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Opposite-colored bishops endgame

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The opposite-colored bishops endgame is a chess endgame in which each side has a single bishop and the bishops reside on opposite-colored squares. Without other pieces besides pawns, these endings are widely known for their tendency to result in a draw. These are the most difficult endings in which to convert a small material advantage to a win. With additional pieces, the stronger side has more chances to win, but not as many as when bishops are on the same color.

Many players in a poor position have escaped a loss by trading down to such an endgame. These endgames are sometimes drawn when one side has an advantage of two or even three pawns, since the weaker side can create a blockade on the squares on which their bishop operates.

General principles

Edmar Mednis gives two principles for endgames with bishops on opposite colors:

  1. If a player is down material he should look for drawing chances in an endgame with only the bishops and pawns.
  2. With major pieces (queen or rook) on the board, having bishops on opposite colors favors the side with an attack.[1]

Ian Rogers gives three principles when there are only the bishops and pawns:

  1. Two connected pawns are not sufficient to win unless they reach their sixth rank
  2. If the attacker has two widely separated passed pawns that cannot be controlled by the opposing bishop on a single diagonal, they usually win
  3. When the attacker has an outside passed pawn, it should be stopped by the bishop only when the king can block the opposing king.[2]

Drawing tendency

In endings with opposite-colored bishops, a material advantage is less important than in most endgames and position is more important. Positions when one side has an extra pawn are usually drawn and even two extra pawns (and occasionally more) may not be enough to win.[3] About half of the endings with a bishop and two pawns versus a bishop on the opposite color are drawn.[4] (By contrast, over 90% are won if the bishops are on the same color.)

Zugzwang is a tool that often helps the superior side win an endgame. It is a fairly common occurrence in endings with bishops on the same color but is much less common in endgames with opposite-colored bishops.[5]

The weaker side should often try to make his bishop bad by placing his pawns on the same color of his bishop in order to defend his remaining pawns, thereby creating an impregnable fortress.[6] The attacker should generally put his pawns on squares of the opposite color as his bishop to prevent a blockade.[7]

Bishop and pawn versus bishop

The attacker's bishop is practically useless and the defender can normally draw if his king can reach any square in front of the pawn that is not of the color of the attacking bishop; or if his bishop can permanently attack any square in front of the pawn.[8] These endings are trivially drawn 99% of the time.[9]

Bishop and two pawns versus a bishop

About half of these positions are drawn. In most other endings, a two pawn advantage is usually an easy win. For comparison, if the bishops were on the same color, 90% of the positions would be wins.

There are three general cases, depending on the two pawns. In most endings, a pair of connected pawns have the best winning chances, but in these endings, a widely separated pair of pawns have the best chances[10] unless one of the pawns is the wrong rook pawn.

Doubled pawns

With doubled pawns the position is a draw if the defending king can reach any square in front of the pawns that is not of the color of the attacker's bishop. The second pawn on the file is of no help, so this is like the ending with only one pawn. If the defending king and bishop cannot accomplish this, the first pawn will win the defending bishop and the second one will promote.[11]

Isolated pawns

abcdefgh
8
c7 black king
e7 black bishop
c6 white pawn
d5 white king
e5 white pawn
h5 white bishop
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Isolated pawns. White to play, a draw. White wins if the pawn is on f5 instead of e5.

With isolated pawns (on non-adjacent files), the outcome depends on how widely separated the pawns are. The more widely separated they are, the better the winning chances.[12] The rule that holds in most cases is that if only one file separates the pawns the game is a draw, otherwise the attacker wins. The reason is that if the pawns are more widely separated, the defending king must block one pawn while his bishop blocks the other pawn. Then the attacking king can support the pawn blocked by the bishop and win the piece. If only one file is between the pawns, the defender can stop the advance of the pawns. See the diagram.[13] If three files separate the pawns, the pawns normally win.[14] However, there are positions where the defender can set up a blockade, especially if one of the pawns is the wrong rook pawn.[15]

Averbakh, 1972
abcdefgh
8
c7 black bishop
d7 white bishop
c6 white pawn
g5 black king
e4 white king
f3 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White to move, draw

In this position from Yuri Averbakh, Black draws since the bishop can restrain both pawns on the same diagonal with the help of the king and the white bishop is helpless.

