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Minor-piece endings · foundation

Wrong bishop + rook pawn

Hold the draw when the bishop cannot control the pawn’s promotion corner.

The rule

The rook pawn cannot promote when its bishop does not control the corner occupied by the defending king.

How to play it

  1. 1

    Compare the colors

    Check whether the bishop controls the pawn’s promotion corner.

  2. 2

    Reach the corner

    The defending king heads directly to the safe corner.

  3. 3

    Return after checks

    Ignore the bishop and return to the corner whenever possible.

Study the line, then play it

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

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

Move 0 of 4

Starting position

Play through the line one move at a time.

Before you play

Moves to queue

  1. 1.King steps within the corner zone
  2. 2.King returns to the corner

Safe when

The bishop is the wrong color and the pawn cannot advance with check.

Stop when

A pawn check or king opposition prevents the return to the corner.

Common mistake

Leaving the corner to attack the bishop can lose the draw.

Keep the king in the corner and hold for ten full moves.

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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