Getting h-pawned

Submitted by Phobetor on Mon, 09/28/2009 at 2:05pm.

This is just a short post on a funny game I played online today. We reached an endgame with Q+R+B each, but with opposite bishops. And what do you do in positions with heavy pieces and opposite-coloured bishops? Yes, you should attack! Make use of the extra control of the light/dark squares to attack your opponent's king, before he attacks yours. Attacks in such position are often successful, because the defender lacks control of the squares the opponent's bishop attacks. Below is a typical game; white's king was relatively safe with two pawns on h2 and g2, but with the simple h7-h5-h4-h3 white lost control of the light squares around his king and I won quickly.

Please note that this is just a "casual" blog post. I have not checked the moves with an engine, so I don't claim the moves and comments are all best.

» posted in Phobetor's Blog

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Comments:

by Phobetor - 2 months ago
Eindhoven Netherlands

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 1201

Catalyst, after 24. Bc5 hxg2+ 25. Kg1 I could still try 25... Rf3 and 26... Bh3. I'm not sure if white has a defense, but at least he has to be very careful.

But like I said, this is more of a 'casual' blog post, just to illustrate how things can go very wrong if you don't watch your back in positions with opposite bishops. We both probably had better moves along the way.

by Catalyst_Kh - 2 months ago
Kharkov Ukraine

Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 1096

Great game of yours. White missed very interesting way to make a draw. Of course it wasn't wise to let your pawn get h3, but even after that white has good drawing chances with 24. Bc5 h3xg2 25. Kg1! What do you think about this trick? Your pawn is so solid defender for white king that i don't see any way to break through, while exchange at f1 after 25...Rf1+ can lead only to endless checks with draw by repeatition. Of course in blitz time pressure probably one would lost with blunder, but that is good chance anyway.