1. Kd5 Kf6!

The white king will not get to e6.

2. Kc5 Ke7
3. Kb5 Bf4
4. Kb6 Kd8, draw.[16]
N. Miller vs. A. Saidy, 1971
abcdefgh
8
d7 black king
c5 black pawn
d5 white king
e3 black bishop
g3 black pawn
f1 white bishop
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White resigned in this drawn position.

An example is the game N. Miller vs. A. Saidy, American Open 1971. White resigned in this position because he knew a "rule" articulated by Fine in the first edition of Basic Chess Endings: "If the pawns are two or more files apart, they win."[17] Since here three files separate the pawns, White assumed his position was hopeless. However, the position is actually a fairly straightforward draw, since "White's King has such a powerful active location that he can keep Black's King from penetrating either side of the board.".[18] Play might continue 1. Bh3+ Ke7 2. Bg2 Kf6 3. Bh3 Kg5 4. Bg2 Kf4 5. Kc4! Bd4 6. Kd3 Bg1 7. Bc6 Kg4 8. Bg2! Bf2 9. Kc4! Kf4 10. Kd3 Ke5 11. Kc4, when, "Clearly there is no way for Black to break the blockade."[19]

Wrong rook pawn

Alekhine vs. Ed. Lasker, 1924
abcdefgh
8
f8 black king
h5 black pawn
b4 black bishop
d4 black pawn
a2 white bishop
f1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Draw despite Black's two well-separated pawns

If one of the two pawns is the wrong rook pawn (i.e. an a- or h-pawn whose queening square is the opposite color from the squares on which the superior side's bishop moves), a fortress may allow the inferior side to draw irrespective of how far apart the two pawns are. This is illustrated by AlekhineEd. Lasker, New York City 1924. (complete game) Three files separate Black's two pawns, but the players agreed to a draw after 52.Bb1 Kg7 53.Kg2. Alekhine explained in the tournament book that White "can now sacrifice his Bishop for the [d-pawn], inasmuch as the King has settled himself in the all-important corner".[20]

If one of the pawns is the wrong rook pawn, it does not matter how widely separated or how advanced the pawns are. The outcome depends on whether or not the defending king can get into the corner in front of the rook pawn and sacrifice his bishop for the other pawn.[21]

Recap

Grandmaster Jesus de la Villa emphasizes the importance of this endgame and gives this breakdown depending on how many files separate the pawns:

  • If the pawns are separated by two files:
  1. Two bishop pawns normally win
  2. With a knight pawn and a central pawn the position is usually a draw, but there are winning chances if the knight pawn is not far advanced and the attacking bishop controls its promotion square
  3. with a rook pawn and a central pawn the endgame is a draw
  • If the pawns are separated by three files:
  1. With a knight pawn there are drawing chances if the pawn is far advanced
  2. With a rook pawn the position is usually won
  • If the pawns are separated by four files
The ending is won because the attacking king gets between the pawns.[22]

Connected pawns

Positions with connected pawns are the most complex case, and the result depends on the ranks and files of the pawns and the colors and locations of the bishops. If one of the pawns is a rook pawn (on the a- or h- file) the position is normally drawn. If the pawns are on the opposite color as the defender's bishop, the defender may be able to blockade the pawns and draw. If both pawns can safely reach the sixth rank, they win unless one is the wrong rook pawn, i.e. the rook pawn that promotes on the square of the same color as the defending bishop.[23]

abcdefgh
8
c7 black bishop
e7 black king
b5 white bishop
d5 white pawn
e5 white pawn
d4 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Connected pawns on the fifth rank, the ideal defensive setup. Black draws (either player to move).

