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Same-coloured bishops: a draw a pawn up

With same-coloured bishops an extra pawn wins more often than with opposite ones - but far from always. If the defending bishop gets the passer blockaded and keeps it in its sights, the result is a draw.

Here White has the king on c7, the bishop on e8 and an extra pawn on d6; Black has the king on c5 and the bishop on h3. White to move, and it is a draw (per the tablebases): Black's bishop controls the queening square and the d6 pawn cannot be pushed through.

The lesson: even with same-coloured bishops, judge the pawn's prospects rather than the material - can the opponent's bishop and king hold it? The blockade saves here too.

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How to save the game with same-coloured bishops

  1. 1Put the bishop on a diagonal that controls the pawn's queening square.
  2. 2Offer a bishop trade where the pawn ending is drawn.
  3. 3Blockade the pawn with the king and keep the bishop on the long diagonal.
  4. 4Watch out for zugzwang - that is what usually breaks the defence.

Common mistakes

  • Letting the bishop off the diagonal of the queening square.
  • Trading into a pawn ending without counting the opposition.
  • Leaving the bishop where it can be hit with tempo, losing the diagonal you need.

Common questions

Why does an extra pawn not always win with same-coloured bishops?

The defending bishop controls the queening square along its diagonal while the king blockades the pawn. A breakthrough is only possible via zugzwang.

Which matters more in defence, the bishop or the king?

Both: the bishop holds the diagonal, the king blockades the pawn. Dividing the roles is the essence of the defence.

How do you win positions like this?

Put the opponent in zugzwang, attack a second weakness and create a second passer.

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