Opposite Bishops: Winning with a- and e-Pawns

White to play and win

Play

Your a-pawn and e-pawn have three files between them, and Black's king and bishop block both. The way in is a long king walk round the edge of the board. The rule: when his pieces build a barrier, do not push a pawn. Pass the move with your bishop, still guarding e4, and the zugzwang forces them to give way.

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Outflanking with a- and e-Pawns

White to play and win · Win against perfect defense

Waking the engine…

The theory

Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.

Two things first. Your bishop must keep guarding e4: Be6 now would let his king take the pawn, and the a-pawn alone does not win. And the direct route makes no progress: after Kb5 Kd6 his king holds the e-pawn back and his bishop on a7 stops the a-pawn. So your king goes the other way, round the right-hand edge.

An a-pawn and an e-pawn separated by three files always win against an opposite-colored bishop. The win is not a pawn push but a king journey along the edge of the board, forced through by repeated zugzwang.

The slow front door. A direct Kb5 wins too, but it makes no progress: Black blockades with Kd6 and the bishop stays free on the a7-g1 diagonal. Instead the king takes the long way, heading for the h-file to climb behind the defense.

Zugzwang the barriers. Every time the defender builds a barrier, do not force it, pass the move: a quiet bishop move or a small triangulation, and the barrier must give way. Several zugzwangs in a row carry the king to g8 and f7. Then it comes back down toward the a-pawn, and the bishop cannot both hold the corner and stop the e-pawn.

In this drill patience is the method. Outflank on the edge, win each waiting battle with a spare tempo, and convert the two threats into a breakthrough.

Keep going

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

Bf8, Then Give the Bishop for a Pawn

Black to play and draw

All 19 opposite bishops positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)