Forums

Possible Draw?

Sort:
Checkers4Me

This is taken from a recent game of mine. I would like to know if this is drawable for black. It was at this time during the game my opponent said it was a draw. I was able to get the win, but maybe that was due to an oversight by my opponent.

 

drakesdman

ck played right a draw was definently possible however the fact that you had pawns on the six andf 7th rank helped ur win

Spiffe

I'm no endgame guru, but I don't see any way for black to hold that position.  You have advanced passed pawns on both sides of the board.  The black bishop can't single-handedly protect the black pawns AND prevent the KR pawn advance (once supported by the king), and the black king can't come to help or the QR pawn will promote.

I don't suppose your opponent gave any reason why he felt this was a draw?  Solely because the bishops are opposite-colored, I would assume?

Checkers4Me

I'm assuming that it was because of the opposite color bishops. I remember reading somewhere that bishops of opposite color are draws (must mean usually), even with an opponent up a few pawns. This made me a little nervous reaching this position and when my opponent said that, I thought that I was overlooking something.

I guess this type of endgame being drawable depends on the position.

isotome

I don't see this as drawn.  I threw it into Rybka for you just to make sure and it favors White handsomely by +5.12 (5 pawn advantage, depth 21).

Checkers4Me

Thanks. I will now try to implement this strategy to my game.

Benjiboy

why not 62. Kb4 ?

Spiffe

Nice catch there Benji, 62... Kxb4 would at least draw, if not outright win!  The rook pawn will queen as a result, but white can no longer stop the d-pawn from queening with check as well.

That's really a result of inaccurate play, though.  62.a4+ isn't necessary; Kf2 is obviously superior in that light.  I don't think it affects the judgement of the position as won for white.

Checkers4Me

Good catch, definitely a miscalculation.