns hold the four thanks to the doubled c-
pawns. Black’s only hope is to build a barrier, but in this case he does not succeed.
38...g5
38...g6 was another defensive attempt, but it also fails: 39.Kf3 Kd7 40.Ke4 Be7 41.f5 Centralizing the king followed by
creating the passed pawn. Now White wants to play e6+ next so Black is forced to take on f5, which frees the way for
the white king. 41...gxf5+ 42.Kxf5 Bd8 Black can do nothing more than wait because if he tries ...b5, White just
ignores it and the c5 pawn becomes weak. 43.g5 Be7 44.Bh4 Bd8
45.e6+! fxe6+ 46.Kg6+– Black has no defense against Kf7 (Or Kh7) followed by g6-g7.
38...g5 39.Kf3
Of course 39.f5 was possible as well, but White wants to execute the same win as in the 38...g6 line.
39...Kd7
39...gxf4 40.Kxf4 Kd7 41.Kf5 transposes to the 38...g6 line.
40.f5!
White had to change the structure as Black was threatening ...gxf4 and ...Ke6, taking the f5 square under control.
40...Ke7 41.Ke4
White successfully activated his king and at the same time he protected his e5 pawn and now he can use his bishop to
attack the weakness on g5.
41...Bc7
42.Be1
Black wants to build a barrier, but White’s plan is simple. He attacks the g5 pawn to force the pawn to f6, which opens
the position and allows the white pieces to invade.
42...Bd8 43.Bd2 f6
Black could only delay the ...f6 move by playing 43...Kd7 44.Bc1+– White places Black in zugzwang with bishop
moves. He will run out of moves and will be forced to play ...f6 as king moves allow f6-Kf6 and ...Be7 also moves into
f6 tempo followed by Kf5 and taking on g5.
44.exf6+ Kxf6 45.Bc3+ Kf7 46.Be5
It is important to put the bishop first to e5 with a simple idea which we will see during the next move.
46...a6
Black doesn’t have anything better.

47.f6!?
White sacrifices his passed pawn in order to free the f5 square for the king and then the g5 pawn falls automatically. If
the white king gets to the 5th rank all pawn endgames are winning for him despite being temporarily a pawn done. He
inevitably wins the g5 pawn. White could also play 47.Bd6 Kf6 48.Bb8+– playing for zugzwang. ...Kf7 is met by Ke5
and ...Be7 allows Bc7 with a critical weakening of the c5 pawn.
47...Ke6
Black wants to play ...Bxf6 next. 47...Bxf6 48.Kf5! would lead to a similar position as in the game.
48.f7!
This was the point of playing f6. Sooner or later the black king will have to take the f7 pawn and White will get the f5
square for his king.
48...Be7 49.Bc7
Now Bd8 is a deadly threat.
49...Kxf7
Black had no choice.
50.Kf5
The next step now is to win the g5 pawn.
50...b5 51.Be5 b4 52.Bb2
The g5 pawn can’t be saved.

52...Bd8 53.Bc1 Bf6 54.Bxg5 Bd4
The rest is easy. White needs to mobilize the g-pawn, using the fact that all pawn endgames are winning for him.
55.Bd8 Bc3 56.g5 Bd4 57.Bf6 Bc3 58.g6+ Kg8
The black king is obliged to take care of the g-pawn, but White gets access to the queenside
59.Be5 Bd4 60.Ke6+–
followed by Kd6 and all the black pawns are going to fall. Black resigned.
1–0
13
K. Miton
T. Markowski
Poland, 2013
White has a better structure and more active pieces, but it is still doubtful if it is enough for the win, because Black plans
to build a barrier. White has two options to make progress.: One is to squeeze Black with the kingside pawns, and the
other is to transfer the king to a5, which does not bring anything right away as Black can move ...Kb7 and Ka5 could
be met by ...Bd8 check. Therefore White should start with squeezing and keep in mind the king maneuver for the
future.
34.h3 Kd7 35.g4?
An oversight which allows Black to obtain an unbreakable barrier. White should have started with 35.f4 Ke8 36.g4
hxg4 37.hxg4 Kd7
The next step is to push f5, but White has to be careful with the execution. 38.Bc1! White loses the tempo with
triangulation first. (If 38.f5 then 38...gxf5+ 39.gxf5 f6! and Black gets rid of all the weaknesses. 40.exf6 Bxf6 41.Bxc5
exf5+ 42.Kxf5 Bc3= Black holds a safe barrier. White cannot make progress without exchanging the pawns, but the
simplifications lead to draw. Also the a8 corner is wrong.) 38...Bf8 39.Bd2 Be7 40.Be3 Bf8 This is the right moment
for 41.f5! as Black cannot get rid of the kingside pawns with ...f6. 41...gxf5+ 42.gxf5 exf5+ (42...Be7 43.f6! Bf8
Now Black is playing without his bishop. White can already transfer his king to a5. 44.Kd3 Kc7 45.Kc2 Kb7 46.Kb2
Kb6 47.Ka3 Ka5 48.Bd2+ Kb6 49.Ka4 Kb7 50.Ka5 Ka7 51.Be3 Kb7 52.a4 Ka7 53.b4 Kb7
54.b5! Rather than being materialistic by taking on c5, after which White could not make progress. White now works
out the b5 square for his king to win the c5 pawn. 54...axb5 55.axb5 cxb5 56.Kxb5! (56.cxb5 c4 and Black is fine.)
56...Kc7
57.Ka6! The most accurate. White uses the fact that the bishop is paralyzed on f8 and he wins the game by outflanking.
(57.Bxc5? lets the bishop escape 57...Bh6 58.Bd6+ Kc8 59.Kc6 Bf4 and it is hard to improve White’s position!)
57...Kc6 58.Ka7 Kc7 59.Bd2 Zugzwang and the king invades. 59...Kc8 (59...Kc6 60.Kb8+–) 60.Kb6 Kd7 61.Kb7
Kd8 62.Kc6 Kc8 63.Be3 Kd8 64.Bxc5 By taking the c5 pawn this way White will be able to promote the c-pawn,
because the king can get to b7 in time. 64...Bh6 65.Kb7+–) 43.Kxf5 Be7 44.Bf2 Kd8
45.Bg1! The next step for White is to push e6, widening the space for the king towards the e6 pawn. But the right
execution requires subtle maneuvering again. (45.e6 White is not ready for this move yet because of 45...fxe6+
46.Kxe6 Bf8 and the black king escapes to b7. Then, even if White gets the c5 pawn, it will not be enough to win the
game!) 45...Kd7 46.Be3! Bf8 (Black cannot wait with 46...Kd8 because the pawn endgame is winning after 47.Bg5!
Kd7 48.Bxe7 Kxe7 49.a3 a5 50.a4 Zugzwang. 50...Kd7 51.Kf6 Ke8 52.e6 Kf8 and the stalemate idea does not work
because White can play the simple 53.Ke5!+– followed by taking on f7 and Kd6. 46...Ke8 47.e6 fxe6+ 48.Kxe6 Kd8
Now the most important thing is not allowing the black king to b7! 49.Bh6! Black cannot wait with Bf8 and other
bishop moves allow Kd6. Therefore he must wait with the king. 49...Ke8 50.Bd2 Kd8 51.Ba5+ Ke8 52.Bc7 Bf8
53.Bd6 Bg7 54.Bxc5+–) 47.Kf6 Ke8 48.e6 fxe6 (48...Be7+ does not change much 49.Ke5 Bf8 50.Bg5+– Black runs
out of moves! The king soon invades to d6.) 49.Kxe6 Kd8
50.Bf4! White prevents the transfer of the king to b7! This was the only way to do it, making use of the unfortunate
placement of the bishop on f8. 50...Be7 (50...Bg7 51.Kd6+–; 50...Kc8 51.Kf7!+– is the point and the bishop is
trapped.) 51.Bc7+ Ke8 (51...Kxc7 52.Kxe7 Kb6 53.Kd6 White wins easily, as there are no stalemate tricks with
53...Ka5 White does not take on c5 obviously. 54.Kxc6+–) 52.Bd6 Bh4 53.Bxc5 Bg3 Otherwise Kd6. 54.Bd4!
Threatening with Be5 and Kd6. 54...Bb8 55.Be5 Ba7 Kd6 could be answered by check on b8, but 56.b4! if the bishop
moves Kd6 already works, while after 56...c5 (56...Kd8 57.c5! traps the bishop on a7. 57...Kc8 58.Ke7+–) 57.b5+–
with an easy win. We can clearly see that the initial position is very suspicious from Black’s point of view if White
finds the right plans.
35...hxg4 36.fxg4
36.hxg4 is also met by 36...g5!
36...g5!
Not allowing White to create a distant passed pawn with h4-h5. One must be careful about such ideas while advancing
the pawns.
37.Kd3 Kc7 38.Kc2 Kb7 39.Kb2 Kc7 40.Ka3 Kb7 41.Kb2
Draw agreed as Ka5 does not bring anything in view of ...Bd8 check and going back to e7.
1/2
CHAPTER 3
OPPOSITE-COLORED BISHOP ENDGAMES
Opposite-colored bishop endgames are one of the most important topics of all the endgames. They frequently appear in
practice and often give salvation to the defensive side, as we will see. On many occasions it is possible to hold despite
being one-two or even more pawns down. In the case of having a bad position, we should always keep in mind the
possibility to escape into an opposite colored bishop endgame, while having the upper hand we must always be careful
not to allow this ‘rescue clause’ for our opponents.
We are firstly going to study the most important theoretical positions in order to learn the basics and allow us to
understand more easily the more complex situations. In advance, I would like to draw your attention to the importance
of passed pawns!
3.1. BISHOP AND CONNECTED PAWNS VS BISHOP
A very important chapter in which we will learn ideas for both the attacking and defensive sides. From a practical point
of view, the importance of this chapter is very high because we will be familiar (in case of simplifications) with which
positions are winning for us and which lead only to draw. It is not going to be easy at all, sometimes even strong
grandmasters fail in easy looking positions!
1
We base our studies of this chapter on the following most important theoretical position. This shows us the key ideas for
both sides, therefore we must be familiar with all the ideas for both sides. White is threatening e6 followed by Ke5 and
f6. Black has two options to avoid it, ...Bd7 and ...Bb3, in both cases Black wants to sacrifice his bishop on e6.
However only one of them saves the game.
1...Bd7!
This is the most important defensive idea. The point is to prevent the direct threat of e6 and at the same time keeping the
f5 pawn under attack to restrict the movement of the white king! 1...Bb3? is a losing move, because White has free
hand for maneuvering with the king, since the f5 pawn is not under attack. 2.Bg5+!
A very important check to ask the king to choose a direction. The white king goes around to support the e6 push in the
opposite direction to where the black king goes now. (Trying to execute the same idea with 2.Bb4+ is ineffective, but it
does not spoil the win. 2...Kf7! 3.Kd4?
(It is not too late to admit our mistake and put the bishop on g5. 3.Bd2! ) 3...Bc2! Another very important motif! By
attacking the f5 pawn, Black wants to force the f5 pawn move to f6 after which he could obtain a successful blockade
on the light squares. The difference is that after 4.e6+ Black can play 4...Kf6!= which is not possible with the bishop on
g5.) 2...Kf7 (If Black goes 2...Kd7 3.Kf4! Ba2 Black must control the e6 square.
4.Bh4! White intends to play Kg5-f6 and advance the e-pawn. Black can only delay this plan by playing 4...Bf7 5.Kg5
Ke7 6.Kh6+! Kd7 7.Kg7 Bd5 8.Kf6+– and e6 is coming next!) 3.Kd4! Now the king goes to d6 to support the
advance of the e-pawn. 3...Ba2 (3...Bc2 does not help now 4.e6++– and Ke5 next.) 4.Kc5 Bb1 (4...Bb3 5.Kd6+– e6 is
coming next.) 5.e6+ Kg7 6.f6++– Kg6 7.f7+– the pawns promote.
1...Bd7! 2.Kf4
2.Bg5+ Kf7= is the same as the main line. After 2.f6+ Black has the blockade on the light squares. 2...Kf7= Black just
shuffles with the bishop on the h3-c8 diagonal from now on.
2...Kf7 3.Kg5
3...Bc8!=
And Black just waits with ...Bc8-d7, always preventing the e6 push and the king in unable to move around to d6 as the
f5 pawn must be protected, while from the other direction the f7 king blocks its way. Once more the rule: The bishop
must be placed where it prevents the advance of one of the pawns while simultaneously attacking the other. Please note,
that if there are another pair of pawns on board, for example on b4-b5, this entire defensive method does not work
anymore as after e6 sacrificing the bishop no longer helps.
2
If the pawns have reached the 6th rank, the game is already over regardless of how Black defends.
1...Bd8
Black tries to follow the rule by keeping the f6 pawn under attack and controlling the e7 square, but the diagonal is too
short. 1...Bb4 loses to the same motif as we saw in the previous example: 2.Bg6+! asking the king to choose a direction
and the white king invades from the other side. 2...Kd8 (2...Kf8 3.Kd5+– goes to d7.) 3.Kf5 the king now goes to f7
and there is no way to stop it. 3...Bc5 4.Bh5 Bf8 5.Kg6 Ke8 6.Kh7+ Kd8 7.Kg8 Bd6 8.Kf7+–
1...Bd8 2.Bg6+ Kf8 3.Kf5!+–
Here is the difference! Black is in zugzwang and he must allow the e-pawn to promote. In comparison to the previous
example, the bishop’s diagonal is too short.
3
As we know, the h-pawn is an exception in many endgames, and so it is here also. Despite the pawns having reached the
6th rank White cannot win. Black actually even has two defenses.
1...Bf8
The standard technique holds, despite the diagonal being too short for the bishop. 1...Bc3 also does the job now, but just
note that Black must be careful on the next move, viz: 2.Bc4+
2...Kf8!= Only this move holds, followed by shuffling with the bishop on the long diagonal. The reason is, as we
learned earlier, the winning strategy would be to go around with the king to h7 to support the g7 push, but the board is
not wide enough to execute this plan. This is the problem with the h-pawn. (However 2...Kh8? loses as White can
move with the king to f7. 3.Kg4+–)
1...Bf8 2.Bc4+ Kh8
White cannot force a zugzwang with a bishop move on the a2-g8 diagonal or with Kg5 because Black is threatening to
take on h6 with stalemate. This motif again only works with the h-pawn.
3.Bd5
If the bishop leaves the diagonal to avoid stalemate, Black can already play 3.Bd3 Kg8!=
3...Bxh6 4.Kxh6=
4
Henneberger
The following complex study by Henneberger is another very important theoretical position. Compared to our first
theoretical position, Black has not managed to obtain the ideal defensive setup with the bishop on the e7-d8 squares.
However, he can still hold the draw. The reason is that after Bh5-Ke7, the right side of the board is not long enough for
White to get his king to g6. He should go via h5, but the bishop occupies that square. If it leaves, then the king goes
back to f7. However White has some tricky attempts to win the game.
1.Kg4!?
White tries to invade through h6, which forces Black to put his king on g7. Then White moves his bishop to e8 followed
by coming back with his king to e6. The winning technique in the first example was 1.Bh5+ but now Black goes
1...Ke7! (1...Kg7? loses to the usual method 2.Ke4+– and the king goes to e6.) 2.Kg4 Bb2 3.Bg6 there is no other way
to make progress, but now the g6 square is not available to the king 3...Bc3 4.Kh5
The threat is Kh6-Bh5-Kg6 and the rest is clear. However Black can successfully fight against it with 4...Bg7! 5.Bh7
freeing the g6 square for the king, but Black goes 5...Kf7!= and White cannot complete his plan to support the advance
of his f-pawn from g6.
1.Bc4+ does not bring success because of the same motif we learned before 1...Kg7! 2.Ke4 Bd2! and now after 3.f6+
Kg6=
1.Kg4!? Bb2 2.Kh5
Threatening Kh6 followed by a bishop check and Kg6. Black must play
2...Kg7!
Of course not 2...Bg7? which allows 3.Bc4+ Ke7 4.Kg6+–
3.Bb5
White now drives his bishop to g6 and prepares for the king walk to e6.
3...Bc3 4.Be8 Bd4
4...Kf8 5.Bg6 Kg7 leads to the same as the main line.
5.Bg6
5.Kg4
Black must be precise as White is threatening Bh5 followed by bringing his king to e6. The only move to save the game
is 5...Kf8! 6.Bh5 (On 6.Bb5 Kg7=) 6...Ke7!= transposing into the 1.Bh5 line, where White could not get his king to g6
because the board was not wide enough next to the h-file.
5...Bc3 6.Kg4
All seems to develop according to White’s plan. He is threatening with Bh5 and moving with the king to e6. However
Black can use the temporary misplacement of the bishop on g6 and transfer his own bishop to occupy the ideal position
with
6...Ba5!
Using the fact, that White cannot play f6. 6...Bb4! does the job as well.
7.Bh5 Bd8=
Black has managed to set up the ideal defensive position. He starts to wait with Be7-d8 and the game is drawn.
5
If we know the rule that the bishop must be placed where it prevents the advance of one pawn while keeping the other
one under attack, we can easily figure out the only move that saves the game here:
1...Be8!
Indeed, the bishop must stay on the f7-g8 squares. After any other move, for instance 1...Bd7, White achieves the
winning position with 2.e5 Bh3 3.Kd4 Bg4 4.Bb4+!+– and the king moves in the opposite direction to where the black
king moves now.
1...Be8! 2.e5
On 2.Kd4 Bg6 3.Bb4+ Kd7 4.Ke5 Bh7!= Black keeps the e4 pawn under attack until the moment White pushes e5,
when he switches the diagonal with ...Bg8.
2...Bf7 3.Kd4 Kd7=
followed by ...Bg8-f7 with the theoretical draw.
6
If we move the pawns one side to the right, White is already winning. The difference is very instructive.
1.Ke4 Bh6
Black attacks the f4 pawn — trying to provoke the f5 move — after which he takes up the ideal setup with Bg7.
2.Bc4+ Ke7
3.Bb3
Black can be placed into zugzwang because he cannot keep the f4 pawn under attack. Moving with the king allows f5
with f6 coming next, therefore the bishop has to move. But not 3.f5? which allows 3...Bg7= followed by waiting with
...Bh8-g7 with the theoretical draw.
3...Bg7 4.Kf5 Bh6
On 4...Bh8 5.Kg6!+– and the bishop is going to be trapped with Kh7!
5.Kg4!
Black is in zugzwang again!
5...Bg7
5...Kd7 6.f5+– followed by f6 and Kf5.
6.Kg5
This is already the decisive zugzwang. The bishop is trapped in the corner.
6...Ke8 7.Kg6 Kf8 8.Kh7+–
7
Tarrasch
It is very instructive to analyze Tarrasch’s study. Black should ideally place his bishop now on c6, keeping the e4 pawn
under attack and preventing d5, but there is no time to get there. Therefore he must stop the pawns while they are on the
5th rank with ...Bf7 (keeping the d5 pawn under attack and staying ready to take on e6).
1...Bc4!
Only this move holds. 1...Bb5? is wrong in view of 2.Bb4+! Ke6 (2...Kc7 3.d5 Be8 4.e5+– Black cannot play ...Kd7
and ...Bf7 at once, so the pawn gets to e6 and the game is over. 2...Kd7 blocks the bishop’s path to e8-f7. 3.d5+–)
3.d5+ Ke5 4.Bc3+ Kd6
5.Kd4 Be8 6.e5+ Kd7 Black just fails to play ...Bf7, White arrives first with 7.e6++–
1...Bc4! 2.Bg3+
2.Bb4+ is the same 2...Kc6 3.Kf4 Bf7 4.Ke5 Bg6 5.d5+ Kd7= keeping the e4 pawn under attack with ...Bh7-g6. and
when White pushes e5, Bg8 holds.
2...Kc6! 3.Kf4 Bg8 4.Ke5 Kd7 5.d5 Bh7!=
And again the same draw. Black keeps his bishop on the e4 pawn and when it advances to e5, then ...Bg8.
8
Black has been unable to set up the ideal defensive position with the bishop on e6. If the pawns reach the 5th rank there
will no longer be a defense, as to control the g6 square and to keep the f5 pawn under attack can be done only with
...Kf7 and ...Bh7, but then Black gets into zugzwang: after any move, White will be able to play g6. White’s task is
easy: he must get his king to e5. The only question is where the bishop should stand? We are already familiar with the
motifs; the bishop must stay on the d8-h4 diagonal and then the king can move to e5 without being afraid of Bd1 —
and after f5-Kg5.
1.Ba5! Bd3
If 1...Kf6 2.Bd8+ Ke6 the king goes to g5 3.Kh4+–
2.Bd8 Bc2 3.Kf2 Bd3 4.Ke3+–
and the rest we already know.
9
Let’s study the following position with the a- and b-pawns with both sides to move.
Firstly, with White to move. Black cannot hope to sacrifice his bishop for the b-pawn as the a8 corner matches the color
of the white bishop. He must either try to get between the pawns or sacrifice the bishop for both pawns. White must be
careful, the only winning move is
1.Ka6!
In the next example, we will examine why other moves do not bring success.
1...Bd2
Getting in front of the pawns is equally hopeless: 1...Kc7 2.b5 Bd4 3.a5 Be3 4.Bf3 Bd4 5.b6++– followed by Kb5 and
the a-pawn promotes automatically.
2.b5 Kc5 3.b6 Kb4 4.b7 Bf4
Black tries to separate the pawns to stay between them, but he cannot succeed
5.a5 Kc5
5...Bb8 6.Kb6+– and a6-a7.
6.Ka7 Kb5 7.a6+–
followed by Be2, protecting the a6 and promoting the b-pawn.
10
Now with Black to move. We have already seen that White intends to advance his b-pawn with the help of his king on
a6. The only way to prevent this and hold the draw is
1...Bd2!
Black keeps the b4 pawn under attack. Now the b-pawn can be advanced only after the retreat of the king, but without
the king’s support they cannot promote.
2.a5 Be1 3.Ka4
3.a6 Bf2= Black gets between the pawns.
3...Kc7 4.b5 Bf2!=
and now it is clear why White should have his king on a6. He cannot execute the b6 break without it and there is no way
to get there.
11
If Black manages to get between the pawns, sometimes he can hold the draw even three pawns down with the opposite
colored bishops. It is only possible now because of this unfortunate pawn chain with the a7 pawn which allows Black to
stalemate himself with
1...Ka8!
Black just keeps his king on a8 and whenever White takes on c6 it is going to be stalemate. But not 1...Bg2? which loses
to
2.c6+ Bxc6 3.a8=Q+ Kxa8 4.Kxc6+– and there is no stalemate without the a7 pawn.
1...Ka8! 2.Kc7 Bb7

