Lessons
Opposite-Colored Bishops

Opposite-Colored Bishops

dbojkov
GM Dejan Bojkov
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Don't let your opponents escape with opposite-colored bishops.

Are opposite-colored bishop endings always drawn? The drawing tendencies in these endgames are very high but if the conditions are right (there are good passed pawns, one of the bishops is much stronger than the other, or one of the sides has a more active king) we can successfully play for a win. GM Dejan Bojkov will show you the correct way to play opposite-colored bishop endgames.

Here is what you will learn:

  • Learn how to evaluate complicated and counterintuitive endings!
  • Practice essential endgame tactics!
  • Learn some of the greatest ending ideas ever played!

Good Defense

Two connected passers do not necessary win in opposite-colored bishop endgames. In fact most of these are equal if the defender knows what to do.
6 Challenges

Bad Bishop

The situations in which one of the two opposite-colored bishops is stuck, provides good winning chances for the better side. One good idea is to trap the clumsy piece.
4 Challenges

Bad Bishop: Mating Threats

Mating attacks are more common in opposite-colored bishop positions in which both sides have heavy pieces on the board.
5 Challenges

Weak Squares

The main weakness of the bishop is that it controls only the squares of it's own color.
8 Challenges

Breakthrough 1

The "breakthrough" is one of the main winning ideas in the opposite-colored bishop endgames. It serves to create a passed pawn which is unstoppable, or an additional passer on the second flank.
11 Challenges

Breakthrough 2

The breakthroughs are magical moments which occur and disappear rapidly. One needs not only to catch the moment but also to execute them with maximum precision.
7 Challenges

One More Time (with Feeling)!

In the two previous examples we were sacrificing the pawns in order to win the bishop (in some of the lines) or to promote the pawn. In this one we shall see a sacrifice dedicated on the pawn promotion purely.
7 Challenges

Room for the King!

The most effective way in converting a material advantage is to make use of the king. It is the only piece to fight the opponent's bishop and we need to give it enough working space!
8 Challenges

Frozen Pieces

If one of the sides manages to block the opponent's bishop for good, the resulting positions can be treated like pawn endgames.
4 Challenges

The Move of the Century

It is all about small details in these opposite-colored bishop endgames, as Alexei Shirov convincingly proves in this amazing (and famous) example!
7 Challenges

Opposite-Colored Bishops

Endgames
10 Lessons
No Videos
67 Challenges
Released 2/24/2014

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