Bishop vs Two Connected Passed Pawns: The Draw
White to play and draw
PlayYou have a king and a bishop against two connected pawns on c2 and d3. You can hold the draw. The rule: put your king in front of the pawns, let your bishop attack them, and take a pawn only when your king guards the square.
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Bishop Holds Two Connected Pawns
White 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.
First, the capture that loses. Bxd3? Kxd3, and nothing can stop the c-pawn from queening.
Whether a bishop holds two connected passers is not automatic: it depends on how far they have advanced and where the kings stand. In this position they are still short of promoting and the defending king is in front, so it is a draw with care.
The method. The king does the blocking. From d2 it covers both queening squares, d1 and c1, while the bishop holds the pawns where they stand. Do not send the bishop to guard d1: Be2 loses, and so does every other bishop move here.
The safety valve. If the attacker ever forces both pawns through together, give the bishop for both: the bare kings draw instantly. Knowing this removes the fear of the advance.
In this drill you defend. Play Kd2 to cover both queening squares, keep the bishop watching the pawns, and take the bishop-for-two-pawns trade the moment they break loose.
Keep going
The Torn Bishop and the Saving Sacrifice
White to play and draw
Only the King Can Take That Pawn
White to play and win
Give the g-Pawn Away
White to play and win
All 24 bishop endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)