Wrong Bishop and Rook Pawn: Defending Against the Cutoff
Black to play and draw
PlayYou have only your king against a bishop and an h-pawn. White's bishop moves on light squares and can never control h8, so the corner is your drawing square. His bishop on h7 covers g8, your only way in. The rule: while the bishop stays on h7, go after the h6 pawn. When the bishop leaves h7, head straight back for g8.
New to this ending? Learn the method first: The Wrong Bishop
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
The Bishop Cutoff: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
Kf6 is your only drawing move, and every other king move loses. If White leaves his bishop on h7, your king goes on to g5 and takes the pawn on h6, a dark square the bishop can never guard.
A bishop that cannot control the queening square of a rook pawn usually cannot win: if the defending king reaches the corner, it cannot be driven out. The attacker's one try is to cut the king off from that corner.
The cutoff. White's bishop on h7 covers g8, the only way into h8. But while the bishop stays there, the h6 pawn stands on a dark square the bishop can never guard.
The defender's shuttle. While the bishop sits on h7, your king goes after the pawn by f6 and g5. When the bishop leaves h7 to free the pawn's path, your king turns back toward g8. Each of these moves is the only one that draws.
In this drill you defend. Find the only move every time, until the position repeats.
Keep going
Cutting the King Off With the Bishop
White to play and win
The Buried Bishop: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw
Bishop Against Connected Pawns: the Defender Holds
Black to play and draw
All 24 bishop endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)