The ideal drawing setup is seen in the diagram at left. Black's king (on a square not of the color of the opposing bishop) and bishop stay two ranks in front of the pawns, with both defending against a pawn advance (here d6 by White) to the same color square as the bishop. The defending bishop must maintain an attack on the pawn on the same color square as itself, so that the attacking king is not allowed to advance. If White pushes the other (unattacked) pawn, Black's bishop sacrifices itself for both pawns, with a draw. (If the second pawn is protected and advances instead, the position is also a draw.) In the diagram position, Black on move passes (i.e. a waiting move that maintains the attack on the pawn) with 1... Bb8! 2. Ke4 Bc7! 3. Kf5 Bb8! and so on. White cannot make progress: 4. d6+ is met, as always, by 4... Bxd6 5. exd6+ Kxd6 with an immediate draw; 4. e6 gives Black an unbreakable blockade on the dark squares; and White can never prepare for d6+ by playing Kc5 because Black plays ... Bxe5.

abcdefgh
8
d8 black king
f8 black bishop
d6 white pawn
e6 white pawn
b5 white bishop
d5 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Connected pawns on the sixth rank. White wins (either player to move).

A similar position with White's pawns on the sixth rank is a win because the black bishop has no room to move and maintain the attack on the pawn on d6, thus Black is defeated because of zugzwang. In the position at right, Black loses immediately. Black, on move, must give way with either bishop or king, allowing White to move e7, winning, or else play the hopeless 1... Bxd6 2. Kxd6. If White is to move in this position, he plays a waiting move such as 1. Kc6, placing Black in the same predicament (1... Ke8 2. Kc7#).[24]

More pawns

abcdefgh
8
c7 black king
e6 white bishop
f6 black pawn
c5 black bishop
e5 black pawn
g5 black pawn
e4 white king
h4 black pawn
h3 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Drawing fortress with bishops on opposite colors, Black to move.

Draws are possible with more pawns. This is an example of a drawing fortress with opposite-colored bishops when three pawns behind. White simply keeps his bishop on the h3 to c8 diagonal.[25] (See Fortress (chess)#Opposite-colored bishops.) Positions with three pawns versus none are wins 90% of the time.[26]

Examples from master games

Berger vs. Kotlerman

Berger vs. Kotlerman, 1948
abcdefgh
8
f5 white bishop
b4 black pawn
f4 black bishop
c3 black king
e3 black pawn
f1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White to move draws.

In Berger versus Kotlerman, the pawns are separated by two files, but the game was drawn.[27]

1. Ke2 b3
2. Kd1 Kb4
3. Bh7 Ka3
4. Bg6 Kb2
5. Bf7! Ka2
6. Be6 Ka3
7. Bf5! ½–½

If 7...b2, then 8.Bb1. If Black keeps his king near the b-pawn, then White moves his king. If the king goes to g2 trying to displace the white king, White moves the bishop.

Piskov vs. Nunn

abcdefgh
8
a8 white rook
e8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
d7 black bishop
g6 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d5 white pawn
f5 black queen
g5 white bishop
c4 white pawn
d4 black pawn
h4 white queen
h3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White to move

In this game[28] Black has an inferior position, but he draws by exchanging queens and rooks, giving up two pawns, and reaching a drawn endgame:

37. Bf6 Qh5!
38. Qxh5 gxh5
39. Rxe8+ Bxe8
40. Be7 Bg6
41. Bxc5 Kf7!
42. Bxd4 a6
43. a3 Bd3
44. c5 Bc4
45. d6 Ke6
46. Kf2 Kd7
Piskov vs. Nunn
abcdefgh
8
d7 black king
a6 black pawn
d6 white pawn
c5 white pawn
h5 black pawn
c4 black bishop
d4 white bishop
a3 white pawn
h3 white pawn
f2 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 46...Kd7

The blockade has been set up. Black's pawns can be protected by his bishop and White's passed pawns cannot make any progress. The game continued:

47. Kg3 Be6
48. h4 Kc6
49. ½–½[29]

Nunn

Position from Nunn
abcdefgh
8
c7 black king
c6 white pawn
e6 white king
g5 black pawn
f4 black pawn
c3 black bishop
f3 white bishop
h3 white pawn
g2 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black to move, White wins

In this position from Nunn (a slight modification of a simultaneous game), White wins:

