i was black, was wondering if there's a way for white to mate VS 2 bishops.  we eventually settled on a draw.

Hello,

 I would say impossible, unless the weaker side helps. QvR can be hard work to win, so a powerful force like two bishops no chance, unless there is a tactic to win one of the bishops immediately.

Also RvB is a draw, although quite a painful one. Whilst the R and goodness knows how many pawns v two bishops should have been winning for white. 

Bye John S 

awesome, i was wondering about that.  i can't play a good end games to save my life.   so this helps.

Hello,

I gave you my honest opionion, based on what I would be thinking during the game.

Unfortunately only FIDE 2012, so make mistakes. Checking up on wikipedia found

this

• Queen versus two bishops. This was thought to be a draw due to the existence of a drawing fortress position, but the queen can prevent the bishops from getting to the fortress and win most of the time. However, it can take up to 71 moves (Nunn 2002:290ff). 
• 
  
• Think this is using the computer tablebases, that are now accurate seven pecies?
• The rest of what I said was correct I think. (Sorry about bullet points have gone into this format, after the copy and paste ).
• Bye John S
  

hahah very interesting, so only 71 moves huh? drawing fortress describes it well.  thanks again man.

 

Hork 

oh, i was black in this game :) luckily.  i could have easily lost in that game.

ill just comment when the 2 bishops vs queen esenario arrives, in this especific case i think theres no need for tablebases the week kings its near the edge and the further more the both bishops are far from the kings protection. 

Here whites plan shold be atack with the queen one bishop and at the same time  getting a position where  on the next movethe queen can atack the king and/or the other bishop.

The move that was made on your game forgot one of the basic chess principles central control.

 

nice one, thanks Azoth.

Yes, thanks Azoth. I thought the final position was what meant by the fortress, but didn't check moves to reach it.

  That means black should have given up bishop for pawn, to reach RvB at some point. Not sure of the most accurate way to do this. High rated players have lost this endgame, so would not have been a phleasant task to defend.

Bye John S