Category: B+P vs N

  White on the move also wins by entering the same position with Black to move.  

  We will conclude our analysis of the endgames of the bishop and pawn against  the knight with a curious position where the weaker side loses irrespective of whose move it is, despite the fact that the enemy king doesn’t control the key squares in front of the pawn (Averbakh, 1955.).  

  White wins on the move because he can prevent both the annoying checks and the entry of the enemy king  in the saving triangle c5-c6-d5.  

  From the analysis of the previous example, an important conclusion follows: if the black king is on the left hand side of the pawn and has three squares from which he can control the d-pawn available, the position is drawn because by moving withing the c5-c6-d5 triangle, Black can avoid the zugzwang. However, if […]

  Important differences exist even when it comes to an extremely unfavorable defense with a diagonally placed knight compared to the pawn. Mandelöl established it in 1938. While a similar position with the c-pawn was won (see 948.), here Black can draw irrespective of whether he has the move or not!

  The most important differences appear in the positions with the d-pawn stopped at the sixth rank. Let’s first take a look at the position similar to the one examined in the diagram 957. (Averbakh, 1955.).