Normally you want to avoid opposite bishops if you have a slight advantage because it's the most drawish endgame, but I had an interesting game where I realized that choosing an opposite colored bishop endgame was a certain win. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts about opposite bishop endgames that are winning?
Winning opposite bishop endgames
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The endgame you gave is not winning at all. Aside from the opposite bishops, you also have the wrong rook pawn, making a draw all but certain. Black lost because he pushed the a-pawns instead of exchanging the f-pawn.
The endgame is winning because black's a pawns are useless, and the 3v1 will convert to a queen.
Really? It seems like a dead draw to me. Even your bishop is pointing at the wrong corner...Just one possible draw out of plenty:
Jan 9, 2016
0
#4
Karpov has a reputation for being the go to man for opposite color bishop endgames.
This one ends in a well known winning configuration for the "wrong" rook pawn.
Here is a game from 2014 that I won with equal material and no passed pawns.
0110001101101000 wrote:
Karpov has a reputation for being the go to man for opposite color bishop endgames.
This one ends in a well known winning configuration for the "wrong" rook pawn.
Yes, but the game was a rather easy draw. Anand missed 71...Bg3+, which is not easy to see when blindfolded.
The drawing method is quite simple: King on f3, pawn on h3, and bishop moving on the h3-c8 diagonal. Black has no progress- the ending with pawns on g4 and f5 is a book draw.
Mark Dvoretsky has several nice examples of opposite colour bishop endings in "Secrets of Chess Training".
Jan 9, 2016
0
#7
@ #8
lol, it's funny when players go to sleep in an endgame as if the game will draw itself.
Jan 9, 2016
0
#8
pfren wrote:
0110001101101000 wrote:
Karpov has a reputation for being the go to man for opposite color bishop endgames.
This one ends in a well known winning configuration for the "wrong" rook pawn.
Yes, but the game was a rather easy draw. Anand missed 71...Bg3+, which is not easy to see when blindfolded.
The drawing method is quite simple: King on f3, pawn on h3, and bishop moving on the h3-c8 diagonal. Black has no progress- the ending with pawns on g4 and f5 is a book draw.
Mark Dvoretsky has several nice examples of opposite colour bishop endings in "Secrets of Chess Training".
I had a feeling it must be a draw, but I didn't know where the blunder was. I was also surprised by pawn to h4, but of course when a player like Anand plays it I don't trust my judgement.
Thanks for the book recommendation. I've also heard good reviews for Marin's book Learn from the Legends which features a section on opposite color bishop endgames.
pfren wrote:
Really? It seems like a dead draw to me. Even your bishop is pointing at the wrong corner...
Hahaaa, I have been proven wrong yet again! I wonder if 45. BxB would have led to a better endgame.
This one covers some interesting cases and stunning moves in these endings
Opposite colored bishops chess mentor course
Wolf183 wrote:
Here is a game from 2014 that I won with equal material and no passed pawns.
Sexy zugzwang move 47
This is an easy win, regardless who has the move. Black places the bishop at h5, and then switches the king to d3.
With f and g pawns, this is not possible- there are no good squares for the bishop to support this plan.
See how the bishop on h4 obstructs the king entering from the kingside?
This is a classical game with this ending played in the last world cup final in 2015 between Svidler - Karjakin . You can see the artistry in karjakin hands.
Viulindar wrote:
This is a classical game with this ending played in the last world cup final in 2015 between Svidler - Karjakin . You can see the artistry in karjakin hands.
Nice, but Black could again save the game by giving his bishop a little breathing space: 78...f4!
Such "easy" moves are found when analysing, but playing OTB with the clock ticking is a totally different story...