Bishop vs Connected Pawns: Defending on the Long Diagonal
Black to play and draw
PlayYou have a bishop against two connected passed pawns, and you can draw. The rule has two parts. Your bishop takes the long a8 to h1 diagonal, which watches a8, the a-pawn's queening square. Your king comes back and takes hold of the rear pawn from behind.
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Bishop Against Connected Pawns: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
Two connected passed pawns look overwhelming against a bishop, but a bishop and king working together can stop them.
The bishop's diagonal. Put the bishop on the long diagonal that watches the rook pawn's queening square, here a8 on the a8 to h1 line.
The king behind the rear pawn. Bring your king back and tie it to the rear pawn from behind, so that pawn can never advance safely.
The finish. When the a-pawn reaches a7, the bishop drops onto a8 in front of it. Your king guards b7, and in the end it picks up the last pawn.
In this drill you defend. Several of your moves are the only ones that draw.
Keep going
Do Not Put the King In Front of the Pawns
Black to play and draw
Locked Knight Pawns: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw
Blocked Rook Pawns: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw
All 24 bishop endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)