KBP vs K Ending

KBP vs K Ending

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Here is an interesting ending I ran into while doing my Analyze 3 positions for 20 minutes each exercises. This one is from Manual of Chess Combinations, Vol. 1B by Ivashchenko.

Be careful--you need to keep the opponent's king out of the corner or it will be a forced draw, because white has the wrong colored bishop.

This position illustrates the power of pieces (and pawns) coordinating to control squares, blockading the enemy king from making progress.

From 2012 to 2017 I pursued aggressive adult improvement (starting at age 43). I recorded my journey here as I gained over 400 rating points over two years, peaking at 1753 USCF in 2015. After taking a multi-year break to complete my doctorate, I returned to competitive chess in 2024.