Opposite-Colored Bishops: How Much is Enough?
You probably know about the drawing tendency of opposite-colored bishops in the endgame - particularly pure bishop endgames. For example, it is hard to believe that the following position, in which Black has three extra pawns, is a draw. But it is:
And yet, at the same time there are many positions in which only a slight advantage in an ending with bishops of opposite colors is decisive. Let's now see a famous ending by Jose Capablanca, described by the third world champion as his best ending ever:
Capablanca (left) & Nimzowitsch
I believe that Nimzowitsch missed a draw at move 30. The ending was very interesting to analyze, and perhaps you have a different point of view and can show a way to win after 30.Bb8.
RELATED STUDY MATERIAL
- Check out videos with opposite-colored bishops;
- Read WIM Iryna Zenuyk's article about opposite-colored bishops;
- Check out GM Dejan Bojkov's Chess Mentor lesson Opposite-Colored Bishops;
- Read GM Vinay Bhat's article Materialism, Opposite Colored Bishops, and Kasparov's Theorem.
