Bishop endgame
The Wrong Bishop and Rook Pawn
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A bishop and pawn are normally overwhelming against a lone king, but a rook’s pawn creates a precise exception. If the bishop does not control the promotion corner and the defending king reaches that corner, the stronger side cannot force it out. This is the wrong-bishop rook-pawn draw.
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Check the corner colour
White’s h-pawn promotes on h8, a dark square. White’s bishop on c2 travels on light squares, so it can never check the king on h8 or control that corner. Black stays on h8; if Black had the move in the diagram, the game would already be stalemate. With White to move, Syzygy still gives a draw.
The defender must reach the corner
The phrase “wrong bishop” is incomplete without the king position. If the defending king is cut off before it reaches h8, bishop and king may shepherd the pawn through. Defending, head for the promotion corner and avoid being driven to the adjacent square. Attacking, calculate whether your king can exclude the defender before simplifying into this material.
The right bishop changes the geometry
Replace the c2 bishop with a dark-squared bishop on c1 and White can play 1.Bb2#, because the bishop then checks along b2–h8 while king and pawn cover the exits. The colour makes mate possible; precision still matters, since a careless waiting move can stalemate the king.
How to avoid the draw
- Keep another pawn when possible. It may provide a waiting move or force the king away from the corner.
- Cut off the king early. Do not assume you can evict it after it reaches the promotion corner.
- Check the promotion-square colour before exchanging. A favourable bishop ending can become an immediate theoretical draw after one capture.
- Watch for stalemate. If the cornered king has no move, a quiet bishop or king move may end the game at once.