In the previous examples we saw that the key motif for winning this endgame is to force the defending king in front of the pawn with a check, gaining time to bring the strong king closer to the pawn. We also saw that a rook pawn helps the defender, with stalemate being the main resource for holding a draw.

In this level, the pawn is a bishop pawn (a pawn on the c-file or f-file). With a bishop pawn, stalemate can also be a defensive resource:

Here the defending king has to go into the corner with 1...Kh1!. If White captures the pawn with 2.Qxf2, the queen stalemates the king and the game is drawn.

Instead 1...Kf1? would lose. Not only does it allow White's king to come closer with 2.Kb4!, but Black's king must now move to the long side of the pawn (the side with more squares between the pawn and the edge of the board), where stalemate is no longer an issue. For example: 2...Ke2 3.Qg2 Ke1 4.Kc3 f1=Q 5.Qd2#

Here is another example with the defending king close to the corner:

Here 1.Kb8? would be a mistake and lose to 1...Kc6 2.c8=Q+ Kb6. The black queen is on an ideal square where it prevents all checks. White cannot prevent checkmate.

The only correct defence is 1.Ka8!, when 1...Kc6 2.c8=Q+ Kb6 3.Qb8+! holds the draw.

The king on the long side

If the defending king is on the long side, the queen can force it to move in front of the pawn, allowing the strong king to move closer. If the strong king is far enough away, the game is still a draw if the defending king can then move to the short side, as in the following example:

Black's king is in check and must move in front of the pawn with 1...Kf1. White can use this opportunity to get closer with the king: 2.Ke5. Now Black's only move that doesn't lose is 2...Kg2!, preventing the White king from getting any closer. With the king now close to the corner, Black can hold the draw.

An important trap

In the following position, Black sets a trap. Only a very difficult defence holds the draw.

Click the diagram to try and defend this position.

Later in the course we are going to look at examples where the strong king is close enough to the bishop pawn and a win is possible.