tag: bishop endgame - Page 1

When a retreat is the best way to advance

11/24/2020 – Some endings are simple: you have a passed pawn that wants to push ahead and therefore your king also pushes ahead to support the pawn or enter the enemy's camp. But things are rarely that easy. In the diagram position White's pawn wants to push ahead and White's king can also push ahead to support his own pawn or to attack the black pawns on the queenside. But is that really the way to save the draw?

The unstoppable

9/8/2020 – Endings with opposite coloured bishops are often drawish but can also be very exciting because material is less important. This again and again leads to surprising and aesthetically pleasing sacrifices.

The right path into the fortress

8/11/2020 – Due to the colour blindness of the bishop there are often fortresses in pure endgames. In the following case White can either reach the saving corner h1 or Ponziani's old fortress.

Kingside killer pawns

6/23/2020 – Passed pawns can be powerful, especially in the ending, and pawn majorities allow you to create passed pawns. Therefore, having a far advanced pawn majority is often a big advantage.

Duel of the knight pawns

4/7/2020 – Bishop endings have drawish tendencies, even if the bishops move on squares of the same colour. Therefore, precision is required to win a better position.

A really bad bishop

2/4/2020 – Endings with opposite-coloured bishops are often a draw. But in the diagram position Black has a really bad bishop and that allows White to win.

Passed pawns push ahead

12/31/2019 – Endgames with bishops of opposite-colour are often difficult to win. In the diagram position White is a pawn down but can still save the game.

The power of the h-pawn

4/23/2019 – Endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are often drawn even if one side is one or two pawns up. But, of course, the better side will also often win — with precise play.

Strong bishops and weak pawns

11/6/2018 – Endings with bishops of opposite colours tend to be drawish, but endings with bishops of the same colour also tend to be drawish. Precision is needed, however.

The imprisoned bishop

2/20/2018 – Endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are often paradoxical — sometimes they are drawn although one side is two or even three pawns up. This often leads to surprising tactical opportunities.

The imprisoned king

1/30/2018 – Endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are often drawn but these endgames are also often very attractive because often material is less important than piece activity. This leads again and again to interesting tactical turns.

Two bishops and two outside pawns

11/7/2017 – Opposite-coloured bishops are a paradox. In the middlegame they favour the attacker. In the endgame they favour the defender. In fact, some endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are drawn even if one side is two pawns up. But they don't draw themselves! You still have work to do.

Pawn barriers

10/31/2017 – Bishops like to have free diagonals, pawns like to be protected. However, sometimes it is difficult to combine both. But you should know what is more important.

The breakthrough

11/29/2016 – Every week ChessBase magazine author and renowned endgame expert Karsten Müller presents a remarkable or particularly instructive endgame in his blog. A click on the diagram opens a larger board. Test your endgame skills, improve and have fun!

Bishop starts pawn race

7/19/2016 – Every week ChessBase Magazine author and renowned endgame expert Karsten Müller presents a remarkable or particularly instructive endgame in his blog. A click on the diagram opens a larger board. Test your endgame skills, improve and have fun.

Fairy-tale mate

7/5/2016 – Every week ChessBase Magazine author and renowned endgame expert Karsten Müller presents a remarkable or particularly instructive endgame in his blog. A click on the diagram opens a larger board. Test your endgame skills, improve and have fun!
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