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.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.
It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
Openings, endgame positions and breakthrough studies - the set-up appears on the board.
The defending bishop controls the queening square along its diagonal while the king blockades the pawn. A breakthrough is only possible via zugzwang.
Both: the bishop holds the diagonal, the king blockades the pawn. Dividing the roles is the essence of the defence.
Put the opponent in zugzwang, attack a second weakness and create a second passer.
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