Wrong-Bishop Endgame
Wrong-Bishop Endgame
Definition
A wrong-bishop endgame is an endgame in which the stronger side possesses a bishop and at most one remaining pawn—typically a rook-pawn (the a- or h-file pawn)—but the bishop moves on squares of the opposite color to the pawn’s promotion square (a8 or h8 for White, a1 or h1 for Black). Because the bishop cannot control the critical promotion square, the defending king can usually reach the corner and establish an impregnable fortress, so the game is theoretically a draw despite the material advantage.
How the Concept Is Used
Players invoke the idea of a wrong-bishop endgame in three main situations:
- Trading into a draw: The defending side may aim to exchange down to a single rook-pawn against a bishop of the wrong color.
- Avoiding conversion problems: The stronger side will try to keep an additional pawn or a knight on the board, or maneuver so that the promotion square matches the bishop.
- Creating a fortress: If the weaker side reaches the corner before the pawn reaches the 7th rank, the position is usually untouchable.
Strategic Significance
Mastery of wrong-bishop positions is essential for practical endgame technique:
- Planning ahead: Strong players avoid exchanges that would leave only the wrong bishop and a rook-pawn.
- Defensive resource: Even in seemingly lost positions, the defending side can “head for the corner” and draw.
- Clock management: Because the drawing method is simple (shuffle the king in the corner), the defender can save time in rapid or blitz games.
Typical Drawing Mechanism
With White to move and an a-pawn:
- If the Black king arrives on a8 (promotion square) or b8, and White’s bishop is on light squares, any attempt to push the pawn to a7 allows Black to shuffle …Kb8–a8 indefinitely. The bishop cannot legally cover a8, so promotion is impossible.
- The only winning hope for White is to force the Black king away, which cannot be done without the “right” bishop.
Canonical Position
Diagram after 50…Kh8 (Black to play) from countless textbook positions:
[[Pgn| 1. a6 Kg8 |fen|8/P6B/1k6/8/8/8/8/7k|arrows|a7a8|squares|a8]]White has an extra pawn and a bishop on light squares. The promotion square a8 is dark, therefore White cannot evict the Black king from a8, and the game is an immediate draw.
Famous Examples
1. Carlsen – Karjakin, World Championship (Game 3), New York 2016
White had an extra a-pawn and a light-squared bishop. Karjakin’s king comfortably reached a8; the game was agreed drawn on move 78 after the fortress was established.
2. Fischer – Taimanov, Candidates QF (4), Vancouver 1971
Taimanov tried to squeeze a win two pawns up, but Fischer calculated that only the rook-pawn would survive. Once the wrong-bishop situation appeared on the board, Fischer offered a draw which Taimanov accepted immediately.
3. Philidor’s Study (1777)
François-André Danican Philidor composed the earliest known study showing that B + a-pawn vs. lone king is drawn when the bishop does not control a8. Nearly 250 years later the principle still decides grandmaster games!
Key Rules of Thumb
- “Head for the corner.” The defender should sprint with the king to the pawn’s promotion square.
- “Keep an extra pawn.” The attacker must avoid simplifying if doing so leaves only the wrong bishop.
- “Opposite-colored bishops help the defender.” The wrong-bishop fortress is a special case of the more general drawing chances with opposite-colored bishops.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Some engines still overestimate wrong-bishop positions unless given enormous depth, so human players occasionally “teach” the computer by steering into the textbook draw.
- In over-the-board tournaments, arbiters often see defenders claim a 50-move draw far earlier because the fortress is so obvious that no progress is possible.
- The term “wrong bishop” has entered everyday chess slang: commentators might quip, “He’s got the wrong bishop—Karjakin can go to sleep now!”
Practical Tips for Tournament Play
- Convert early advantages: Do not allow the defender to liquidate into an opposite-colored bishop endgame featuring only the rook-pawn.
- Recognize the fortress: If you are the defender, aim for the corner even if it means giving up other material.
- Use your king actively: The attacker should try to prevent the enemy king from reaching the corner before pushing the pawn to the 6th rank.