Need help with bishop & queen problem.

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Avatar of KingUsbeorn

If I am being attacked by a bishop and a queen at my king ( Lets say its a black bishop) and I have a few pawns around my king should I put my pawns on black sqaures or white squares?

I know putting my pawns on black squares creates targets for the black bishop but is it safer for my king?

And if I put the pawns on white squares blacks bishop is useless but is my king really that safe?

I'm somewhat new to chess so sorry if this sounds stupid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Avatar of zirtoc

I'm going to ignore your diagrams because in the first one, 1. Qb5+ allows you to take black's bishop and win easily.  The second diagram should also result in a win for white.  It doesn't really matter.

Usually what happens though is that your opponent will have pawns in front of your pawns.  This is why the rule about keeping the pawns on opposite colored squares exists.  Such as in this example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you can clearly see the problem.  It is much easier for black to attack and win the game than white, because the pawns can't escape.  This is the point of the rule.

Now, if you are just trying to decide what to do with a bishop and queen against 3 pawns and a queen, here's the real question.  Can you check your opponent's king and get him in a position to trade the queens off?  Because your pawns should be able to beat the bishop, assuming your king can help with the pawn defense.  And I would generally say that you still want the pawns on the opposite color if possible to keep the defense easier.  But it all depends on the position.

Hope that helps!

Avatar of zirtoc

Actually, I'll use your second diagram to illustrate my point.  I will keep checking until I can trade the queens off and win the game:


Black simply can't get away from all the annoying checks and eventually is forced to trade the queens.  In this position, the pawns should be able to march down the board with the king.  Even if they couldn't, white would at least get a draw against a lone bishop.

Avatar of KingUsbeorn

this has helped me alot thank you.