Black just waits on the h1–a8 diagonal with the bishop and if
3.c6 Bxc6 4.Kxc6=
Stalemate.
3.2. BISHOP AND SEPARATED PAWNS VS BISHOP
Just like the previous chapter, this is another very important one. We will learn the most important ideas for both the
defensive and attacking sides. This will help us to draw the right conclusions — in case of simplifications — to make
the correct judgement as to whether the arising position is winning or drawing. We can repeat that the positions may
look simple, but they are not easy at all — sometimes even for good grandmasters.
1
There should be a minimum of two files between the separated pawns, otherwise the defensive side easily holds the
draw.
1...Kd6 2.Kf7 Bh4
The maximum that White can achieve is to win the bishop at the cost of his two pawns.
3.c7 Kxc7 4.e7 Bxe7 5.Kxe7=
2
Astated above, the stronger side needs a minimum of two files between the pawns. If it exists, the winning technique is
simple and logical. He should protect the pawn which is blockaded by the king with his bishop, and then promote the
other pawn with the help of his king.
1.Bf3!
Replacing the king in the defense of the pawn. White goes Ke6 next move and advances his pawn.
1...Kd8 2.Ke6 Bb4 3.f6 Bc3 4.f7 Bb4
The board is wide enough for the king to move to g7 or g8.
5.Kf6 Bf8 6.Kg6 Ke7

Nothing can disturb the king’s route to g8 as Black must stay within the square of the c6 pawn.
7.Kh7 Kd8 8.Kg8+–
3
Averbakh
Now let’s see the defensive resources available. Against f- and c-pawns, when the board is wide enough to go around
with the king (the white king can support the c-pawn from b7 and the f-pawn from the g-file) the defensive side can
only hold the draw if the bishop can hold both pawns from one diagonal. In other words, if the f-pawn crosses the 4th
rank, the position is already winning as the bishop cannot hold the c- and f-pawns from one diagonal. We have seen this
in the previous example. Now the black king and bishop work perfectly together and hold both pawns. The f-pawn
cannot be advanced and if White goes to b7
1.Kd5
On a waiting move like 1.Bh3 Bf4= Black waits with his bishop to avoid movement of the f-pawn.
1.Kd5 Kf6
The king also returns to d8. The pawns cannot be advanced and the game is drawn.
2.Kc5 Ke7=
Black’s defensive task is very easy. He only needs to follow the opponent’s king. The draw is inevitable in such cases.
4
Cheron
The black king is behind the pawns, but it can prevent the advance of the pawns from there as well. Compared with the
previous example, the white king stands closer to the c6 pawn (to support it from d7), therefore precision is required
from Black. The only move is
1...Bc7!
If it was Black’s turns again now, the only move would be ...Bb8! Let’s understand the reasons: 1...Bd6? gives a
decisive tempo for White 2.Kf5 Kd4 3.Ke6 Kc5 4.Kd7+– and Black cannot play ...Kb6, so the c-pawn promotes.
1...Bh2? loses to 2.Kf5! Threatening Ke6-d7. Black should run back with his king to b6 to avoid it, but 2...Kd4 allows
White to exclude the bishop with 3.f4+– and the c-pawn promotes.
Also any king move, for instance 1...Kd4?, allows 2.f4+– and the pawns cannot be held anymore from one diagonal.
White soon reaches the 2nd example from this chapter.
1...Bc7! 2.Kf5
2...Kd4!
When the white king arrives to d7, Black must move ...Kb6!
3.Ke6
3.f4 can be answered by 3...Ke3!=

On any waiting move like 3.Be8 Black also waits with 3...Bb8!=
3...Kc5 4.Kd7 Kb6
Just in time to hold the c7 square.
5.Be8 Bb8!
Again the only possible waiting move. Other bishop moves run into the same problems that we discovered in the
variations to the first move.
6.Ke6
White now turns back to support the f-pawn, but Black also brings his king back to e3.
6...Kc5 7.Kf5 Kd4 8.Kg4 Ke3 9.Bh5 Bc7!=
5
According to our knowledge, the pawns can no longer be held from one diagonal, and therefore the win should be in the
hands of White. Let’s examine the technique.
1.f6 Ke6
1...Be8 2.Bf4 will lead to the same position as our main line. 1...Be6 2.Kb5+– is hopeless as White quickly advances his
other pawn as well.
2.Be5! Be8 3.Bc3 Kd5
4.Bb2!
This puts black in zugzwang. The bishop must control the f-pawn and if it moves on the e8-h5 diagonal, then Kb5
decides.
4...Kc6
4...Bf7 5.Kb5 Be8+ 6.Kb6+– White pushes c6 next move.
5.Kc4!
Executing the winning technique. White protects the pawn that is blockaded by the king with his bishop and then
promotes the other pawn with the help of his king.
5...Bf7+ 6.Kd4+–
White wins as we have seen in the 2nd game of this chapter.
6
Now, let’s move the pawns one file to the right. There are still two files between them, but the big difference is that one
of the pawns is a g-pawn and the board is not wide enough for the king to support it from the h-file. Black holds the
draw with precise defense.
1.g6 Ke8!
The only move! The king must control the f8 square and we will soon understand why. 1...Bd5 loses to 2.Kg7! White is
threatening Kf8 and promoting the g-pawn, while after 2...Ke8 3.Kh8!+– and the g-pawn is unstoppable.
2.Kg7
The straightforward 2.g7 leads to an easy draw after 2...Kd7 3.Kg6

3...Bg8!= The drawback of the g-pawn becomes clear now. The white king cannot get to h8 because the board is not
wide enough to go around. An attempt to set Black into zugzwang fails as he can simply move with his king.
2...Bd3!
Another only move! In the initial position Black played ...Ke8 in order to prevent Kf8 and the ...Bd3 move serves to
avoid Kh8 after which the pawn would automatically promote.
3.Kh6
On 3.Kh7 Black just waits with 3...Be4= and White cannot make progress.
3...Bc4!
Yet again an only move! The bishop can switch diagonals as White is not threatening Kh8. Other moves were losing,
for instance 3...Be4 4.g7 Bd5 5.Kh7+–
4.g7
White has tried all his resources and sooner-or-later he pushes g7, but then
4...Bg8!
and the king cannot get to h8, the game is drawn.
5.Kg6 Kd7=
7
The right evaluation of this position depends on whether white king can reach the f7 square or not. If it’s White’s turn to
move, he can succeed with
1.d6+ Kd7 2.Bf5+ Kd8 3.Kd5+–
followed by Ke6 and Kf7 with an easy win.
8
However with Black to move, he can set up an impenetrable fortress with
1...Bf8+!
But not 1...Be5?
2.Bf5! and Black is in zugzwang. He cannot move his king because of d6; bishop moves on the a1–h8 diagonal again
allow d6; while after 2...Bd6+ 3.Kd4 Bf8 4.Ke5+– and the white king reaches the f7 square.
1...Bf8+! 2.Kd4 Kd6 3.Bf3 Bg7+=
Black has built a barrier and White cannot win because of the same problems as in the previous example: the g-pawn is
too close to the edge of the board and White cannot transfer his king to h7.
9
Study
The following study is very instructive. If it is Black to move, things are already very easy for us. As we know, the
pawns must be stopped on one diagonal. Black holds the draw after
1...Kb5! 2.Kd4 Bc4 3.Ke5 Kc6!
Following the king to prevent it getting to e7-f8
4.Kf6 Kd7!
The king has done its job and after
5.Kg6 Bg8!=
The bishop also completes its task by preventing Kh7. The game is drawn.
10
Study
Let’s study what happens if White is to move -it is going to be very interesting...
1.c4!
He manages to cross the 4th rank and the bishop can no longer hold the pawns from one diagonal. However things are
far from easy...
1...Be6
As we know, the king should support that pawn which is blockaded by the bishop. He should get to f8. How can it be
done? White cannot try via Kh7 as ...Bg8 simply prevents it. An attempt via f6-e7 also fails as Black simply puts his
king on d7. The solution lies in going around the entire board and arriving to f8 via the 8th rank. The execution also
requires subtle technique.
2.Kc3!
White drives his king firstly to b4 and only then advances his c-pawn. 2.c5? spoils the win, because after 2...Bg8 3.Kc3
Kb5!= Black prevents the Kb4-a5 plan and there is no invasion square for the king.
2...Bf7 3.Kb4 Bg8 4.c5 Bf7