1... Be1
2. Kf6! Bh4
3. Kf5 Kd6
4. g3 fxg3
5. Bg2 Kc7
6. Ke5 g4
7. hxg4

and White wins easily by supporting the g-pawn with the king. Black loses because he cannot defend the pawn on g5 with the bishop from d8 or e7. If the black king were on b8, then 1...Ba5 would draw.[30]

Sokolov vs. McShane

Sokolov vs. McShane, 2002/3
abcdefgh
8
h8 black bishop
e7 black king
h7 white pawn
g6 white king
c5 black pawn
f5 white pawn
h4 white pawn
b3 white bishop
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black to move discards a pawn and sets up a stalemate defense.
abcdefgh
8
e8 black king
h8 black bishop
h7 white pawn
f6 white pawn
g6 white king
h5 white pawn
b3 white bishop
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 5...Ke8, draw

In the game between Ivan Sokolov and Luke McShane, Black discards his pawn and goes for a stalemate defense:

1... c4!?
2. Bxc4 Kf8
3. h5 Ke7
4. Bb3 Kf8
5. f6 Ke8 ½–½

and a draw was agreed because White cannot break through, e.g. 6.Ba4+ Kf8 7.h6 Bxf6 8.Kxf6 stalemate.[31]

Lautier vs. Rublevsky

Lautier vs. Rublevsky, 2003
abcdefgh
8
f7 black pawn
g7 white king
e6 black king
g5 white bishop
f4 white pawn
g4 black bishop
h4 white pawn
g3 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black to move

In an endgame with opposite-colored bishops, positional factors may be more important than material (see quotes below). In this position, Black sacrifices a pawn (leaving him three pawns down) to reach a fortress.

1... Kf5!
2. Kxf7 Bh5+
3. Kg7 Bd1
4. Be7 ½–½

After 4...Be2 5.Kh6 Bd1 6.h5 Black just waits by playing 6...Be2.[32]

Kotov vs. Botvinnik

Kotov vs. Botvinnik, 1955
abcdefgh
8
e6 black bishop
g6 black pawn
c5 white bishop
d5 black pawn
h5 black pawn
f4 white pawn
h4 white pawn
b3 black pawn
c3 white king
e3 white pawn
f3 black king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black to move

Another position illustrating the principle stated above is from the game Kotov–Botvinnik, Moscow 1955. Grandmaster Lev Alburt writes, "Black has an extra pawn, but his opponent appears to have a reasonable blockade in place."[33] However, Botvinnik finds a way to create another passed pawn.

1... g5!! 2. fxg5

2.hxg5 h4 3.Bd6 Bf5 4.g6 Bxg6 5.f5 Bxf5 6.Kxb3 Kg2 costs White his bishop and the game.[34][35]

2...d4+!

Black must keep his b-pawn.[36][37]

3. exd4

Black has gone from being a pawn up to temporarily being a pawn down, but he has a won game. If 3.Bxd4, then 3...Kg3 4.g6 Kxh4 5.Kd2 Kh3!! 6.Bf6 h4 7.Ke2 Kg2!.[38]

3... Kg3!

Not 3...Kg4? 4.d5! Bxd5 5.Bf2, drawing.[39]

4. Ba3

4.g6 Kxh4 5.g7 Kg4 also wins.[40] 4.Be7 Kxh4 5.g6+ Kg4 wins.[41]

4... Kxh4 5. Kd3 Kxg5 6. Ke4 h4 7. Kf3

Or 7.d5 Bxd5+.[42]

7... Bd5+ 0–1

Fischer vs. Donner

Fischer vs. Donner, 1966
abcdefgh
8
c8 black rook
g8 black king
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
f5 black queen
d4 white pawn
a3 black bishop
d3 white bishop
g3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
c2 white rook
f2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
f1 white queen
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 30.Bc4–d3?

In this game between Bobby Fischer and Jan Hein Donner, White was winning, but Black had a swindle to save the game by getting to a drawn opposite-colored bishop endgame. Play continued:

30... Rxc2
31. Bxf5 Rc1
32. Qxc1 Bxc1
33. Kf1 h6

If 33.d5, then 33...Ba3 stops the pawn.

