Bishop and Pawn vs Knight: Why It Can Be a Draw
White to play and draw
PlaySame bishop, same pawn, same knight, but your king is on c7 instead of e7. That one square removes the win, and it gives the defender the rule for this whole ending.
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Keep the Knight Away From the King
White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Being up a bishop and a pawn does not guarantee a win against a knight. The win depends entirely on zugzwang, and zugzwang depends on being able to reach the knight.
One square changes everything. With the king on e7 the knight on f6 is within reach and can be squeezed. With the king on c7 it cannot be touched, and Black simply shuffles it forever.
The defender's rule. Park the knight well clear of the enemy king. Here the knight draws from f6, from f8 and from e5, all of them out of the white king's orbit.
The pawn cannot force matters. d6-d7 runs into Nxd7, and a bishop against a knight with no pawns is a dead draw. There is nothing to convert.
In this drill the target is the half point. Recognize the fizzle instead of overpressing into nothing.
Keep going
Cutting the Knight Off with the Bishop
White to play and win
Only Be8 Stops the Pawn
Black to play and draw
Count the Diagonal, Then Block It
White to play and win
All 15 bishop vs knight positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)