The Bishop Pawn Escapes
White to play and draw
PlayThe same queen that crushes a center pawn is helpless against this bishop pawn. A stalemate resource saves the defender, and with your king still far away there is no win to be found.
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
The Bishop Pawn Escapes
Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Queen versus pawn is a win for the checking-and-approaching side, except when the pawn is a rook pawn or a bishop pawn. This position is the classic bishop-pawn draw.
The stalemate resource. When the queen forces the defending king in front of a bishop pawn, the king can flee toward the corner. Now taking the pawn or blocking the queening square leaves the enemy with no legal move: stalemate. The queen can never bank the tempo it needs.
The king race. The only way to beat these pawns is to have your own king close enough to help before the stalemate defense kicks in. Here it simply is not near enough.
In this drill you play the stronger side yet the tablebase holds the draw. Learn to recognize the pattern so you never burn moves chasing a win that is not there.