34. Ke2 Kf8 ½–½[43]

If Fischer had won this game, he would have tied with Boris Spassky for first place in the 1966 Piatigorsky Cup tournament.

Fischer vs. Polugaevsky

Fischer vs. Polugaevsky, 1970
abcdefgh
8
d8 black bishop
a7 black pawn
f7 white bishop
h7 black pawn
g5 black king
g4 white pawn
b2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White to move, draw agreed

In this position from a game[44] between Fischer and Lev Polugaevsky a pair of rooks had just been exchanged. An endgame with opposite-colored bishops was reached, with three pawns to two, which was a dead draw.[45]

Vidmar vs. Maróczy

In this 1932 game[46] between Milan Vidmar and Géza Maróczy, White was three pawns ahead, but was unable to win. Pawns are doubled on the rook file, which would give White the wrong rook pawn, making the white bishop unable to assist in promotion. The game ended in a draw on move 129, because checkmate was impossible. Before the end, two insignificant underpromotions to bishops occurred.

Vidmar vs. Maróczy, 1932
abcdefgh
8
h8 black king
f6 black bishop
h6 black pawn
b5 white bishop
h5 white pawn
d3 white pawn
g3 white pawn
h2 white pawn
h1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 41.Bxb5
abcdefgh
8
g8 white bishop
e7 black bishop
h6 black pawn
d5 white pawn
e5 black king
h5 white pawn
g4 white pawn
h4 white pawn
h3 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 115...Ke5

Advantageous with positional considerations

As stated above, in endgames with opposite-colored bishops, positional factors may be more important than material differences. John Nunn makes two points:

  1. usually the number of passed pawns is more important than the total number of pawns
  2. small changes in the pawn structure may have a large effect.[47]

Against weak pawns

Bogoljubov vs. Blümich, 1925
abcdefgh
8
c8 black bishop
f8 black king
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
c6 black pawn
g6 black pawn
c4 white pawn
e4 black pawn
b3 white pawn
e3 white bishop
h3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
d1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 28...Kf8

In some cases with more pawns on the board, if one side has weak pawns then it is actually advantageous to the other side to have the bishops on opposite colors. In the 1925 game of Efim Bogoljubov versus Max Blümich, White wins because of the bishops being on opposite colors making Black weak on the black squares, the weakness of Black's isolated pawns on the queenside, and the weak doubled pawns on the kingside.[48][49] The game continued:

29. Kd2 Ke7
30. Kc3 f6
31. Kd4 Be6
32. Kc5 Kd7
33. Kb6 g5
34. Kxa6 Kc7
35. Bb6+ Kc8
36. Bc5 Kc7
37. Bf8 f5
38. Bxg7 f4
39. Bf6 f3
40. gxf3 exf3
41. Bxg5 Bxh3
42. Bf4+ 1–0

Positional advantages

Fuchs vs. Kholmov, 1956
abcdefgh
8
b7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
g6 black pawn
h5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
e4 black king
h4 white pawn
a3 white pawn
e3 white bishop
g3 white pawn
e2 white king
f2 white pawn
g2 black bishop
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black to move wins.

Although endgames with opposite-colored bishops tend to be drawish, even with a material advantage, in some cases positional advantages can be enough to win with the same material on both sides. In this position from a 1956 game between Reinhart Fuchs and Ratmir Kholmov,[50] Black's positional advantages enabled him to win.[51]

Kurajica vs. Karpov, 1976
abcdefgh
8
g8 black king
c7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
c6 black pawn
f6 black pawn
c5 white pawn
d5 black bishop
a4 black pawn
d4 white pawn
h4 black pawn
a3 white bishop
d3 white pawn
f3 white pawn
f2 white king
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 33...h4!

In this 1976 game between Bojan Kurajica and Anatoly Karpov, the material is even but Black has pinned down White's queenside pawns and is preparing to break through.[52] Black needs to create another weakness or passed pawn to win. White resigned after move 57.[53][54]

As a defensive resource

Occasionally opposite-colored bishops endings offer a defender better prospects for a draw than same-colored bishops endings. The weaker side can set up a color-blockade, so the side with the extra material or exchange cannot attack.

