Two bishops and pawn vs bishop?

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checkmateibeatu

Is this usually won?

TrueFiction

I am also interested, I would assume the two bishops is won. Does anyone know definitively?

khpa21

That depends. Can you win a K+2B's vs. K position?

cobra91

Yes, this is indeed a straightforward win. After all, the weaker side can't sac his bishop for the pawn since two bishops are enough to force mate against a lone king. That means he must try to blockade the pawn, but the stronger side will have a bishop of the same color that can guard the square in front of the pawn, so with the king also assisting the pawn's advance, there's just no hope for the defender. Trading bishops doesn't save the game, either, because K+B+P vs. K is also an easy forced win. 

The only exception I can think of offhand would be if the stronger side has a wrong-colored rook pawn; the defender may sometimes have drawing chances in this case. For instance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the position at left, Black can repeatedly play Bb2-Ba1-Bb2-Ba1, and if White brings his bishop onto the long diagonal, Black can safely exchange bishops due to the resulting endgame being drawn.

Liburkin
It's all about position. The stronger side needs to promote the pawn (usually) to force the win, since the advantage of a minor piece ahead is (usually) not enough to win. I will find some example endgames to illustrate the ideas.
checkmateibeatu
lol sorry. I mean two bishops and pawn vs TWO bishops...
TrueFiction
Haha yeah that changes the situation slightly. Lol
checkmateibeatu
khpa21 wrote:

That depends. Can you win a K+2B's vs. K position?


Yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvFLNvQ93bQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uimbIq9h_7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhxmvaoNZns

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA3c1ORODsw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDGjiNxXDJ8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqjik_DLXhA

To practice (When you refresh it gives you a new random position.):

http://www.chessvideos.tv/endgame-training/two-bishop-checkmate.php

gztgztgzt

two bishops + pawn vs two bishops will usually be drawn, since you can usually sac a bishop for the pawn and have a draw. There are going to be some exceptional positions where the pieces are awkardly placed, but they are rare. A pawn plus in a two bishop ending, though, I don't know if that's decisive or not (eg 4 pawns vs 3 pawns). In a one bishop ending, it is usually enough to win.

khpa21

If all the pawns are on one side, then the only piece for which an extra pawn suffices to win is the queen. For all the others, the weaker side can set up a solid entrenchment where the only way to progress for the stronger side is to keep trading pawns, but eventually there will be only one pawn standing, which the weaker side's king can blockade for an easy draw.

G30rg3C05tanza

Two bishops and a pawn vs two bishops should be a draw.  To me there doesn't seem to be a way to oust the king away from the critical squares with his other bishop undermining any potential zugzwang positions and, at the same time, creating other threats, such as picking off the pawn in support with the king and so on.

Arisktotle

Does white win?

G30rg3C05tanza

 

G30rg3C05tanza
Arisktotle wrote:

Does white win?

Yes.  See my post with your position.

Arisktotle
DaneKnoch wrote:
Arisktotle wrote:

Does white win?

Yes.  See my post with your position.

Correct! I made up the position and thought it was a draw because white should not exchange bishops on the long diagonal. But Stockfish made me see the error of my ways.

RandomRogueAlpaca

What about a seventh-rank pawn with the opponents bishop blockading and the opponents king cut off by the pair of bishops?

Way-of-Pain
ALPACALORDPWAA wrote:

What about a seventh-rank pawn with the opponents bishop blockading and the opponents king cut off by the pair of bishops?

Post a diagram?