5.Ka5!
Black has several attempts to stop the king’s long march to f8, but all of them fail for one reason or another.
5...Bc4
On 5...Kb7 6.Kb5! White wants to push c6, after which the win is already easy as the king invades through d6. The
concrete point is that after 6...Bd5 7.c6+! works anyway as the g-pawn promotes after 7...Bxc6+ 8.Kc5+–
6.Bf2!
Zugzwang!
6...Bg8
Or after 6...Kb7 7.Kb4 Bd5 8.Kb5! and c6 is coming next as in the 5...Kb7 line. 8...Bc6+ 9.Kc4+–
7.Ka6!
The king has crossed the 6th rank, but there is still a long way to go till it gets to f8.
7...Bf7 8.Ka7 Kc7

8...Bg8 9.Kb8 Be6 10.Be3!+– Zugzwang again. Black must allow Kc8 or, if the king moves, Kb7 and the c-pawn
advances.
9.Bg3+!
Asking the king to choose a direction. Allowing c6 is not an option, but then he must give free access to the king to
continue its journey on the 8th rank.
9...Kc6 10.Bd6 Bd5 11.Kb8 Be6
12.Bf8!
The decisive zugzwang! Black is forced to allow the penetration of the white king.
12...Bd5
On 12...Kd7 13.Kb7 Bd5+ 14.Kb6+– and c6 appears next.
13.Kc8! Bc4 14.Kd8 Bd5 15.Bd6+–
The king soon arrives at f8 and the game is over.

3.3. COMPLEX BISHOP ENDGAMES
This chapter contains more complex examples (there are more pawns on board) but it still holds great importance from a
theoretical point of view. We will often meet with the ideas we learned in the previous chapters in a more complicated
format.
1
S. Karjakin
Wang Hao
Tashkent, 2012
Having a white pawn on a6 does not make a big difference. The bishop will block it from a7 from where it also supports
the advance of the connected pawns. Black should have the victory in his hands.
64...Bb8 65.Be6 f4
The pawns cannot be held with the king if front of them so the best practical chance is offered by
66.Kd3 g4 67.Ke4 f3 68.Kf5

We have reached the critical moment of the game, one where Black has to find the only winning move and which is not
at all obvious.
68...Ba7?
This spoils the win. The winning continuation was 68...Kh4! with the idea of preventing Kg5. 69.Bd5 The only move to
stop Black from playing ...g3-g2. (69.Ke4 f2 70.Bc4 Kh3–+ transposes to the main line.)
69...Kh3! This is the idea and White is helpless against Black’s ...f2-g3-g2. 70.Ke4 f2 71.Bc4 g3 72.Kf3 g2 73.Kxf2
Kh2–+;
Of course not 68...Kh3? because of 69.Kg5=; 68...f2? also fails 69.Bc4 will be the same as the game.
69.Kg5!
Suddenly the game is drawn. White manages to get between the pawns. The g4 is hanging, so Black has to push
69...f2 70.Bc4
Black cannot make progress because his g4 pawn is always under attack.
70...Kf3
70...Kh3 71.Bf1+=
71.Bd5+
The easiest way to get a draw.
71...Ke3
71...Ke2 72.Kxg4=
72.Bg2 g3 73.Kg4 Bb8 74.a7 Bxa7 75.Kxg3 1/2
2
H. Nakamura
D. Cori
World Cup, 2013
White is going to win the h6 pawn, but the game is very close to a draw. The material is limited and the h8 promotion
square does not match the color of the bishop. However, Black still needs to be careful.
81...Ba3?
This careless move seems to be the decisive mistake. 81...Bc3 Black should have kept his bishop on the a1–h8 diagonal
in order to control the key g7 square. It all becomes clear soon... 82.Kxh6 Kf6 83.Bg6 Just as in the game, this is the
most dangerous try.
(83.Kh7 is met by 83...Kf7 Black had to prevent Kg8 at any cost, since then the h-pawn promotes automatically.
84.Bc2 Be5 85.Bb3+ Kf8 Black holds the draw easily now. 86.Kg6 Bf4 87.h6 Be3 88.h7 Bd4 89.Kxg5 Kg7= Black
has managed to get between the pawns and he just starts to wait with his bishop.)
83...Ke7!! This is the key and only move! The black king must get to the corner and it could only be achieved via f8.
(Other moves, for instance 83...Bd4? lose after 84.Kh7+– as Black is helpless against Kg8, Bf5 and h6-h7-h8...)
84.Kxg5 (84.Kh7 Kf8=) 84...Kf8 This endgame is an easy draw from Black’s point of view. The final thing he needs
to do is to get the king to h8 and be ready to sacrifice the bishop for the g-pawn. 85.h6 Kg8 86.Kh5 Bd2 White cannot
make progress, and after 87.g5 Bxg5! 88.Kxg5 Kh8= with the well-known theoretical draw.
81...Ba3? 82.Kxh6 Kf6
83.Bg6!!
A great move by Nakamura! White prevents the ...Kf7-f8 idea and he gets his king to g8. The game is over. 83.Kh7?
Kf7 would have led to a draw as we already know.
83...Bb2
83...Ke7 84.Kg7! This is the point and the reason why the black bishop should have stayed on the a1–h8 diagonal. The
black king does not reach the f8 square. 84...Bb2+ 85.Kg8+–
84.Kh7! Ba3 85.Kg8 Bb4 86.Bf5 Bc3 87.h6 Ke7 88.h7
An instructive endgame, reminding us that even in such easy-looking positions with a small amount of pawns we must
keep our concentration until the very end!
3
Hou Yifan
H. Nakamura
Unive, 2012
White is a pawn up — it is well blockaded though — and he is going to capture another one on h6.
55.Kf5
This is the critical position. Black inevitably loses the h6 pawn and the question is how he should protect the one on g5?
Three options are possible; ...Bd8, ...Bd2 or ...Bh4. White’s plan will be to create a second passed pawn after taking on
h6. This could be done by playing h4. We should consider what happens if White succeeds with his plan according to
the knowledge from the previous chapter. As well as evaluating the option of creating a barrier by putting the bishop on
h4...
55...Ba5!
The easiest way to hold is to protect the pawn from d8. The point is that after h4-gxh4 and on g5 the black bishop can
always be sacrificed, followed by exchanging the h4 pawn for the one on d5. Can Black hold the draw with a bishop on
h4? 55...Be1 56.Kg6 Bh4 57.Kxh6 Ke7 58.Kg6 Kd6
59.Kf6! Of course, if the bishop could wait on its diagonal, then there would be nothing to talk about — but it has no
such move and Black is in zugzwang. He needs to leave the important d6 square with his king. 59...Kc5 60.Bg8 Before
starting the action it’s important for White to bring the bishop to the a8-h1 diagonal. (60.Ke7 Bg3
61.h4! White creates a second passer. 61...gxh4 62.g5 h3 63.Bxh3 Kxd5 64.g6 Be5 but luckily Black is just in time to
stop the pawn.) 60...Kd6 61.Bf7 Kc5 (To hold the king on c7 is losing as well: 61...Kc7 62.Ke6 Bg3 63.Bg6 Bf4
64.Be4 White transfers his bishop to the a8-h1 diagonal in order to stop Black’s h-pawn and to protect the d5 pawn at
the same time. 64...Bg3 65.Bh1 Bf4 66.Kf5 Bd2 67.h4! The usual winning plan. 67...gxh4 68.g5 Kd6 69.Kf6 Bc3+
70.Kf7+– and White is winning.) 62.Ke6 Bg3 63.Bg6 Bf4 64.Be4 Bg3 65.Bf3 Bf4 66.Bg2 Bg3 and finally after long
preparation 67.h4!+– with an easily winning position for White.
It is instructive to check what happens if Black retains his bishop on the c1–h6 diagonal. 55...Bd2 56.Kg6 Ke5 57.Kxh6
Bc1 58.Kh5 Bd2 59.h4 gxh4 60.Kxh4 The game is drawn with precise defense, the critical moment arising when
White advances his pawns to g5... 60...Bc1 61.Kh5 Bd2 62.g5
Here we are! White is threatening g6 after which Kf6-Bf7 wins as he is threatening d6, or after Bb4 — Kh6 is winning.
The only move is 62...Bb4! 63.g6 (White cannot make progress after 63.Kg6 Bd2! thanks to the excellent placement of
the king on e5 — White cannot play Kf6. 64.Kh6 Be3 White cannot make progress.) 63...Bf8!= Stopping the pawn and
preventing Kh6 at the same time. Due to it being a g-pawn, which stands closer to the edge of the board, White cannot
support it with the king from h7.
56.Kg6 Bd8 57.Kxh6
57...Ke5!
A strong move to prevent White’s plan of bringing the king back to e4, followed by transferring the bishop to g2, and
then finally executing the creation of the second passed pawn with Kf5-h4.
58.Kg6
58.h4 leads to a draw after 58...gxh4 59.g5 Bxg5+ 60.Kxg5 h3= and the exchange of the last pawn brings the draw,
58...Be7 59.Kf7 Bb4 60.Ke8 Kd6!
Precise defense again, so as to not allow chances like putting the king on c6 followed by h4 — gxh4 — g5.
61.Bg8 Bd2
White can’t improve her position.
62.Kf8
On 62.Kd8 the easiest is to not even allow the king back to d3. 62...Be3 63.Kc8 Bf4 64.Kb7 Kc5 65.Ka6 Bd2= White
cannot get back to its own camp. (Although even if she manages, the game remains drawn 65...Be3 66.Ka5 Bd2+
67.Ka4 Kd6 68.Kb3 Be3 69.Kc4 Ke5!= In this case it is very important to put the king on e5 to avoid this entire idea
with Ke4 and the bishop maneuver followed by Kf5 and h4. Without the king on e4-f5, the breakthrough with h4
makes no sense as the pawn cannot be supported by the king.)
62...Ba5 63.Kg7 Ke5 64.Kg6 Bd8
Black defended well and draw was agreed soon.

1/2
4
Averbakh
It is very interesting to examine this study of Averbakh with the knowledge we have picked up in the previous chapter.
And we are going to learn some new motifs! White intends to drive his king to f6, so the first question is if Black can
allow it and put his king on d7 and protect the pawn from d3, or if he should fight against it by trying to block the path
with a king on e6 — which opens the way for White to b6..?
1...Kd7!
The prophylactic plan of driving the king to e6 is actually the only saving one for Black. Let’s see the consequences of
allowing the king to f6... 1...Be2 2.Kc3 Ba6 3.Kd4 Bb5 4.Ke5 Kd7
The bishop intends to move to d3, but it is going to be overloaded as it protects the g6 pawn and controls the advance of
the a-pawn. Therefore White can play for zugzwang. 5.Bc5! The winning technique involves the transfer of the bishop
to c7 before starting the actions. (The standard technique of exchanging the a-pawn for g6 leads only to a draw after
5.Kf6 Bd3 6.a6 Bxa6 7.Kxg6= and we studied this theoretically-drawn position in the 6th game of chapter 3.2.) 5...Bc4
6.Bb6 Bb5 7.Bc7 Bd3 8.Kf6 Here is the zugzwang. If it was White’s move, he could play Kf7 with the same effect.
8...Ke8 9.Kg7! Kd7 10.Kf7 Kc6 11.Ke7 Bf5 12.a6+– with an easy win.
1...Kd7! 2.Kc3 Ke6!
Blocking the path to f6, but of course Black must take account of the king’s march towards the a-pawn.
3.Kd4 Be2 4.Kc5

White is threatening Kc6-c7 and after 4...Kd7 5.Kd5 transposes to the line we discussed in 1...Be2. Black must put his
bishop on the long diagonal.
4...Bf3! 5.a6 Kd7
Black can already play this move as White does not have Kd5, and Kd4 can be answered by ...Ke6.
6.Kb6 Kc8!
The only move that prevents the threat of Ka7-b8. If Black delays it, for instance with 6...Be4? then 7.Ka7 Kc8 8.d7+!
Kxd7 9.Kb8+– and White promotes the a-pawn.
7.Ka7
The only chance to promote the a-pawn is to get the king to b8. White is threatening d7 which has to be prevented, so
Black has two options — but only one of them is good. White cannot improve his position if he advances his a-pawn to
the 7th rank. 7.a7 Kd7=
7...Bg4!
The final accuracy after which the game is drawn. The natural looking 7...Bc6? loses to
8.Bb4! and Black finds himself in zugzwang. The king cannot move because of Kb8, bishop moves on the long
diagonal allow the d7 break and 8...Bd7 9.Kb6! Bf5
10.d7+! Kxd7 (10...Bxd7 11.a7+–) 11.Kb7+– with Kb8 next and the pawn promotes.
8.Kb6 Bf3! 9.Kc5 Kd7! 10.Kd4 Ke6!=
Black successfully parries all the winning attempts.
5
V. Kramnik
L. Aronian
FIDE Candidates, 2013
An easy-looking — but actually extremely difficult — endgame was saved by Aronian with perfect defense. Let’s study
and learn the ideas. What we can say in advance is that the h-pawn does not fit to the color of the bishop, so if Black
manages to trade his b-pawn for that on d7, then he need only get his king to the corner and sacrifice his bishop for the
g-pawn. White tries to save, and then gain some benefits from, his d-pawn.
46.Kd5 Ke7 47.Kc6 Kd8!
Black needs to keep his king ahead of the d-pawn. 47...Bd8 loses easily after 48.Bb1+– followed by advancing the h-
pawn, which lures the black king to the kingside and White can continue his plan with Kb7-c8.
48.g4
White, sooner-or-later, had to play this move, since this is the only way to make some progress. Unfortunately for him,
the h4-h5 plan does not work right away because it drops a pawn to ...Be1. However, this move allows the Black bishop
to stand between the pawns. It is important to mention that the game is drawn only because of the unfortunate
placement of the h7 bishop — if it was anywhere on the b1–f5 diagonal, White would be winning. We will soon
understand why...
48...Be1!
The bishop is heading to h4! 48...Bd2? would allow White to reach the h5 square with his pawn, which is enough to win
the game. 49.h4 Be1 50.h5 Bd2 51.Bb1 Bc1 52.Kd6 Bd2 53.Ke6 Be3
54.Bf5! Just as in the game, White needs to place his bishop on f5 and then he can support the pawns with his king.
54...Bd2 55.Kf6 b1=Q Black has traded the b-pawn for the one on d7, but in comparison with the game, he is not able
to save the game. 56.Bxb1 Kxd7 White needs to be careful, since the h8 corner does not fit the color of the bishop.
57.Kg7! Ke6 58.h6 Bc3+ 59.Kg8+– and the h-pawn promotes.
49.h3
49.g5 does not work.