Liem vs. Svidler

Liem vs. Shirov, 2013
abcdefgh
8
c8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
d6 black bishop
g6 black king
d5 white pawn
e5 black knight
f5 black pawn
g5 black pawn
c3 white pawn
g3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
g2 white bishop
b1 white king
e1 white rook
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 27...Bd6. Black has established a solid dark-square blockade. Black's centralized pieces cannot be challenged by white's bishop.

Smyslov vs. Vaganian

Smyslov vs. Vaganian, 1988
abcdefgh
8
c8 black rook
g8 black king
b7 black bishop
f7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
b6 black pawn
d6 white bishop
e6 black pawn
g6 black pawn
d5 black knight
e5 white pawn
b4 white pawn
a3 white pawn
h3 white pawn
b2 white queen
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black has good compensation for the material deficit. The well-entrenched knight in addition to the presence of opposite-colored bishops, makes the task very hard for white to convert his material advantage.

Additional pieces

If both sides have an additional matching piece, the situation is much more complex and cannot be easily codified. Generally, the presence of the additional pieces gives the stronger side more winning chances. Glenn Flear calls these "NQE"s ("Not Quite Endgames").[55] The initiative is important in these types of endgames.[56]

Knight

With each side having a knight in addition to the bishops, the main idea is for the stronger side to create two passed pawns. If this can be done then the exchange of knights is acceptable for the stronger side. However, the exchange of knights may benefit the defender, especially if there is only one passed pawn and he has no other weaknesses. This endgame occurs in about 0.6% of games between high-rated players.[57]

Rook

If each side has a rook in addition to the bishop, the stronger side has many more winning prospects. The attacking rook can have influence on both colors of squares. Sometimes exchanging the rook for the defender's bishop breaks a fortress. Sometimes the defending bishop can be sacrificed for pawns to result in a rook and bishop versus rook endgame that can be drawn. The most difficult problem encountered by the stronger side is usually in breaking a blockade by the opposite bishop. These endgames occur in 2.8% of the games between high-rated players.[58]

Example

Topalov vs. Aronian, 2006
abcdefgh
8
a7 black pawn
e7 black king
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black bishop
d5 black rook
g5 white pawn
c4 black pawn
h4 white pawn
c3 white pawn
e3 white bishop
f3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white rook
e2 white pawn
f2 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 25.Rxd5 Rxd5
abcdefgh
8
d8 white rook
e7 white bishop
f7 white king
h7 black king
a6 black rook
g6 black pawn
c5 white pawn
f5 black bishop
g5 white pawn
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position before 73.Rd4!

This type of endgame was reached in a 2006 game between Veselin Topalov and Levon Aronian, see the first diagram. (The game and analysis is on this page and the game score is also here.) White was able to make slow progress (see the second diagram, showing the position after 72 moves).

The game concluded:

73. Rd4! Be6+
74. Kf8 Ra8+
75. Bd8 Bg4
76. c6 1–0

Black resigned because the pawn will advance to c7 and Black cannot defend against rook attacks on the seventh rank and the h-file.[59]

Queen

When each side has an additional queen, the possibility of exchanging them is a paramount concern. The stronger side should try to get two widely spaced passed pawns before exchanging queens. Defending squares of the color of the stronger side's bishop can be difficult if there are weaknesses or threats on both sides of the board. The stronger side must increase his advantage before exchanging queens and sometimes this is done with a direct attack on the king. These endgames occur in 0.8% of the games between high-rated players.[60]

History

Paulsen vs. Anderssen, London, 1862
abcdefgh
8
h5 black pawn
c4 black pawn
f3 white king
h3 black king
c2 white bishop
d2 black bishop
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 54...bxc4, drawn on the 57th move

The earliest opposite-colored bishop endgame in the ChessBase database is an 1862 game between Louis Paulsen and Adolf Anderssen in their unofficial world championship match.[61] It was a draw because of the wrong rook pawn. Play continued:

