Bishop and Pawn vs Bishop: The Frontal Defence
Black to play and draw
PlayYou are the defender. Here your king can still get behind the enemy king with 1...Kd5, but that route is not always there in time, so learn the second escape route too: run in front of the pawn. The bishops are dark, and g8 is a light square right beside the promotion square, and a king that reaches g8 can never be evicted.
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The Frontal Defence
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
With bishops of one color and an extra pawn, the defender's whole task is the king. Two king plans draw, and you should know both.
Rear opposition first. The classic hold is to place your king directly behind the enemy king. Here it is also the simplest: 1...Kd5 and the king reaches g4 with the opposition.
The frontal defence. When there is no time to get behind, run in front instead: the king heads for g8, a light square beside the promotion square. On g8 a bishop trade on g5 leads only to a drawn pawn ending, so White can never force it. This procedure works as long as the pawn has not passed the sixth rank.
In this drill White will push and probe for a way in. Pick a king route, in front or behind, and neither the bishop nor the pawn can break through.
Keep going
Bishop Holds Two Connected Pawns
White to play and draw
The Torn Bishop and the Saving Sacrifice
White to play and draw
Only the King Can Take That Pawn
White to play and win
All 24 bishop endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)