49...Bh4!= and now g6 blocks the diagonal, allowing Black to promote his pawn. This is the reason why the bishop is
badly placed on h7 and if it was anywhere else White is winning in the initial position.
49...Bh4 50.Kd6 Be7+ 51.Ke6 Bh4
The Black bishop has occupied its excellent defensive position. Before White tries his only chance to make progress,
Kramnik completes the 60 moves time-control by passing with the bishop in order to gain an 15 additional minutes.
52.Bb1 Kc7 53.Be4 Kd8 54.Bc2 Kc7 55.Bb1 Kd8 56.Be4 Kc7 57.Bd3 Kd8 58.Kd6 Be7+ 59.Ke6 Bh4 60.Bf5 Kc7
61.Kf7
With the idea of Kg6 and advancing the pawns. Black needs to trade the b-pawn for the one on d7 in order to be able to
add his king to the defense.
61...b1=Q 62.Bxb1 Kxd7
63.Ba2!
This is the correct diagonal for the bishop, where it cuts the Black king off from reaching the corner after sacrificing his
bishop for the g-pawn. 63.Kg6? is a much worse attempt. 63...Ke7 64.g5 Bxg5! 65.Kxg5 Kf7=
63...Kd6!
Aronian shows a great defensive method by taking his king behind the pawns. Actually, this is the only way for Black to
save himself! Passing with 63...Bd8 leads to defeat after 64.Kg6 Ke8 65.g5! Kf8 (65...Bxg5 is not enough now.
66.Kxg5 Kf8 67.Kg6! and the black king does not reach the corner, thanks to the excellent placement of the a2
bishop.) 66.h4 Be7 67.Kh7!+– followed by g6.
64.Kg6 Ke5!
64...Ke7 loses in similar fashion to the previous line with 63...Bd8. 65.Kh5 Bf2 66.g5 Kf8 67.Kh6 Be3 68.h4+– and
Kh7 is coming next, followed by g6.
65.Kh5
65...Be7!
Another only move! We will soon get its point! 65...Bd8 is refuted by 66.g5 Kf4 67.g6 Bf6 68.Kh6 Kg3 69.Be6+–
wins.
65...Bf2 also loses after 66.g5 Kf4 67.g6 Bd4 68.Kh6 Kg3 69.Be6+–
66.g5 Kf4 67.h4
The point is that after 67.g6 Black has 67...Bf8! and suddenly, the white king is squeezed to h5. Black only plays ...Bg7-
f8 from now on, and White cannot make progress. This is the reason why taking the bishop to e7 was the only move.
67...Kg3!
Yet another only move! Black could not let the king escape from h5. 67...Bf8 is refuted by 68.Kg6! Bb4 69.h5 Bc3
70.h6 Kg4 71.h7 Bh8 White can create a zugzwang! 72.Be6+ Kf4 73.Kh6 Ke5
74.Bh3!+– This is the zugzwang. White does not threaten g6 because of ...Kf6, and the draw is inevitable, since the
bishop starts to shuffle on g7-h8 forever. However, Black needs to move his king now and then g6 already wins the
game.
68.Bc4
68...Bf8!
The final difficult ‘only’ move! 68...Bc5 loses to 69.g6 Bd4 (69...Bf8 70.Kg5! and h5 wins.) 70.Kg5 wins.
69.Be2 Bg7
Black now intends to wait with ...Bg7-f8. White cannot make progress.
70.Bc4
70.Kg6
70...Kxh4!= is the key!
70...Bf8 71.g6
White intends to play Kg5 and h5, but Black is in time to squeeze the king to h5!
71...Kf4! 72.Ba2 Bg7 1/2
The draw was agreed! A fantastic defense by Black!
6
Practical position
The next two example shows that the quantity of the pawns does not necessarily matter in opposite-colored bishop
endgames, but rather it is more important to be familiar with the plans and evaluate correctly the consequences. In the
present position, the black passed pawns on the queenside are excellently blockaded while the one on h5 itself also
looks harmless because of the g3 pawn. However, deeper thought shows us that White must be alert to a hidden plan.
1.d7!
Only this move saves the game! White sacrifices his passed pawn in order to elongate the diagonal for the bishop on h2-
b8. Any other moves, for example 1.Ka3? loses to 1...Bd7! 2.Be3 (If 2.Kb2 Kf5 creates the threat of h4! The bishop is
forced to leave its outpost and he cannot stay on the h2-b8 diagonal. This is why he should have sacrificed his d-pawn
at the beginning. 3.Be3 Kg4 4.Bf2 Kf3 5.Be1 Ke2–+ traps the bishop.) 2...Kf5 3.Bd4
With the idea of playing Be5 only when the king goes to g4, so White can fight against the h4 plan. However it also
loses because of 3...Ke4 4.Kb2 Kd3! Threatening a3 — Kxa3 — Kc2. White must change diagonal 5.Bc5 Kd2!
Zugzwang! On the direct ...Ke2, White could retreat to d4 with the bishop, but now it must control the a3 square and
after 6.Bb4 Ke2–+ already wins the g3 pawn as the bishop cannot come back to e5. It all happens because of the d6
pawn.
1.d7! Bxd7 2.Bb8
White only needs to wait and when the king arrives to d3 with the threat of ...a3 and ...Kc2, he must switch diagonals
with his bishop.
2...Kf5 3.Bc7 Ke4 4.Bd6 Kd3
and now:
5.Bc5=
waiting on the a3-f8 diagonal and Black cannot make progress.
7
M. Vachier-Lagrave
H. Nakamura
Saint Louis, 2015
Black’s extra pawn is ideally placed, because the d6 passed pawn is well-blockaded, while on the queenside Black has a
three against one situation — which gives him winning chances if he can create connected passed pawns with the help
of the king. However, on the last move before the time-control, White comes up with a clever sacrifice...
40.d7!
The key is to gain access to the pawns and, by attacking them with the bishop, White will be able to create a successful
blockade!
40...Bxd7 41.Bd6!
This was the point — and now Black is forced to push his c-pawn, which allows Kd4. Black just did not have enough
time to ensure the flexibility of his pawns with ...Ke6-d5 in the initial position.
41...c4
41...b6 does not make any difference. White can force the advance of the c-pawn by attacking the pawns. 42.Bc7 b5
43.Bb6 c4 44.Kd4 is basically the same as the game.
42.Kd4 b5 43.Kc3 Ke6
43...a5 would be a good move if c4 was protected and Black could push b4 next. However, now after 44.Bc7 Black is
forced to play 44...a4 which allows another blockade by simply occupying the f8-a3 diagonal with the bishop.
44.Bc7 Kd5
Black tries to play ...Kc5 and ...b4, but of course White can defend simply against this plan.
45.Bd8 h3
On 45...Kc5 White should not be greedy by capturing the h4 pawn, but instead prevent the advance of the b-pawn with
46.Be7+ Kb6 47.Bd8+=
46.b4!?
It was not necessary, but White simplifies the position and builds a fortress on the dark squares (b4-a5), which makes
the win impossible for Black.
46...cxb3 47.Kxb3 Kc5
Otherwise White goes Kb4.
48.Be7+! Kb6
Otherwise White plays Kb4 again and establishes a blockade on the a5-b4 squares.
49.Bd8+ Kc5
49...Kc6 50.Kb4 is a dead draw, as White only needs to wait with his bishop and the h2 pawn can also be easily
protected by the bishop.
50.Be7+ Kb6 51.Bd8+ 1/2
8
V. Durarbayli
G. Kamsky
ECC, 2014
White has an extra pawn, but as we know this is not a guarantee of the win. In opposite-colored bishop endgames, the
passed pawns play a key role! In this position White is winning because he has two passed pawns that are far enough
from each other and this prevents Black from building a successful defense.
58.b4
White intends to create his passed pawn on the queenside with b5.
58...Kf6
Another defensive attempt is 58...Ke8 with the idea to meet the b5 plan with axb5 cxb5 Kd8 and in case of a6, bxa6,
bxa6 Kc8 and run with the king to the corner. Afterwards the game is a dead draw, because Black only needs to give up
his bishop for the f-pawn and the a8 square does not match the color of the d2 bishop. Therefore White should play
59.Kc7! to avoid the marching of the king to a8. (If 59...Ke7
Black cannot stop the creation of the passed pawn with 59...Bc6 because of the following elegant breakthrough: 60.b5!
axb5 61.a6!+– wins.) 60.b5 axb5 (Avoiding the trade with 60...Ke6 does not change anything as White creates his
second passed pawn with 61.bxa6 bxa6 62.c5 Kd5 63.Kb6+–) 61.cxb5 Ke6 62.a6 bxa6 63.bxa6 The a-pawn inevitably
promotes. The last chance for Black is to run for the f2 pawn as quickly as possible. 63...Kf5 64.a7 Kg4 65.Kb8
And in this position, Black is in a decisive zugzwang. At the moment White is not threatening to promote the pawn,
because after Bxa8 Kxa8 Kf3 Be3 d2 Bxd2 Kxf2 is a draw. But Black is forced to make a move with which he
neutralizes this saving idea. If it was White’s turn, he would give the tempo to his opponent with, let’s say, Bc1! and we
reach the same story with the zugzwang. 65...Kh3 (65...Be4 66.f4!+– and White can already promote the a-pawn. Black
has no more chance to trade the d-pawn for the f- because the white bishop is ideally placed on the c1–e3 diagonal.)
66.a8=Q Bxa8 67.Kxa8 Kg4 68.f4!+– Again just in time to avoid... Kf3! Now the king comes back from a8 and White
wins automatically.
59.b5 axb5 60.cxb5 Kf5 61.a6 bxa6 62.bxa6 Kg4
Kamsky tries the same idea as in the 58...Ke8 line and indeed White has no time now to promote the a-pawn, because
the king quickly gets to the g2 square and after Be3, ...d2 holds the draw.
63.Ke5!
White has already done the job on the queenside, he has created his passed pawn there. Therefore he rushes back with
his king to protect the f2 pawn and to expel the bishop from the f3 square in order to advance the pawn to f4, where it
will be protected by the white bishop. 63.a7? Kh3=
63...Kh3 64.Kd4 Kg4 65.Ke5 Kh3 66.Kf4
Naturally White should chase away the bishop.
66...Bc6
66...Kg2 67.Ke3+– agaion leads to zugzwang. Black can only move with his bishop, but it allows the advance of the f-
pawn.
67.a7 Ba8
Basically all moves are winning now. In any case, White will start to advance his f-pawn and we reach the same
position which will occur in the game.
68.Be1 Bb7
On 68...Kg2 69.Ke3 Kh3 70.f4 Kg4 71.Bd2+– transposes to the game.
69.Ke3 Kg4
We know that the ideal defense against the separated pawns is if the bishop can hold them from one diagonal.
Unfortunately for Black, White can skip the f3 square with
70.f4! Kf5 71.Bg3
71.Bd2 or driving the bishop to the e5-b8 diagonal were also good enough to win. In any case, White eliminates the d-
pawn.
71...Be4
On 71...Kg4 72.Kxd3+– is possible as the bishop cannot be taken because of f5!
72.Bh2!
Another zugzwang! Black must give up his d-pawn.
72...Bg2 73.Kxd3 Ke6 74.Kd4 Bf3 75.Kc5 Be4 76.Kb6 Kd7
This could still be a draw if the passed pawns were not far enough from each other. The black king is able to keep the
white one away from the a8 square, but here with the other distant passed pawn, White is able to lure the king away to
the other side, thereby opening the path for his own king... If White had his pawns on d4 and a7, then the game would
be drawn as Black simply keeps his bishop on the long diagonal — and when White plays Kb6, threatening with Kc7,
Black answers with ...Kd7, then after Kc5 with the threat of d5, Black goes back to e6 with the king and otherwise just
waits with his bishop, therefore zugzwangs are not possible.
77.f5
Black resigned in view of the following line: 77.f5 Bd5 78.Bf4 Be4 79.Bg5 This is just one of the winning plans. The
point is to advance the pawn to f6, from where it is protected by the bishop and at the same time is threatening
promotion after f7, because the bishop also controls the e7 square. 79...Bd5 80.f6 f7 is a decisive threat now and on
80...Ke6 81.Kc7+– and Kb8 wins next.
1–0
9
E. Tomashevsky
L. Dominguez
Paris, 2013
In the remaining part of this chapter we will focus on the type of positions where the stronger side has a passed pawn
and on the other side of the board we have a standard pawn structure. We frequently meet with such examples in
practical games, therefore we should study them in detail in order to be familiar with the ideas. Here, White holds the
draw without any difficulties because the a-pawn can be securely blockaded and Black has no chance to do something
on the kingside.
33...Bb5 34.Bb4
It is better to stop the passed pawn as far back as possible. Black could not push it on the previous move because his
bishop has blocked its way after Bb6.
34...Kg6 35.Bc3
White prevents the black king from approaching the a-pawn by attacking the g7 pawn. Black is forced to put his f-pawn
onto a dark square in order to continue the journey.
35...f6 36.f3
White prepares to activate his king and also takes the e4 square under control.
36...Kf5 37.Kf2
The single bishop is not enough to stop the a-pawn, he also needs his king over there.
37...Ke6
38.h4
Tomashevsky starts to settle his pawns on dark squares where he can protect them with his own bishop, while Black
cannot attack them.
38...h5
38...Kd5 39.Bb4 Because of the Bf8 threat, Black is forced to play ...h5 and it transposes to the game.
39.Bb4
White goes behind the pawns with his bishop to create holes between them.
39...Kd5 40.Bf8 g6 41.Be7 f5
White has succeeded in fixing all the pawns on the kingside, therefore he does not need to worry about any kind of
breakthrough – he is now free to transfer his king to stop the a-pawn.
42.Bd8
A little finesse to win another tempo by preventing ...a5.
42...Kc4 43.f4!
The f4 and h4 pawns perfectly block the 3 pawns, White does not even need his g-pawn later on, he only needs to put
his bishop on g5 to control the kingside.
43...Kb4 44.Ke3 a5 45.Kd2
The king easily reaches the corner.
45...a4 46.Kc2 Kc4 47.Kb2 Kd4 48.g3 Ke3 49.Ka3 Kf3 50.Bg5 Kxg3
White was playing for this position throughout the entire ending. His king holds the a-pawn, while the bishop and two
pawns block the opposition’s three pawns. Despite the two extra pawns, Black has to agree to a draw. We should
remember this defensive method.
51.Kb4 Kg4 52.Ka3 Kg3 53.Kb4 Kg4 54.Ka3 Kg3 55.Kb4 1/2
10
Speelman
In such situations the bishop alone can easily hold the kingside together. White has no real chances to create the second
passed pawn which would be required for the win.
1.f5
White must try to break the healthy pawn chain and isolate the h5 pawn.
1...Bd3!
This is the easiest; Black retains his pawn chain. It is interesting to analyze what happens if White succeeds with his
plan and isolates the black pawns. 1...gxf5?! 2.Kxf5
In this case it is very important for Black to spot White’s idea of creating a passed pawn and prevent it by placing his
bishop on g4, from where it controls the h3 square. 2...Be6+! is the right move (However in case of another careless
move like 2...Kc6? White is already winning, although it requires subtle technique. 3.Kg5 Be2 4.h3! Kb7 (Black
cannot force the pawn to move to h4, because after 4...Bf1 5.g4! hxg4 6.h4!+– leads to the main line.) 5.Bd4 Kc6
6.g4! hxg4 7.h4 White has achieved his aim and has created a second passed pawn! 7...g3 The bishop is ideally placed
on d4 as it protects the b6 pawn and controls the g1 square. It cannot be deflected from the b6 pawn. 8.h5 (If White
does not want to calculate, he can also start with 8.Kf4 Bh5 (The point is after 8...g2 9.Kg5 and White can simply
promote his h-pawn because after the pawn has moved to g2 the bishop stands between the connected passers. 9...Kb7
10.h5 f6+ 11.Kg6 f5 12.h6 f4 13.Kg5 f3 14.h7+–) 9.Kxg3 f6 10.Kf4 Bg6
This is the only chance for Black. He tries to create a barrier. Actually he does a good job, and there is only one square
on the 5th rank which is not under control — the one on a5. Unfortunately for Black this is enough for White to break
the fortress. 11.Kg4 Kb7 12.h5 Bh7 13.h6 Bg6 14.Kf4 The king starts its journey to the kingside through the
queenside. 14...Bh7 15.Ke3 Bg6 16.Kd2 Kc6 Otherwise the king goes through c5. 17.Kc3 Bh7 18.Kb4 Bg6 19.Ka5!
with the threat of Ka6. 19...Kb7 (19...Bd3 20.h7! Bxh7 21.Ka6+– the pawn is unstoppable.) 20.Kb5+– the rest is easy.
Kc5-d6 and the king marches towards the h-pawn.) 8...f6+ 9.Kg6 f5 10.h6 f4 11.Kg5! Avoiding the Bd3 check. 11...f3
12.h7 f2 13.h8=Q f1=Q 14.Qc8+ Kd5 15.b7+–) 3.Kg5 Bg4 without the h3 plan White cannot make progress, but if he
needs to place his king on h4 in order to execute it, his king turns out to be misplaced there 4.Kh4 Kc6 5.h3 Be6= and
White cannot create the second passed pawn with g4 — hxg4 — h4 because of his own king.
2.Kxf7
2.fxg6 fxg6=
2...Bxf5=
White has no way to make progress. The bishop safely controls the kingside.
11
J. Speelman
S. Rublevsky
Moscow, 1994
Black could have high hopes of holding the draw because he can block the c-pawn with the king and is ready for a
counterattack with the bishop against the kingside pawns with ...Be1. However he just fails by one tempo...
1.Kc5!
White changes the functions of his pieces: he intends to place his bishop on c4 to attack all the pawns on the light
squares and support his c-pawn with the king through b5-a6-b7.
1...Kd8
The other defensive attempt to block the pawn with the bishop also just fails by one tempo. 1...Bc7 2.Bc4! f6 Black
must try to exchange the pawns with ...f6-g5, otherwise the white king simply walks to b7 and Black cannot hold
because his pawns start to fall. 3.Kb5 g5 (3...Kd6 4.Bf7+–) 4.fxg5 fxg5 5.hxg5 Bxg3 6.Kb6 Kf8 Heading to g6 with
the king. There is no shorter way towards the g5 pawn. (6...h4 also loses to 7.c7 Bxc7+ 8.Kxc7 h3 9.Bd5 h2 10.Kc6+–
White is winning thanks to the well-placed bishop on d5 which holds the h-pawn and prevents the black king’s
approach to the g5 pawn.) 7.c7 Bxc7+ 8.Kxc7 Kg7
9.Bd3! White controls the g6 square, but here comes the role of the h-pawn to deflect the bishop. However the white
king is close enough to protect the g5 pawn in time. 9...h4 10.Kd6 h3 11.Ke5 h2 12.Be4 h1=Q 13.Bxh1 Kg6 14.Kf4+–
A very principled line which just ends with a victory for White.
2.Bc4 Be1?
A blunder, but other moves were also losing. On 2...Kc7 3.Bxf7 Be1 4.Bxg6 Bxg3 5.f5 Bxh4 6.Bxh5+– White has c-
and f-pawns, both of which have crossed the half of the board. We already know the winning plan from the 2nd game
of the 3.2 chapter.
2...f6 is met by 3.Kb5! using the fact that the bishop cannot move to e1 and after 3...Bc7 4.Bf7+–
3.Kb6!+– 1–0
Black resigned as the c-pawn cannot be stopped.
12
L. Dominguez
C. Amura
Buenos Aires, 2005
The huge difference compared to the Tomashevsky-Dominguez game examined earlier in this chapter is — beside the
fact that Dominguez commands the white pieces now :-) — that White can create a second passed pawn by playing
1.f4! exf4+ 2.gxf4 Kf7 3.e5! fxe5 4.fxe5+–
It becomes a key factor that the h8 square matches the color of the bishop, therefore the rest is just the matter of
technique. White is going to win the bishop at the cost of his two passed pawns.
4...Ke6 5.Kd4 g5
A desperate attempt to complicate matters but the game was over anyway. If 5...Kd7 6.Kc5 Be4 7.a6 Bf3 8.Kb6 Bd5
9.a7 Be4
The winning plan is to sacrifice the e-pawn to be able to play Kc7-b8, but first of course White must redirect his bishop
to prevent the ...g5 idea. 10.Bd2 Bd5 11.e6+! Kxe6 12.Kc7+–
6.hxg5 Kf5
The h-pawn is not dangerous, and can easily be stopped by 6...h4 7.Be1 h3 8.Bg3+–
7.Kc5 h4 8.Be1 h3 9.Bg3 Bf3 10.Kd6 1–0
13
Bu Xiangzhi
V. Artemiev
Russia, 2016
This is quite similar to the previous example. White already has a passed pawn on the a-file and he will create another
one on the e-file. There are three files between them, which is too much for Black to hold both. Also, Black cannot
create counterplay with his c-pawn.
31...Kd6 32.a5 Kc5 33.f4!
White needs to advance his f- and e-pawns to create the second passer.
33...Bb8 34.e4 f6
35.Kf3!
Of course the king has to be activated as well, as without its support White has no chance to create and then to promote
the passed pawn. We must analyze two defenses: If Black blocks the a-pawn with the bishop and tries to hold the e-
pawn with his king; and the second if he does it the other way around. As we will see, neither of them help, because the
pawns are too far from each other — Black cannot switch his pieces fast enough from one pawn to the other.
35...Kb5
If Black keeps his king with the e-pawn 35...Kd6 36.Kg4! c5 (36...g6 does not prevent the invasion of the king
37.f5!+– creates an entrance to h5, after which h6 falls and the new passed pawn on the h-file decides the game.)
37.Bd5 Ke7 38.Kf5 Bc7 39.a6 Bb8 40.Bc4 Black can do nothing other than wait and White wins with the following
technique: 40...Ba7 41.Kg6 Kf8 42.h4 Bb6 43.h5 Ba7 44.g4 Bb6 45.e5 fxe5 46.fxe5 Ba7 47.e6 Bb8 48.e7+ Kxe7
49.Kxg7+–
36.a6 c5
36...Kb6 delays the arrival of the e5 move, but White wins anyway after 37.Kg4! threatening again to invade on g6.
Black must prevent it, but after 37...g6 38.f5! Opens a path towards the h6 pawn. 38...gxf5+ (38...g5 39.Kh5 c5 40.Bd5
Kxa6 41.Kxh6 g4
The easiest win is 42.Kg7 Be5 43.Bc4+ Kb6 44.Be2+– taking on g4 followed by promoting the h-pawn. Thanks to the
g7 king, Black has no chance to fight against it.) 39.exf5+– and Kh5 wins next. (39.Kxf5 Be5 40.Kg6+– is also
winning.)
37.e5!
White creates his second passed pawn.
37...fxe5 38.fxe5 Kb6 39.e6 Bd6 40.Ke4