55. Bf5+ Kh2
56. Bc2 h4
57. Be4 ½–½
NN vs. Greco, 1620
abcdefgh
8
g8 black king
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
e6 black pawn
h6 black pawn
b5 black pawn
e5 white pawn
g5 white bishop
f4 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
b1 black bishop
h1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Position after 32...Bxb1

This 1620 game between an unknown player and Gioachino Greco was won by Black on move 50.[62]

Quotes

  • "In endings with bishops of opposite color, material means NOTHING, position EVERYTHING." — Cecil Purdy (emphasis in the original)[63]

References

  1. ^ (Mednis 1990:75)
  2. ^ (Rogers 2010:40)
  3. ^ (Nunn 2007:145ff)
  4. ^ (Emms 2004:91)
  5. ^ (Angos 2005:84, 95)
  6. ^ (Emms 2004:100)
  7. ^ (Emms 2004:91)
  8. ^ (Fine & Benko 2003:184)
  9. ^ (Emms 2004:90)
  10. ^ (de la Villa 2008:110–11)
  11. ^ (de la Villa 2008:104)
  12. ^ (Emms 2004:95)
  13. ^ (Fine & Benko 2003:184–92)
  14. ^ (Emms 2004:95)
  15. ^ (Mednis 1990:114)
  16. ^ (de la Villa 2008:100)
  17. ^ (Fine 1941:179)
  18. ^ (Mednis 1990:96)
  19. ^ (Mednis 1990:97)
  20. ^ (Alekhine 1961:179 note jj)
  21. ^ (de la Villa 2008:111)
  22. ^ (de la Villa 2008:104–22)
  23. ^ (de la Villa 2008:106)
  24. ^ (Fine & Benko 2003:184–92)
  25. ^ (Dvoretsky 2006:92)
  26. ^ (Emms 2004:98)
  27. ^ (Dvoretsky 2006:95)
  28. ^ "Yury Piskov vs. John Nunn (1992)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  29. ^ (Nunn 2007:145–46)
  30. ^ (Nunn 2007:146–48)
  31. ^ (Müller & Pajeken 2008:191)
  32. ^ (Müller & Pajeken 2008:191)
  33. ^ (Alburt 1996:19)
  34. ^ (Botvinnik 1972:75)
  35. ^ (Averbakh 1977:144)
  36. ^ (Botvinnik 1972:75)
  37. ^ (Averbakh 1977:144)
  38. ^ (Botvinnik 1972:75)
  39. ^ (Botvinnik 1972:75)
  40. ^ (Botvinnik 1972:75)
  41. ^ (Averbakh 1977:144)
  42. ^ (Botvinnik 1972:75)
  43. ^ (Mednis 1990:81–82)
  44. ^ "Robert James Fischer vs Lev Polugaevsky (1970)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  45. ^ (Kasparov 2004:91–93)
  46. ^ "Milan Vidmar vs Geza Maroczy (1932) Opposites Detract". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  47. ^ (Nunn 2009:74)
  48. ^ (Reinfeld 1947:80–81)
  49. ^ "Efim Bogoljubov vs Max Bluemich (1925)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  50. ^ "Reinhart Fuchs vs Ratmir Kholmov (1956)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  51. ^ (Donaldson 1995:63–64)
  52. ^ "Bojan Kurajica vs Anatoly Karpov (1976)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  53. ^ (Kasparov 2006:300–302)
  54. ^ (Donaldson 1995:66–67)
  55. ^ (Flear 2007:7–8)
  56. ^ (Müller & Pajeken 2008:141)
  57. ^ (Flear 2007:176ff)
  58. ^ (Flear 2007:326ff)
  59. ^ "Linares R10: Topalov marches on". chessbase.com. 5 March 2006. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  60. ^ (Flear 2007:471ff)
  61. ^ "Louis Paulsen vs Adolf Anderssen (1862)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  62. ^ "NN vs Gioachino Greco (1620)". www.chessgames.com. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  63. ^ (Purdy 2003:140)

Bibliography

Further reading