Opposite Bishops: Race to the Drawing Fortress

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

Against connected passed pawns, the opposite-colored-bishop fortress is always the same: the king stands in front of the pawns while the bishop stops one pawn and attacks the other. The only question is whether the defender reaches it in time.

Aim one phase ahead. Against pawns on the fourth rank the bishop would need b7 or c6, and from f1 it cannot get there in time. So aim for the position one move later: when the pawns reach the fifth, the bishop belongs on f7 or g8, attacking the d-pawn and stopping the e-pawn.

Only one road arrives. Bc4 is the single move that reaches f7 in time, travelling the a2-g8 diagonal. Bb5 fails to Bb4+, when the black king itself blocks the bishop's route and a pawn runs.

In this drill White will push the pawns forward and try to gain the extra tempo. Play Bc4, reach f7 or g8 as the pawns hit the fifth, and settle into the fortress.