Opposite Bishops: Knight Pawn Kept Back Wins
White to play and win
PlayThree files apart again, but the knight pawn is further back, still on the fourth rank. That one difference wins the game: the pawn no longer blocks its own king, so your king has two ways in and the defender cannot shut both.
Updated
New to this ending? Learn the method first: The Fortress
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Knight Pawn Kept Back: Two Threats at Once
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
With pawns separated by three files and one a knight's pawn, keeping that pawn further back is what wins. On the fourth rank it does not block its own king, so the attacker can threaten two entries at once and the single defending king cannot guard both.
Two threats. One plan is a central break with the king toward d4. The other is the outflank Kf3-g3-h4 along the edge. Improve the bishop first, then present both; the defending king can meet only one.
The fork of plans. If the king comes to the center against d4, switch to the edge. If it holds the edge, break through the middle and march the king to support the b-pawn, even from a7. Keep the b-pawn back until the king is through, then push it.
In this drill the defender will chase whichever threat you show. Alternate the central break and the edge outflank until the king breaks in, then run the second pawn.
Keep going
Outflanking with a- and e-Pawns
White to play and win
Guard e6, But From the Right Square
Black to play and draw
Connected Passers Do Beat an Opposite-Coloured Bishop
White to play and win
All 19 opposite bishops positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)