Bishop and Pawn vs Knight: Defend With the Knight Far Away

Black to play and draw

White has a bishop and a pawn against your knight, and Bb3 has just checked your king. The position is a draw, and the defender's rule shows the way: keep your knight far from the enemy king. White's king on c7 has to guard the pawn on d6 while your king attacks that pawn, so the white king cannot go after your knight. Still look at every knight move: far away is not always safe.

New to this ending? Learn the method first: How to Checkmate With Bishop and Knight

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

Keep Your Knight Far: 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.

First, your king. Kc5 keeps attacking the pawn on d6, and Kd4 or Ke5 also hold. But Ke4 loses: after Kd8 and Ke7, White's king stands next to your knight.

In this kind of bishop and pawn against knight ending, White wins only by zugzwang, and for that his king must come close to your knight. Your defence is to deny him that.

The defender's rule. Keep the knight far from the enemy king. With White's king on c7 instead of e7, the knight on f6 is out of its reach, and the position is a draw.

The king's job. Your king attacks the pawn on d6, so White's king has to stay and guard it. If your king wanders off with Ke4, White's king walks over to your knight and wins.

In this drill you defend. Keep your king attacking the pawn, keep your knight away from White's king, and take the pawn as soon as it hangs.

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 positions Follow the full curriculum (free)