Opposite Bishops: Knight Pawn Kept Back Wins
White to play and win
PlayYour b-pawn is still on the fourth rank, so it does not get in your king's way, and you win. The rule: make two threats at once. Your king can go into the centre through d4, or round the edge through h4. Black's king can stop one, not both.
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Knight Pawn Kept Back: Two Threats at Once
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
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The theory
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Two roads for your king: d4 in the centre, or f3, g3 and h4 along the edge. Black's king will try to block both. Improve your bishop first.
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. Improve the bishop before pushing the b-pawn, and push it only when b5 helps the king instead of crowding 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
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All 19 opposite bishops positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)