Bishop Sets Up the Squeeze

White to play and win

Play

Here a bishop joins the fight, and its long-range control lets you take away the defender's moves from a distance. The semi-stalemate that follows wins the position.

No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.

Bishop Sets Up the Squeeze

Win against perfect defense

Waking the engine…

The theory

Add a bishop to a pawn ending and the semi-stalemate idea grows teeth: the bishop controls squares from afar, quietly stealing the opponent's moves.

Long-range control. Post the bishop where it covers the squares the defender needs. From a distance it can freeze pawns and fence in the enemy king at once.

Toward zugzwang. Once the defender's useful moves are gone, every legal reply concedes something. That is the semi-stalemate, and it converts your advantage.

In this drill coordinate bishop, pawn, and king so the squeeze is airtight. The perfect defender will find any loose square, so leave none.

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