Rook and Bishop Pawn vs Bishop: How the Defender Draws

Black to play and draw, after Szabo - Botvinnik, Budapest 1952

You have a lone bishop against rook and pawn, and with the pawn on f6 and your king on f8 this is a draw. The rule: keep your bishop on the diagonal from a2 to g8, with a check ready the moment White's king reaches g6, as long as the pawn has not reached f7. In this line that check comes from f7. Never leave the bishop standing on f7 or g8. When the pawn goes to f7, your king guards f8 from e7 and the bishop just waits on the diagonal, and when the pawn finally queens, your king takes the queen.

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Bishop Against Rook and f-Pawn: the Defender Holds

Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play

Waking the engine…

The theory

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White's rook on b4 attacks your bishop. Only one move holds: Ba2, which stays on the diagonal from a2 to g8, out of reach of the rook and the king. The other squares of the diagonal are attacked, except f7 and g8, the squares to avoid. Every other move loses.

Rook and pawn usually beat a lone bishop, but a bishop pawn on the sixth rank is a known exception. This drill puts you on the defending side.

The diagonal. The bishop belongs on the diagonal from a2 to g8. While the pawn is on f6, the bishop keeps a check ready for the moment the attacking king reaches g6, and White cannot control the whole diagonal. In this drill that check comes from f7.

When the pawn reaches f7. Your king guards f8 from e7, and the bishop waits on the diagonal. Not every check helps: in this line, with White's king on g6, Bc2+ is met by Kg7.

The squares to avoid. Never park it on f7 or g8. Visiting f7 with a check is fine; staying there is not.

The end. When the pawn finally queens, the king takes the new queen, and rook against bishop without pawns is a draw here.

The only fortress of its family. Shift every piece one rank down and the defence fails; a central or a knight pawn loses as well.

In this drill you defend, and most of your moves are the only ones that hold. Keep the diagonal and give the check on time.

Keep going

Rook and Bishop: The Philidor Win

White to play and win

Finishing the Philidor Position

White to play and win

Defending Rook Against Rook and Bishop

Black to play and draw

All 30 rook vs minor positions Follow the full curriculum (free)