Bishop with Blocked Rook Pawns: Holding the Fortress
Black to play and draw
PlayWhite's bishop is the right colour to control h8, but his h6 pawn is blocked by yours on h7, a light square his bishop can never attack. Only his king could win your pawn. The rule: keep your king on f8 and g8. Going into the corner at the wrong moment walks into mate, and stepping away to e8 lets his king take h7.
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Blocked Rook 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.
Kh8 would lose at once: Kf7 opens the bishop's diagonal to h8, and it is mate.
Even the right bishop cannot always win a rook pawn. Your h7 pawn blocks his, on a square the bishop cannot attack, so the bishop has nothing to take.
The block. White's h6 pawn cannot move, and your h7 pawn stands on a light square his dark-squared bishop can never attack. Only his king could win it.
The defender's squares. Your king shuttles between f8 and g8. Going into the corner while the bishop is on the long diagonal walks into mate, and stepping away to e8 lets his king reach g7 and take h7.
In this drill you defend. Two of your moves are the only ones that draw, and the line ends in stalemate.
Keep going
King Behind King
Black to play and draw
The Position Janowsky Resigned
Black to play and draw
Driving Off the Lone Bishop
White to play and win
All 24 bishop endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)