Opposite Bishops: Winning with a- and e-Pawns
White to play and win
PlayAn a-pawn and an e-pawn, three files apart. This always wins, but not by force of pawns: it wins by a king walk along the edge of the board, opened by one zugzwang after another.
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Outflanking with a- and e-Pawns
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
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.
No front door. A direct Kb5 achieves nothing: 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)