The two faces of the opposite-coloured bishops

by Karsten Müller
8/6/2019 – Opposite-coloured bishops have two faces: in a pure endgame they are often drawn because the weaker side is often able to defend on the squares that his bishop controls. But with more pieces on the board the opposite-coloured bishops indeed tend to favour the attacker. In this case Black can use the attacking potential of his queen.
Enjoy Capablanca's fine technique, Tal's magic, Lasker's fighting spirit, Petrosian's defensive skills, Smyslov's feeling for harmony, and Alekhine's and Spassky's flair for the attack.

With queens, it's another story

It's important to understand the attacking potential of the queen with opposite-coloured bishops.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
90.Qd5 Opposite coloured-bishops have two faces: in a pure endgame they are often drawn because the weaker side is often able to defend on the squares that his bishop controls. But with more pieces on the board the opposite-coloured bishops indeed tend to favour the attacker. In this case Black can use the attacking potential of his queen.
Black to play and win
Show Solution
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Iniyan,P2480Donchenko,A26002019A7017th Aeroflot Open-A 20198.30

Karsten Mueller in ChessBase Magazine

Do you like these lessons? There are plenty more by internationally renowned endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller in ChessBase Magazine, where you will also find openings articles and surveys, tactics, and of course annotations by the world's top grandmasters.

Apart from his regular columns and video lectures in ChessBase Magazine there is a whole series of training DVDs by Karsten Mueller, which are bestsellers in the ChessBase Shop.

Karsten Mueller

Karsten Mueller regularly presents endgame lessons in the ChessBase Video Portal

Analyses by Caruana, Nepomniachtchi, Anand, Kashlinskaya, Wojtaszek, Navara, Meier, Keymer etc. from recent top-class tournaments. Videos by King, Trent, Pelletier and Marin. 12 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more!

Highlights of this issue

  • CBM 184No passive position!
    Fabiano Caruana shows his black victory over Georg Meier
  • Fighting fire with fire
    Yago Santiago’s hot tip against the Leningrad Dutch
  • No Catalan, por favor!
    Igor Stohl stops this popular white opening with an early …b5
  • Carlsen insider
    Peter Heine Nielsen analyses three current games of the World Champion
  • Meeting world class
    Vincent Keymer looks back at his draw against Levon Aronian
  • "If you are thrown out of your preparation, you should react aggressively!"
    Alina Kashlinskaya (cover) looks back at the victory which paved her way to become new European champion.
  • Ladies to the fore!
    Oliver Reeh presents 29 tactical highlights from the European Women’s Ch
     
  • Videos:
    Rainer Knaak demonstrates a trap in the French Steinitz Variation.
    Karsten Müller explains to you an instructive model game from Shamkir.
    And: Get to know two of the greatest chess hopes from India, Nihal Sarin and Gukesh!

    ... and much more!

Links

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.