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Minor-piece endings · advanced

Opposite-color bishops

Use two separated passed pawns against a bishop on the other color.

The rule

Separated pawns can force the bishop to leave one wing unguarded.

How to play it

  1. 1

    Separate the pawns

    Separated passers force the bishop to choose a wing.

  2. 2

    Attack the blockade

    Use the king and bishop to challenge the fixed square.

  3. 3

    Pull the bishop away

    Offer one passer so the other can run.

Study the line, then play it

Step through the example. Then play your moves from the same position.

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Move 0 of 4

Starting position

Play through the line one move at a time.

Before you play

Moves to queue

  1. 1.Push with check
  2. 2.Bishop check

Safe when

After f5+, Be5+ stays sound against every legal king reply or cancels.

Stop when

After Be5+, verify the king and bishop before advancing either passer.

Common mistake

Putting both passers on squares controlled by the defending bishop.

Convert two separated passed pawns against the opposite bishop.

Start with a comfortable clock. Reduce it when the position feels familiar. Your record is 0/0.

Start this drill

Speed Chess Training

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