Threatening to invade through f5-g6-f7.
40...g6
40...c4 41.Kd5+– wins the pawn.
41.Kd5 Be7
Black holds the invasion squares for the moment, but after regrouping the b7 bishop White sacrifices his a-pawn to
deflect the king and to enter with Kc6-d7. This is exactly the reason why it is important to have the passed pawns as far
from each other as possible. If White had a b-pawn, and there was only 2 lines between the passed pawns, such
deflections would not work. In that case White should try to find an entrance to support the e6 pawn via the kingside.
42.Bc8 Bf8 43.Bd7! c4
43...Kxa6 loses to 44.Kc6! keeping the ‘shoulder’ to the black king, which cannot return now. 44...c4 45.Be8!+– Bg6
stops the c-pawn in time and Kd7 promotes the e-pawn.
44.Bb5 c3 45.Bd3 1–0
Black resigned in view of a7 coming next and then Kc6-d7 wins.
14
M. Euwe
D. Yanofsky
Groningen, 1946
In the present example White is two pawns up, but Black can easily arrange to stay between the connected passers. It is
very instructive and important to analyze how to handle such positions for both sides. Black holds the draw with precise
defense, but it is also interesting to know what happens in case some mistakes are made!
31...h5!
Black obtains the ideal setup on the kingside by placing his pawns on h5-g6 where the white bishop cannot attack them.
The following variation demonstrates well why it could be important to play ...h5: 31...Ke6 32.Kf2 Kd7 is a clear
mistake because White can try 33.Bf8 g6 34.Bh6! and the h7-pawn becomes a target for the white king.
31...h5! 32.Kf2 Bd3!
We have already seen this technique in many examples. By forcing the pawn to move to a7, Black no longer needs to
worry that the white pawns can support each other. The bishop can easily hold them from the long diagonal.
33.a7 Be4 34.g3 Ke6 35.Ke3

35...Bg2?
Black underestimates the potential of the white king getting next to the kingside pawns. He ought to have secured the
kingside by playing 35...Kf5! we already know the technique for how the black king can prevent the invasion of the
other one by following him on the f5-c8 diagonal according to how White plays. 36.Bf8 g6 37.Kd4 Bg2 38.Kc5 Ke6!
and the black king follows to prevent Kb6-c7-b8. 39.Kb6 Kd7! 40.b4 Ba8 41.b5
Precision is needed because White has set up a deep trap. 41...Kc8! Waiting with king moves on d7-c8 and if White
returns with the king, the black one follows (But not 41...Bg2? because of
42.a8=Q! Bxa8 43.Ka7 Bf3 44.Kb8+– and Black has no defense against b6-b7 and Ka7. 44...Be4 45.b6 Kc6 Otherwise
b7 and now 46.Ka7+–) 42.Kc5 Kd7 43.Kd4 Ke6 44.Ke3 Kf5=
36.Kf4! g6 37.g4!
At first sight completely harmless, White just trades pawns which leads Black closer to the draw. However the reality is
quite different...
37...hxg4 38.Kxg4 Bh1 39.Kg5 Kf7 40.Bd4 Bg2 41.h4 Bh1 42.b4 Bg2 43.b5 Bh1
White has improved his position to the maximum and now comes the decisive blow:
44.Bf6!
This is the point! White intends to play h5 — gxh5 — Kf5! followed by Ke5-d6 and promoting the pawns. Now the
black king cannot take part in the fight because the f6 bishop cuts it from the queenside.
44...Bg2
44...Be4 does not help 45.Kf4+– and Ke5 next wins.(45.b6 is also strong as Black finds himself in zugzwang. 45...Ke6
46.a8=Q Bxa8 47.Kxg6+– with an easy win.)
45.h5!
This opens the path for the king towards the queenside!
45...gxh5 46.Kf5+– 1–0
Black resigned as ...Ke8 is met by Ke6. The f6 bishop cuts off the king and stops the h-pawn at the same time.
15
R. Alvarez
M. Mujica
1995
We will close this chapter with the following example, one where Black cannot hold the draw despite having material
equality. The problem is actually his own e6 pawn, without which White would have zero chances to win because the
king on e6 would block the entrance to the black camp.
1.Bd8+! Kf7 2.Ke5
This is similar to the end of the previous game. White cuts the king off with his bishop from g5 and promotes the c-
pawn with the aid of his king.
2...Ke8 3.Kd6!
An important intermediate move to avoid ...Kd7. The pawn endgame is obviously lost for Black and the king cannot get
in front of the c-pawn.
3...Bb5
3...Bd5 does not change anything 4.Bg5 Bc4 5.c6 Bb5 (Other moves, for instance Bd3, transpose to the game.)
6.Kc7! White gets his king first to its ideal position 6...Bc4 7.Kb8 Ba6 Black cannot play c7 because of Kd7. However
if it was Black’s move he would be in zugzwang. White only needs to give the move to him, which could be done by a
pretty triangulation, viz: 8.Ka8 Bc8 9.Ka7!+– and Kb8 next.
4.Bf6 Ba6 5.Kxe6
5.c6 Bd3 6.Kxe6 will be the same as the game.(6.Kc7 does not bring success now because of 6...Be4)
5...Bc4+ 6.Kd6 Ba6 7.Bg5 Bc4
7...Bc8 still leads to the same loss as the 3...Bd5 line despite having the e6 pawn off the board... 8.c6 Ba6 9.Kc7 Bd3
10.Kb8 Ba6
White triangulates again with 11.Ka7! Bc8 12.Ka8!+– Black is in zugzwang, Kb8 is coming next in any case with a
decisive zugzwang...and c7 promotes afterwards. 12...Ba6 13.Kb8+–
8.c6 Be2 9.Ke6
White goes to pick up the pawns on the kingside to obtain a second passed pawn.
9...Bb5
9...Bc4+ 10.Kf6 Bb5 also loses after 11.c7! luring the black king away from the kingside 11...Kd7 12.Kxg6 Kxc7
13.Kxh5 Be8+ 14.Kh6 Kd7 15.Bf6 Ke6 16.Kg5 The black king is tied to defend the f5 pawn and White can freely
advance his h-pawn. 16...Bf7 17.h5 Bg8 18.Be5 Bh7 19.Kh6+– and Kg7 next.
10.c7!
With the same idea again to lure the black king from the kingside.
10...Bc4+ 11.Kf6 Kd7 12.Kxg6 Be2
Otherwise White takes on h5 and wins as in the 9...Bc4 line.
13.Kxf5 Kxc7 14.Kg6 1–0
Black resigned in view of 14.Kg6 Kd7 15.f5

