Audacity of the Bishop (refreshed)
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Just the other day I read a piece on Chess.com that wanted to know which piece we prefered during play, a Bishop or a Knight? I voted for a Bishop, simply for its dexterity. I only just concluded a game, warts and all, I thought I'd share that classically shows why I find Bishops intriguing for end-game plays (moves 62-73). Actually, I think the Bishop is under-rated as a 3-point piece and as this game demonstrates quite capable of outwitting a Rook in the face of a clearly given advantage. What I admire most about the Bishop is its ability for promoting puns far above their given strength levels during end-game play. After Her Majesty, the Queen, it's my Crown Prince. Can you tell why White resigned?
becuase the rook cant do anything to prevent 74....c2+ which either loses the rook or lets black get a queen. and if white gives the rook away to prevent the check from occuring the g pawn has an easy waltz to the promoting square
I think this game demonstrates the power of connected passed pawns, especially those far advanced, more than it demonstrates the power of a bishop.
Crux wrote: Although I (among many other players, including Fischer and Carlsen) have the Bishop as my favourite piece, this particular game doesn't really show the true power of the Bishop. As said, the passed pawns deliver the killing blow here. If you want to see the full dexterity and power of a Bishop, I can recommend you to look at the end of the game between Fischer and Taimanov from 1971, where Fischer's Bishop overpowers the Knight, and wins a drawn endgame. (Some consider this particular endgame to be one of the best ever played!) http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044361&kpage=3 Enjoy, and well played yourself.
Wow! Now, that was some game! Thank you for the lift and link Crux
But of course, the passed pawns deliver the killer blow here... and their power to so do flows directly from the audacity of the bishop to protect them in the full view of what is an opposing superior officer-it'd never have happened without the bishop's stealth and flexibility.
jjjmmmccc177 wrote: becuase the rook cant do anything to prevent 74....c2+ which either loses the rook or lets black get a queen. and if white gives the rook away to prevent the check from occuring the g pawn has an easy waltz to the promoting square
Exactly... and the real clincher is that c2+ flows to mate! The rook admittedly is a 6-point piece and superior but in reality, rigid and stiff when compared to the bishop's dexterity... hence, its audacity.
I don't think the bishop is over or undervalued. It has its strengths and limitations.
Regardless of the bishop inquiries, that was a well played endgame on your part.
Jul 1, 2008
0
#9
In this game, Your pawn position was so cool to go with your bishop and that is why you can see how your Bishop was so amazingly super cool! If you ask me which one is the Best Piece! I don't know! I believe each piece plays great role on the board! And all depends on your positioning!
Have Fun!
"The rook admittedly is a 6-point piece"
Every source I've read says 5-point.
LoneWolfEburg wrote:
"The rook admittedly is a 6-point piece"
Every source I've read says 5-point.
LoL... and every source you've read is absolutely right. I do very sincerely beg your pardon, my fat fingers on the keyboard groove.
The rook to me is rendered powerless as the c3 is a potential queen, the white cant make a promotion by f5 which before time, black gets a mate... on bishop, i take bishop to be some sort of handicap...lol jst a thought