Opposite Bishops: Pawns One File Apart Draw
Black to play and draw
PlayTwo extra pawns, but only one file between them, and that saves you. Your king sits on the square between the pawns and never leaves. Your bishop handles whichever pawn the enemy king comes to support.
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One File Apart: The King Blockade Holds
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
When two extra passed pawns are separated by only one file, the opposite-colored-bishop defense is an ironclad draw. The defending king blockades between the pawns and the bishop covers whichever pawn the strong king supports.
King in the middle. From d8 the king touches c7 and e7, the two squares in front of the pawns. It never leaves. The bishop takes the pawn that the enemy king is escorting, and the wall is complete.
Shuttle and switch. While White's king is on the queenside, the bishop watches c7 from the b8-h2 diagonal. When it crosses to the kingside, the bishop switches to the a3-f8 diagonal and watches e7. The most White ever achieves is to win the bishop for both pawns, which is still a draw.
In this drill White will march the king from one wing to the other. Keep the king on d8, switch the bishop's diagonal to follow, and give nothing away.
Keep going
When the Attacker Owns the Corner
White to play and win
Central and Rook Pawn: Deny b7
Black to play and draw
The Overextended Knight Pawn
Black to play and draw
All 19 opposite bishops positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)