15...Bd3 White creates a second passer with the standard breakthrough (15...Ke8 loses to the same motif 16.Kg7 Bc4
17.f6 Be6 18.Bf4 Bd5 and 19.g4!+–) 16.g4! hxg4 17.h5+–
3.4. PRACTICAL GAMES
In the closing chapter of the opposite-colored bishop endgames we examine practical games with many pawns for both
sides. Many ideas are already known to us from the previous chapters, but we will see how they appear and can be
executed in complex positions — as well as learning some new motifs throughout the games.
1
Daniel
From this study by Daniel, we learn a new — but very important — motif. The king blockades the passed pawn on the
queenside and the black bishop will defend the kingside pawns from h6. A draw seems to be the logical outcome, but...
1.Kf5! Kd6
1...Bxb4 also loses instructively 2.Kg6 Bc3

3.Be4! White wants to settle his bishop on f5 after which the pawn is already hanging on g7 as there is no more
counterplay with ...f5 check. The h-pawn could not be stopped afterwards, therefore the only move is 3...f5 4.gxf5 Kd6
5.f6! Before the black king can get to e7, White breaks through 5...Bxf6 (5...gxf6 6.Bf5!+–) 6.h6 gxh6 7.Kxf6+– White
puts his bishop on b5 and saves his last standing pawn — the a8 corner matches to the bishop.
2.Kg6 Bh6 3.Kf7!
The king cannot be allowed to reach the f8 square from where it could replace the bishop in defending the g7 pawn.
3...Kd7 4.Bg2 Kd6 5.Bf3 Kd7

6.g5!!
This is the new motif. White sacrifices his pawn and traps the bishop. After this he finishes the game as though it was a
pawn endgame...
6...fxg5
6...Bxg5 7.Kxg7+–
7.Bg4+!
The necessary follow-up to avoid the escape of the bishop with ...g4.
7...Kd6
On 7...Kc7 8.Ke7 Kc6 9.Ke6 Kc7 10.b5!+– White picks up the b6 pawn by using the method of outflanking.
8.Ke8 Kd5
It is too slow a plan to rescue the bishop with moving the king to f4 and pushing ...g4, as in the meantime the a-pawn
promotes... 8...Ke5 9.Kd7 Kf4 10.a5 bxa5 11.bxa5 Kxg4 12.a6+–
9.Kd7 Kc4 10.b5+–
2
Wang Yue
Ding Liren
Danzhou, 2015
At first sight the game is drawn, because the connected passed pawns on the kingside are fixed and perfectly blockaded
by the king, while the black bishop can successfully protect the queenside. However, the motif that we learned in the
previous study of Daniel’s helps White to realize his material advantage.
47.Kf2 Bh4+
Black prepares to defend his b6 pawn from a5 with the bishop. That looks completely safe. The diagonal is too short if
Black wants to do the same from d8-c7 and Black quickly gets into zugzwang after, e.g. 47...Kg5 48.Kf3 Be7 49.Be2
Bd8 50.Ke4 Bf6 51.Bf3 White makes the same preparation as in the game: he settles his bishop to f3 from where it not
only blocks the e5 pawn, but also defends g4, and this gives a free run for the king to attack b6... 51...Bg7 52.Kd5 Bf6
53.Kc6 Bd8 54.Kd7 Bf6 55.Kc7+– and the pawn is lost.
48.Kf3 Kg5
49.Be2!
White preserves all his pawns and prepares to centralize his king.
49...Be1 50.Ke4 Bc3 51.Bf3 Bb4
Well, Black believes that the e5 pawn does not make much difference, which is actually true regarding the outcome...
51...Bd4 52.Kd5 Bc3 53.Be4! Using the fact that the g4 pawn cannot be taken because the h-pawn queens. Suddenly
Black finds himself in zugzwang. If the bishop moves and keeps the e5 pawn protected, Kc6 is going to win the one on
b6. He could then only play 53...Kh6 but this loses to 54.Ke6! threatening Kf6 and pushing the g-pawn... 54...Kg5
55.h6! is the point and the reason why Black gave up his e5 pawn. Now the bishop cannot take part in stopping the g-
pawn... 55...Kxh6 56.Kf6+– and the g-pawn promotes automatically.
52.Kxe5
The appearance of the e5 pawn does not change the strategy of the defense. The kingside pawns are still blockaded and
the b6 pawn can be still defended with ...Ba5.
52...Bc3+ 53.Kd5 Bd2 54.Kc6 Ba5
It looks as though the game is drawn, because Black just starts waiting with ...Kh6-g5 or if the white king approaches
the kingside, it frees the black bishop to move. However here comes the brilliant winning plan...
55.Bd1!! Kh6 56.b4!! cxb4
56...Bxb4 57.Kxb6+– is over, since the a-pawn promotes.
57.Bb3!
This is the point! The black bishop is trapped and suddenly Black finds himself in zugzwang! He can only move with
his king now, but after...
57...Kg5 58.Kd5 1–0
58.Kd5 Black resigned because the king heads towards f6 and promotes the g-pawn. 58...Kh6 59.Ke6 Kg5 60.Ke5 At
some point Black is forced to sacrifice his b6-pawn to free his bishop, but then 60...b5 61.axb5 and the white king goes
back to support the b-pawn. White wins!
3
M. Vachier-Lagrave
P. Eljanov
Stavanger, 2016
White has the edge in this opposite-colored bishop endgame and it is easy to see why: if he manages to advance his
pawns a couple of squares further, Black will have nothing better left than to give up his bishop for the pawns, which
would most probably mean the loss of the game. On the other hand it is much harder for Black to create a passed pawn
because of the bad pawn structure on the queenside. Let us take a look how the game developed.
29.f3
White wants to play Kf2 and g4, obtaining connected passed pawns.
29...c5 30.Kf2 b5
Black doesn’t lose time either and advances his pawns.
31.Ke3
White decides to further activate his king. We should definitely examine the other principled option of playing 31.g4
hxg4 32.fxg4 c4 33.Kg3 b4 Black also mobilizes his queenside pawns. 34.Bf6 Ke6 35.Bh8 c5 36.h4 a5 37.h5 a4
38.Kh4
White proceeds move-by-move. After protecting h5, he is ready to push g5-g6. Of course he should never allow the
pawns to be blockaded on the light squares after h6-Bc2. 38...Kf7 39.g5 Bc2! The easiest way to hold a draw. 40.g6+
White can not improve his position as the king can’t go to h6 to support the g6 move. 40...Bxg6 41.hxg6+ Kxg6
42.Kg4 and the simplest way for Black to draw is 42...a3 exchanging the b2 pawn, leaving White with a single a-pawn.
43.bxa3 (To play for a win would end up badly 43.b3? cxb3 44.axb3 c4! 45.bxc4 b3–+ and Black wins.) 43...bxa3= The
king walks back to the a8 corner and the game is drawn.
31...b4 32.g4 hxg4 33.fxg4
33.hxg4 would not make much sense since there is no idea of improvement, and in case White would play g5 at some
moment Black would immediately continue with ...Bc2 and he stays between the pawns on the light squares.
33...a5
Black follows the right strategy — to advance his queenside pawns as far as possible.
34.Kf4 c4 35.Bf6
White should never forget about the opponent’s counterplay as he improves his position. The bishop is ideally placed on
the h8-a1 diagonal to stop the pawns.
35...c5 36.h4 Ke6 37.Bh8 Kf7 38.h5 a4
We have almost reached the position from the 31.g4 line, the only difference being the placement of the white king,
which was on h4 instead of f4. What could White’s idea in the current position?! It is really hard to find one and the
position is just a draw.
39.a3 Be2 40.Be5
Black forces the draw now with
40...c3! 41.bxc3 bxa3

White needs to give up the c3 pawn to be able to stop the a-pawn.
42.c4!
Otherwise ...Bc4 or ...c4 and the a-pawn promotes.
42...Bxc4 43.g5 Bd3
There is no way for White to improve his position. If he could move his king to h6 or f6, then the connected pawns
would promote, but it is impossible and the game is just a draw.
44.g6+ Bxg6 45.hxg6+ Kxg6 46.Ke4 1/2
The game soon finished in a draw.
4
B. Grachev
D. Dubov
Yekaterinburg, 2013
The material is balanced, but the doubled f-pawns can hardly be calculated as two full pawns. On the other side, the
pawn on c5 is a dangerous passer. The white bishop is clearly more active and the king is soon going to invade via the
light squares into the black camp...
33.Ke2 h6
Black has to waste an important tempo on advancing his h-pawn before driving his king to the other side of the board.
34.Kd3 Kf8 35.Kc4 Ke7 36.Kb5
White is ready to trap the bishop with Kc6-b7!

36...e4!
Black uses his only chance to free his bishop, but it costs him a pawn. In many opposite-colored bishop endgames one
pawn is not relevant at all. The bigger problem is that after White gets his king to b7 and takes the a7 pawn he obtains
two passed pawns on the queenside. The passive defence with 36...Kd8 37.Kc6 Bc7 38.Kb7 a5
leads to a quick, but nice, defeat after 39.a4! Black is in zugzwang. He can neither move his king nor his bishop. 39...h5
40.h4+– and Black has no move.
37.Ka6
37.h3 It was more logical to keep the h-pawn as it might be useful later on. Ka6 is coming anyway...
37...Kd8
37...Bxh2 is met by 38.Kxa7 Bg1 39.Kb7! Bxf2 40.c6 e3 41.Bd3+– White easily stops the e-pawn, while the c-pawn
will inevitably promote in the next moves.
38.Bxe4 Bxh2
Black could not stay passive with ...Kc7-c8 in order to prevent Kb7, because White wins the f7 pawn after Bd5 and thus
obtains a passed pawn on both flanks, which makes the position easily winning.
39.Kxa7 Kc7!
It was necessary to prevent Kb7.
40.Ka6 f5
The pawn cannot be taken because of Kc6.
41.Bd5 Bg1 42.a4 Bxf2 43.Kb5

The correct evaluation of the entire endgame is based on this position. It looks like White is winning, but let’s check the
possibilities.
43...Kb8
Black is ready to put his king to a7, which is the best chance. 43...f6 Black should rather focus on stopping the
queenside pawns than wasting a tempo to protect the useless f-pawn 44.a5! Kb8 This move is necessary in any case
when White plays a6 to prevent a7... 45.Kb6 Bg3 another obligatory move to have ...Bc7 against the a6-a7 threat, but it
does not help. 46.a6 Bc7+ 47.Kc6 Bg3
48.Kd7! Followed by c6-c7 and after ...Bxc7 a7, winning the bishop and the game thanks to the last remaining pawn on
g2. 48...h5 49.c6 Be5 50.c7+ Bxc7 51.a7+ Kxa7 52.Kxc7+–
44.Bxf7
44.Kb6 Bg3
44...Ka7 45.Bh5
White has all the time in the world to find the ideal spot for his bishop, since Black has nothing better to do than wait.
45...Be3 46.Be2!
This is the correct diagonal, with the idea of advancing the pawn to a6, followed by Kc6-Kd6 and c6 and to have the a6
pawn protected.
46...Kb7
46...Bg5 Changing the bishop’s diagonal makes no difference. White wins after 47.a5 Bd8 48.a6 Bc7 49.Kc6 Ba5
50.Kd7+– and c6-c7.
47.a5 Bf4 48.a6+ Kc8
48...Kc7 loses to 49.Bf3 Kb8 50.Kb6 Bc7+ 51.Kc6 White wins as we have already seen in the 43...f6 line.
49.Bd3 Bb8 50.Kb6 1–0
Black resigned in view of 50.Kb6 threatening to play a7. 50...Bc7+ 51.Kc6 Bb8 52.Bxf5+ Kd8 53.Kb7+– An
instructive endgame, which shows the difficulty of opposite-colored bishop endgames. We can save many bad positions
by escaping into them being two or three pawns down, but sometimes even with material equality we are just unable to
hold.
5
Y. Kryvoruchko
B. Esen
World Teams, 2013
Surprisingly this endgame seems to be winning for White despite the material balance. The first move is the key.
39.d6!
White not only succeeds in advancing his pawn to d7, but also opens a straight path for his king to the c6 square.
39...Bd4
Black forces the pawn to d7 in order to be able to get closer with his king.
40.Kf3 Be5 41.d7 Ke7 42.Ke4 Kd8
The game progresses logically. White was threatening to collect the b6 pawn, so Black transfers his king to c7.
43.Kd5 Kc7
It seems as though Black is just in time to control everything, but suddenly White creates new threats...
44.Bg4!
White frees the e6 square to occupy it with the king, from where he is threatening Ke7 and also to go for the kingside
pawns.
44...h6 45.Ke6 Kd8
Otherwise Ke7 wins.
46.a4!
After this great move, Black suddenly finds himself in zugzwang. His king cannot move and the pawns are blocked.
Only the bishop can move, but it needs to protect the f6 pawn, so all “legal” moves allow White to get to the b6 pawn
with the king. 46.Kf7 is too slow as Black is in time to play 46...Bd4 47.Kg6 Bg1 and Black holds.
46...Bd4 47.Kd6! Bg1
Black looks for counterplay, but the queenside pawns are more important.
48.h4
White is going to win b6 anyway, so why not save some pawns on the kingside?
48...gxh4 49.gxh4 h5
It is a good strategy to get rid of the kingside pawns, but it does not save Black. Otherwise, however, if White places his
pawn on h5 and creates a new passed pawn on the queenside, he would also have the option to go for the h6 pawn.
After 49...Bh2+ 50.Kc6 Bc7 Black gets into zugzwang again. As he has no decent next move,he must move with the
bishop and lose the b6 pawn.
50.Bxh5 Bf2 51.Bg6 Bxh4 52.Bf5
The situation has clarified on the kingside and the question is whether or not Black is able to create a blockade on the
other side..?
52...Be1
52...Bg3+ 53.Kc6 Bc7 does not change anything because after 54.Kb7 Black is in zugzwang.
53.Kc6 Bd2 54.Kxb6 Bb4
It seems like everything is still under control. However if we take a slightly closer look, we quickly realize that if it was
Black’s turn he would have no useful move. Therefore the task is easy: White only needs to make a triangulation with
his king.
55.Kb7 Bd2
On 55...Ba3 56.Ka6 Bb4 57.Kb6 Black is in zugzwang again.
56.Kc6 Bb4 57.Kb6!
Here we are! It is Black to move now and he is forced to drop another pawn, as ...Ke7 allows Kc7.
57...Bd2 58.Kxc5
The rest is already easy...
58...Kc7 59.Kb5 Be1 60.c5 Bd2 61.c6 Be1
62.d8=Q+!
The final breakthrough!
62...Kxd8 63.Kb6 Bf2+ 64.Kb7!
64.Kxa5 is also winning automatically, but the game is easier and more stylish.
64...Bg3 65.b4! 1–0
Black resigned! A highly instructive endgame!
6
D. Fridman
G. Guseinov
Istanbul, 2012
White has an extra passed pawn on a4, but it is well-blockaded by the bishop. White has two options to make progress:
Create another passed pawn with f4 at some point, although it is also going to be blockaded by the king on f6; or use a
deflecting sacrifice on h5 in order to break in with Kf5.
52.Ke4!
White uses the fact that the f2 pawn cannot be taken because the bishop cannot catch the a-pawn afterwards. We have
reached the critical position from Black’s point of view. It is not easy at all to foresee all the details...
52...Ba5?
The decisive mistake which is going to be perfectly exploited by White. The only move was 52...Kg6! and let’s
understand the details by studying the critical lines. White has two options: 53.f4 (If 53.Bxh5+ Kxh5 54.Kf5
White is threatening f3! (since the g3 pawn still cannot be taken) followed by Ke6 or g4. The only move to avoid it is
54...e4! when White must give up the idea of playing Ke6, because after Bxf2 the e-pawn promotes faster. 55.Kxe4
(55.g4+ Kh6 56.Kxe4 Kg5=) 55...Kg4= Black has built a fortress. Without the help of the king, White cannot promote
his passed pawns.) 53...exf4 54.Kxf4 (On 54.gxf4 The difference to the game is that Black is able to save his h-pawn
which will always give him counterplay. 54...h4=) 54...Bd2+ 55.Ke4 Kg5
56.Bxh5! White comes up again with the deflecting sacrifice to invade through Kf5, however Black is not forced to
accept it... 56...Ba5= followed by waiting with the bishop. White cannot invade with his king on either side of the board
and without that the game is drawn.
53.f4+ exf4 54.gxf4+ Kf6
The h-pawn is lost in any case. 54...Kg6 is refuted by 55.Bxh5+! Kxh5 56.Kf5 Kh6 57.Ke6+–
55.Bxh5 Bb4
We have quite a similar situation to the 52...Kg6 53.f4 line, but there the king was on g5 and the pawn on g3 with a
successful fortress. Is it the same or not? Well, there is a route through the h-file along the 8th rank for the king to go to
the support of the a-pawn. Black cannot fight against this plan if it is precisely executed...
56.Be2 Ba5 57.Bd3
White controls the f5 square before he starts the king transfer.
57...Bb4 58.Kf3 Bc3 59.Kg4 Ba5
59...Bd2 does not prevent 60.Kh5 as f4 still cannot be taken. 60...Bxf4 61.a5+–
60.Kh5 Bb4
On 60...Bd2 (to meet Kh6 by Bxf4 check) Black finds himself in zugzwang after a waiting move with the bishop,
61.Bc2+–;
If 60...Kg7 61.Kg5 Bc3 62.Kf5 Kf7 63.Be2!+– Bh5 appears next and the king invades either through g6 or e6.
61.Kh6 Bc3 62.Kh7 Bd2
62...Kf7 only helkps temporarily: 63.Bg6+ Kf6 64.f5+– and the king continues its journey.
63.Kg8 Ke7
Otherwise Kf8-e8---b5 is decisive.
64.f5 Bc3 65.Bc2 Bd2
65...Kf6 66.Kf8+–
66.Kg7 Bc3+ 67.Kg6 1–0
f6 is coming next so Black resigned.
7
A. Kotov
M. Botvinnik
Moscow, 1955
In this famous endgame, the great Mikhail Botvinnik demonstrates the power of the passed pawns. He already has one
on b3, but it is well-blockaded by the king.
59...g5!!
Black gets another passed pawn after this great move. The direct 59...Kg4? brings nothing because of 60.Be7
59...g5!! 60.fxg5
60.hxg5 also loses after 60...h4 61.f5 (61.Bd6 Bf5! costs White two of his pawns to stop the h-pawn 62.g6 Bxg6 63.f5
Bxf5 64.Kxb3 Kg2–+) 61...Bxf5 62.Kxb3 h3 63.Bd6 Kxe3–+ White cannot fight against both passed pawns and g5 is
useless. ...d4-d3 and ...Ke2 are coming next.
60...d4+!
Obviously Black must defend his b3 pawn before going towards the one on h4.
61.exd4
The alternative was 61.Bxd4 Kg3 62.g6 Kxh4

White must try to stop the h-pawn with his king because he cannot deflect the bishop from the b3 pawn since the bishop
controls both white pawns from the a2-g8 diagonal. 63.Kd2 Kg3 (63...Kh3!? leads to the same.) 64.Be5+
64...Kh3! (Black must retreat after 64...Kg2 65.Bf6) 65.Ke2 (If 65.Bf6 h4 66.Ke2 Kg2!–+ and the h-pawn cannot be
taken.) 65...Kg2! Otherwise Kf2 arrives in time. However the king has stepped outside of the square of the b-pawn
66.Bf6 h4–+
61...Kg3!
The careless 61...Kg4? allows 62.d5 Bxd5 63.Bf2=
62.Ba3
62.Be7 changes nothing: 62...Kxh4 63.g6+ Kg4–+
62...Kxh4 63.Kd3 Kxg5 64.Ke4 h4 65.Kf3
65.d5 Bxd5+ 66.Kxd5 h3–+
65...Bd5+ 0–1
White resigned in view of 65...Bd5+ 66.Kf2 Kf4 67.Kg1 Ke3 68.Kh2 Be6! 69.d5 Bd7–+ Black promotes the b-pawn
and the bishop holds the d-pawn and prevents Kh3 at the same time. The h1 corner corresponds to the bishop, so the
game is over.
8
A. Horvath
B. Korpa
Zalakaros, 2015
White is two pawns up, but Black has created an excellent blockade and he seems to hold the draw. In such situations,
the only chance is to create a passed pawn on both sides. It seems to me after all, that with precise play White is able to
achieve this goal and his position is objectively winning.
43.Bc2!
This very subtle waiting move places Black in zugzwang. The point is, that to execute the breakthrough on the
queenside, White must wait until the d2 bishop leaves its square. The direct 43.a4 is met by 43...Kg7 44.g5 hxg5
45.hxg5 Bb4= and Black just waits with his bishop or king and White cannot make progress.
43.Bc2! Be3
If Black wants to keep his bishop on d2 and decides to wait with his king, this causes another kind of problem...
43...Kg7 White wins now after 44.g5! hxg5 45.hxg5 White has successfully created his passed pawn on the kingside
and the next step towards the win is to drive his king across the board to help create the second passer on the
queenside... 45...Bc1 46.Kg4 Bd2 47.Kf5 Bc1 48.g6 Bb2 49.Ke6 Ba3 50.Kd5 Kf6 51.Kc6 Kg7 52.Kb5 Bb4
53.Ka4! This is a very important detail! White has no other way to make progress. 54.a3 is coming on the next move!
53...Bc3 54.a3 The threat is Kb5, because the bishop can no longer occupy the b4 square. 54...Bb2 55.b4! (Obviously
not 55.Kxa5? because after 55...Bxa3 there is no way to create a passer.) 55...axb4 56.axb4 cxb4 57.Kxb4+– The g-
pawn immobilizes the black king and White simply promotes his c-pawn with the aid of his king.
44.a4!!
A very strange move at first sight, because it just seems as though White fixes the pawn structure on the queenside.
However the point is to push b4 next and no matter how Black captures it, White successfully gets his passed pawn.
44...Kg7
44...Bd2 does not prevent the threat as White plays 45.b4!! anyway. This brilliant move utilises the fact that the bishop
cannot take since the pawn is hanging on h6. 45...cxb4 Other captures are even worse. 46.c5 White lures the king or the
bishop to stop the c-pawn, but this will allow him to push g5 at some point. 46...Ke6 47.Bb3+! It is important not to
allow the king too close to the pawn. 47...Kd7 48.Bd5! The pawn is temporarily safe from the king. 48...Be3 (48...b3
loses to 49.Bxb3 Kc6 50.g5 hxg5 51.hxg5 Kxc5 52.g6 Bc3 53.Kh6+– Black cannot stop the g-pawn and the a8
promotion square matches the white bishop.) 49.c6+ Kd6 50.g5! A small trick, since the bishop is not really hanging.
50...hxg5 51.hxg5 Bd4
It is very important now as to how White intends to progress. 52.Kh6! White is ready to push g6-g7. (The hasty 52.g6
allows Black to stop the pawn with 52...Bg7!= Black exchanges his b-pawn for the c6 with ...b3 next and holds the
draw easily.) 52...Be3
53.Kg6! This is psychologically the hardest part of the plan. White should win the game by advancing his g-pawn and
he temporarily blocks its way with his own king. However the idea is to play Kf6 and then push the pawn. White wins
by only one tempo in the following line: 53...b3 54.Bxb3 Kxc6 55.Kf6! Kd7 56.g6 Ke8 and if it were Black’s move,
...Bd4 would successfully block the pawn and secure the draw, however after (56...Bd4+ 57.Kf7+– wins.) 57.g7 Bd4+
58.Kg6+– White wins.
45.b4!!
The right timing for creating the passed pawn! 45.g5? is met by 45...hxg5 46.hxg5 Bd2= and Black holds.
45...cxb4 46.g5!
White has successfully created his passed pawns on both sides, but the win still requires some technique...
46...hxg5 47.hxg5 Kf7

48.Bb3!!
Another great move! White is ready to advance his pawn with a discovered check. This prevents Black from playing
...Ke6. 48.Kg4 would have been met by 48...Ke6 and it is much harder to make progress.
48...Ke7
48...Ke6 49.c5+!+– transposes to the 44...Bd2 line.
49.Ba2
A waiting move. 49.Kg4 The winning plan is to take the king to the queenside. White could also have done it
immediately, but it will later transpose to the game.
49...Kf8
49...Bd4 50.Kg6+– followed by Kf5 will again transpose to the game.

49...Ke6 allows 50.c5++– which again transposes to the 44...Bd2 line.
50.Kg6! Ke7 51.Kf5
The plan is to push g6, followed by Ke5-d5, supporting the c-pawn.
51...Bd2
This allows the advance of the c-pawn, but the game was over anyway. If Black plays, for instance, 51...Bd4 then White
wins after 52.Ke4 Bg7 53.Kd5 Kd7 54.Kc5+– and Kb5-a5 next.
52.c5 Bc3 53.Ke4 Kd7 54.Kd5 Kc7 55.Bb3 Bg7 56.Bc2 Bf8 57.g6 Bg7
The rest is already very easy. White simply collects the a5 pawn.
58.Kc4 Bf6
Black cannot prevent Kb5 with 58...Kc6 because of 59.Be4+ Kc7
60.Bd5!+– A great place for the bishop. It controls both the c6 and b3 squares, therefore White is ready to play Kb5
next.
59.Kb5 Bc3
The last trick by Black, but of course White can delay the capture of the a5 pawn by a move.
60.Bb3! 1–0
Black resigned! A third passer after losing the a5 pawn would be already too much to hold!
9
S. Karjakin
P. Svidler
World Cup, 2015
We are faced with a study-like endgame. White is a pawn up, but it seems as though Black has successfully built up an
impenetrable barrier. He just moves ...Be6-d7 and White can do nothing, because his king cannot pass the 8th rank.
However the truth is different! Both players had less than a minute on the clock, but Karjakin found a brilliant idea to
continue the fight and it transpires that even objectively his position is winning. The only existing idea is to sacrifice
pawn with d5 Kxd5 and Kc7, but then Black plays ...Ke6 maintaining the blockade. The key is, White can pass the
move to Black using a triangulation, who then finds himself in zugzwang.
77.Bg5! Be6 78.Bh6! Bd7 79.Bf4!
Here we are! It is Black to move now and he has no move other than ...Be6.
79...Be6
80.d5+!!
This is the point! White gives up his material advantage, but he gets access with his king to the kingside pawns. The
difference with the bishop on e6 is that after Kxd5 Kc7 Black cannot block the way with ...Ke6!
80...Bxd5
The alternative was 80...Kxd5 81.Kc7 The unfortunate placement of the black pawns allows the king to march towards
f6 and collect the g6 and h5 pawns. Black cannot protect the latter one, because the e5 passed pawn must be blockaded
and it occupies both of his pieces. 81...Kc4 and running towards the c-pawn does not save Black... 82.Kd6 Bg8
(82...Bf7 also loses after 83.e6 Be8 84.Be5 Kd3
85.Ke7 Bc6 86.Kd8 Ke4 87.Bf4 Kd3 88.e7 Kxc3 89.e8=Q Bxe8 90.Kxe8+– White gives up his bishop for the b-pawn
and takes all the kingside with his king.) 83.e6 Kxc3 84.Ke5 b4 85.Kf6 Bxe6 86.Kxe6 b3 87.Kf6+– with the same
story as in the 82...Bf7 line.
81.Kc8!
Black cannot prevent Kd8-e7-f6 or, if he allows it, White just advances his e-pawn.
81...Bb3 82.Kd8 Bc4
Black decides to wait. Active defense does not help either 82...Kd5 83.Ke7 Kc4 84.Kf7 Kxc3+ 85.Kxg6 b4 86.Kxh5
Bc4 87.Kg6 b3 88.Bc1+– and the white passed pawns decide the outcome.
83.Ke7 Bb3 84.e6
84.Kf6 Kd7 85.Kxg6 Ke6 86.Kxh5 should also be winning.
84...Bc4 85.Kf6 Bb3
86.Bc1!
White drives his bishop to a3 in order to push e7, placing it on a protected square, and then the king is free to take on g6
and h5 gaining another passed pawn. 86.Bg5 was also good with the same purpose in mind.
86...Bc4 87.Ba3 Bb3 88.e7 Kd7 89.Kxg6 1–0
Black resigned in view of 89.Kxg6 Ke8 (There is no time for 89...Bd1 90.Kf7) 90.Kxh5 Kf7 91.Kg5 Be6 92.h5 Bd7
93.h6+– and Black is unable to create a blockade.
10
J. Markos
C. Balogh
Baden, 2007
37...c3!
Using this small tactical trick, Black prevents the bishop from getting between the pawns with Bb4. White faces a really
difficult decision: how to stop the c-pawn?
38.f5!!
Only this amazing move seems to save the game. This is the only way by which White can prevent the penetration of
the black king, because the white one gets to the queenside quicker. Let’s check the other options first: 38.Be5 c2
39.Bb2 Be4 40.Kf2 Ke6 41.Ke3 Kd5 the black king gets to b3 in any case. 42.Kd2 Kc4 43.Kc1 (If 43.Bc1 Kb3–+
and Black breaks through with ...a5-a4 and ...b4.) 43...Kb3–+ White soon runs out of moves and he loses the a3 pawn
which is going to be decisive against the three connected passed pawns.
38.Bb4 leads more-or-less to the same as 38.Be5 38...c2 39.Bd2 Be4 40.Kf2 Ke6 41.Ke3 Kd5 and again the black king
soon arrives on b3 and decides the game. 42.Bc1 Bf5 43.Bb2 Kc4–+;
38.Bc5 is a much better try than the previous two attempts, but it still seems to be inadequate, e.g. 38...c2 39.Be3 Be4
40.Kf2 Ke6 41.Ke2 Kd5 42.Kd2 Kc4 Black threatens ...Kb3, therefore White has to lose the critical tempo which he
would need later in the game: 43.Kc1
White can securely protect the a3 pawn from c5, but the king goes now to the other direction 43...Kd3! (43...Kb3
44.Bc5 a5 45.Bd6 b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.Be5 The queenside pawns are neutralized.) 44.Bc5
44...Bf5! This is the key move! Black prevents the f5 sacrifice, after which White could obtain a barrier on the kingside
by placing his pawn on h4 and defending g3 with the bishop. This is also the reason why White has to play 38.f5!!
45.Bb4 Ke2 46.Be7 Kf3 47.Bf6 Kg2 48.h4 (48.Kb2 Kxh2 49.Bh4
White loses to the motif that we learned in the first two games of this chapter, viz: 49...g5! 50.fxg5 Bg6–+ and the
bishop is trapped on h4. Black walks with his king to promote his queenside pawns.) 48...Kxg3 49.Kd2 (49.Bg5 will be
the same as the main line after 49...Kg4 50.Kb2 a5 51.Kc1 a4!) 49...Kxf4 50.Bg5+ Kf3 51.Kc1 Ke2 52.Bh6 White
must control the g5 square to prevent the creation of another passed pawn with g5. 52...Kd3 53.Kb2 Otherwise the
black king walks to b3 and lures the bishop from the g5 square. (53.Bg5 Kc3 54.Bh6 Kb3 55.Bf8 g5!–+) 53...a5
54.Bg5
Black is already three pawns up, but he still needs to work for the win. The only way to achieve it is with 54...a4! Black
prepares for the final breakthrough with ...b4. 55.Bh6 Be4 Placing all the pieces on their ideal squares. The bishop is
going to control the b-pawn after the ...b4 break 56.Bg5 Ke2 57.Kc1 Otherwise ...Kd1 and ...b4 wins. 57...b4! 58.axb4
a3 59.b5 a2 60.Bf6 g5! The third passed pawn decides the game. White also obtains two, but the black ones are faster.
61.hxg5 h4 62.b6 h3 63.g6 h2–+
38...Be4!?
A tricky move to delay the capture on f5, but my opponent reacts again with a great move!
39.Kf2!
White saves the important tempo that Black could get with ...Ke6. 39.fxg6+ seems to lose after 39...Bxg6 40.Kf2 Ke6!
Here is the critical tempo 41.Bb4 (Without having forced the c-pawn to c2, Black is simple winning with 41.Bf4 Kd5
42.Ke2 Kc4 43.Kd1 a5–+ and b4 next, the connected pawns decide.) 41...c2 42.Bd2 Kd5 43.Ke1 Kc4–+ Kb3 wins
next.
39...c2
The principled line goes with 39...Bxf5 40.Ke3 Ke6 41.Bb4! it is necessary to force the pawn to move to c2. 41...c2
42.Kd2 Kd5 43.Kc1 Kc4 44.Kb2 Kd3 45.Kc1 Ke2 46.Bd6 Kf3 47.h4!
This is the barrier White was aiming for right from the initial position. The bishop holds the kingside pawns and the
king blockades the queenside. 47...a5 48.Bc7 b4 (The winning idea which was working in the 38.Bc5 line fails now
because after 48...a4 49.Bd6 b4 50.Bxb4 Kxg3 51.Be7= White retains its barrier.) 49.axb4 axb4 50.Bd6 b3 51.Be5=
White has nothing to worry about.
40.Bf4
White could have already taken with 40.fxg6+ Bxg6 41.Bf4 Ke6 42.Ke1 Kd5 43.Kd2 Kc4 44.Kc1 Kb3 45.Bd6 a5
46.Be7 Black cannot proceed on the queenside against this ideal defensive setup. 46...b4 47.axb4 axb4 (47...a4 48.b5 a3
49.Bf6=) 48.Bf6=
40...Bxf5 41.Ke1 Ke6 42.Kd2 Kd5 43.Kc3 a5 44.Bc1 Be4 45.Bd2 Ke5 46.Kb2 a4 47.h4
We have reached the drawn position that we examined in the 39...Bxf5 line. I had only one idea left to try...
47...Kd4 48.Bb4 Ke3 49.Kc1 Kf3 50.Bd6

50...Kg4
Black trades a pair of pawns first with ...g5 and only then does he want to execute the break with ...b4. The difference
can be seen in the line 50...b4 51.Bxb4 Kxg3 52.Be7= and White could not create a passed pawn.
51.Kd2 g5 52.hxg5 Kxg5 53.Kc1 Kg4 54.Kd2
54...b4!
The last hope. Black gets a second passed pawn in any case.
55.axb4!
White again finds the right defense and the problem is that he is threatening to advance his b-pawn which deflects the
bishop from the c2 pawn. Otherwise the winning idea could be ...a3-a2 and trade the a-pawn for the g3 followed by
promoting the h-pawn.
55...a3 56.b5 a2 57.Be5 Kf5
57...a1=Q also leads to a draw after 58.Bxa1 Kxg3 59.Be5+ Kg2 60.b6 h4 61.b7 Bxb7 62.Kxc2=
58.Bd4 Ke6 59.b6 Kd5 60.Ba1 Kc6 61.Bd4 Kd5 62.Ba1 Kc6 63.Bd4
Draw agreed. White simply showed perfect defense starting with 38.f5!!
1/2
CHAPTER 4
UNUSUAL PRACTICAL GAMES
This is just a semi-chapter which includes some really shocking moves. I hope you will like them. :-)
1
We learned from Chapter 1.2 that this position without the dark-squared bishops is drawn. The evaluation remains the
same now as White simply waiting with his bishop on the g1–a7 diagonal and Black cannot make progress. The king
cannot be bothered on g1 and there is no access to the h2 pawn.
1.Bb6 Ke2
1...Be3+ 2.Bxe3 Kxe3 3.Kf1= with a theoretical draw.
2.Bc5 Kf3 3.Bb6 Bc3 4.Bc5 Be5 5.Bb6 Bxg3 6.hxg3 Kxg3 7.Bc7+=
White establishes a blockade on the dark squares with Kh2 next move.
2
Nothing changes if we move all pieces one file to the left. Black still cannot access g2 and the position remains drawn.
1.Bb5=
3
Weenink
Let’s understand firstly the problems. White is a bishop up, but it is currently under attack and Black is threatening to
walk back with his king to e5, after which threatens ...g6 and winning the last standing pawn with ...Kf4. If White
pushes g6 himself, he must count on the king going back to e7-f8 with a theoretical draw. White has only one move to
win and it is quite shocking...
1.Bb1!!
Well...it’s hard to comment on this! Other moves on the long diagonal offer Black a very big tempo along his king
march, while after 1.Bh7 Kc3 2.Kb5 Kd4 3.Kc6 Ke5 4.g6 (4.Kd7
4...g6!= is Black’s main point and the pawn is lost on g5.) 4...Ke6!= and the king gets back to e7-f8.
1.Bb1!! Kxb1
The difference if Black tries the same idea with 1...Kc3 is that the f5 square is under control of the bishop 2.Kb5 Kd4
3.Kc6 Ke5 4.Kd7 g6 and Black is not threatening ...Kf5, so White is in time to protect his pawn. 5.Ke7 Kf4 6.Kf6+–
2.Kb3!
The white king keeps his colleague away from the pawns in order to save a huge tempo on playing g5-g6, after which he
can already march to f7 with the king.
2...Kc1 3.Kc3 Kd1 4.Kd3 Ke1 5.Ke3 Kf1 6.Kf3 Kg1
6...Ke1 7.g6!+– and the king walks to f7.
7.Kg3! Kf1
The king no longer threatens to quickly to g5-h6, therefore White has time to push
8.g6! Ke2 9.Kf4 Kd3 10.Ke5 Kc4 11.Ke6+–
4
V. Topalov
A. Shirov
Linares, 1998
Black is two pawns up, but the win is far from obvious. We are going to face one of the most amazing and unexpected
moves that I have ever seen. Precise calculation shows that if Black wants to activate his king in a “normal” way, White
arrives in just time with Kf2-e3 and saves the game. Black must do something extraordinary to win the critical tempo...
47...Bh3!!
Shirov’s fantastic tactical view works in endgames as well! The bishop is sacrificed for a single tempo, in order to get
the king to e4! Other moves only lead to a draw, but let’s examine them: On 47...Kd6? 48.Kf2! Kc5 49.Ke3 White
manages to block the d-pawn. The a- and d-pawns are too close to each other and the bishop holds them from one
diagonal. We have learned from the previous chapters that Black cannot realize his material advantage in such
situations. 49...Be4 50.Bxf6 Bxg2 51.Be5 White just waits. 51...Kc4 52.Bf6 a3 53.Be5 Kb3 54.Kd2! The king follows
with the known technique. 54...Ka2 Threatening with Kb1, but White follows 55.Kc1=
The other winning attempt with 47...Be4? also fails 48.Kf2 Kf5 49.g3! a3 50.Ke3 White establishes a blockade again.
50...Kg4 51.Bxf6 Kxg3 52.Kd2 Kf4
(On 52...d4 53.Bxd4 Kxh4 54.Kc3 Bd5 55.Kc2= and the white king gets to the corner. He only needs to sacrifice his
bishop for the g-pawn and secure the draw as the a1 corner is wrong for the black bishop.) 53.Be7! White has time to
force the pawn to advance to a2...In a few moves we will see why this is useful: 53...a2 54.Bf6 Bf5 55.Bg7 Ke4 56.Ba1
d4 With the pawn on a3, White could get into zugzwang as his bishop is trapped, while now he can play 57.Bb2 d3
58.Bc3 Kf3 59.Bb2 Kg4 60.Bf6 a1=Q 61.Bxa1 Kxh4= and we have reached the theoretically-drawn position that we
discussed in the 6th game of Chapter 3.2.
47...Bh3!! 48.gxh3
If White ignores the “gift” with 48.Kf2 Kf5 The king gets to e4 anyway as after 49.Kf3 Bxg2+! 50.Kxg2 Ke4–+ will
be the same as the game.
48...Kf5 49.Kf2 Ke4!

This is the point! Black has won the important tempo and his king has reached the e4 square. He has three passed pawns
which can not be held, therefore White has to take on f6 — but this spoils some other very important tempi.
50.Bxf6
On 50.Ke2 f5 The pawns are unstoppable 51.Kd2 d4 52.Bb2 f4 53.Ke2 f3+ 54.Kf2 d3!
55.Ke1 (If 55.Bc1 a3!–+ is the problem and one of the pawns promote.) 55...Ke3 56.Bc1+ Kd4 57.Bb2+ Kc4–+ ...Kb3
is coming next, and White cannot play Kd2 because of ...f2.
50...d4
White cannot get his king in front of the d-pawn, because the a-pawn is unstoppable if it gets to a3. White must waste
another critical tempo.
51.Be7
51.Ke2 a3–+
51...Kd3!
Black intends to promote his d-pawn with the help of the king after ...Kc2!
52.Bc5 Kc4!
The last accuracy. It was not too late to go wrong with 52...Kc3? which allows the king to stop the pawn. 53.Ke2
53.Be7
53.Bb6 a3–+
53...Kb3
White resigned as the king reaches the c2 square and the pawns are unstoppable. 53...Kb3 54.Ke2 (54.Bf6 d3 55.Ke1
Kc2 56.Bg5 a3–+) 54...Kc2–+
0–1

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1. Bishop vs pawns

Swipe left for next chapter

Mastering minor piece endgames

First edition 2016 by Chess Evolution

Mastering minor piece endgames. Part 1

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Chess Evolution

= Equality or equal chances

1.0. TWO BISHOPS MATE

1...Ke6 2.Kc5 Ke7 3.Kd5

3...Kd7 4.Be5 Ke7 5.Bg6 Kd7 6.Bd6

Within a few moves the king is already on the back rank.

6...Kc8 7.Kc6 Kd8 8.Bf7 Kc8 9.Be7

9...Kb8 10.Kb6 Kc8 11.Be6+ Kb8 12.Bd6+ Ka8 13.Bd5#

It’s as easy as that. We don’t need to memorize anything here.

1.a5+ Ka6 2.Bd5 Ka7 3.Kb5 Kb8 4.Kb6+–

1.a5 Ka8 2.Kb6

2...Kb8 3.Be5+ Ka8

4.Kc7 Ka7 5.Bd4+

1.a5 f4 2.a6+ Ka8 3.Kb6 f3

Otherwise Black goes to the corner.

2...Kc7 3.Kb5 Kc8 4.Kb6 Kd7 5.Bb8+–

1.Kd4! Ke6 2.Kc5! Kd7 3.Kb6! Kc8

1.Bd7! Ke3 2.h4 Ke4!

3.h5 Ke5 4.h6 Kf6

This leads to a draw as Black can take the opposition

2...Kxb8 3.Ka6 Ka8=

Otherwise the king gets to a8 and there is nothing to discuss.

1...Kd8 2.Kb7 Kd7 3.Bc7

3...Ke6 4.Kc6 Ke7! 5.Bb6 Ke6 6.Bc5 Ke5

9.Kd7 Kf6 10.Bh2 Kf7 11.Be5 Kg6

12...Kh7 is also possible.

13.Bb2 Kg6 14.Bf6 Kh6 15.Kf7 Kh7

16.Be5 Kh6 17.Bg7+ Kh7 18.Kf8 Kg6 19.Kg8

19...Kf5 20.Kf7 Kg5 21.Bf8

21.Ke6 Kg6=; 21.Bf6+ Kh6=

23.Ke8 Ke6 24.Bf8 Kf6=

White cannot make progress.

2.Kc7 Ka6 3.Bb4!

White must avoid a trick before stalemating the king...

3...Ka7 4.Bc5+ Ka6 5.Kc6 Ka5 6.Bd4!

6...Ka6 leads to the same after 7.Bb6! b4 8.axb4 a3 9.b5#

7.Bb6+! Ka6 8.axb4 a3 9.b5#

1...Kb7! 2.Be3 Ka7

1.Kc6 Kc8 2.Be6+ Kb8 3.Bd7 Ka8=

White cannot make progress.

1.Kc6 Kc8 2.Be6+ Kb8 3.Kd6 Ka8=

1.Bf6 Kb8 2.Kd7 Ka8=

Or Ba6 at some point, but Black just ignores it and plays

2...Kb8! and after 3.Kd6

he can already capture the bishop.

3...bxc6 4.Kxc6 Kc8=

1.Kd8 Ka8 2.Bc6

There is no way to make progress.

1.Bg4! Ke7 2.Ke5 Kd8 3.Kd6+–

The most direct move also fails: 1.Kc5?

Black escapes to a theoretical draw.

Black knows the theory.

66.Bxb6 Kc8 67.a6 Kb8=

This study by Kiriakov also ends with the same motif.

1.Kc1! Ba2 2.Kd2!!

2...Kc5 3.c3! b3 4.Kc1=

is met by 2...Ka3! and White is in zugzwang or 3.Kxc3= is stalemate.

1.Kc5! b4 2.Kc4! bxa3 3.b3#