Easy As Pi

An understanding of how to play Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgames can help a player win or save many half-points. Although the basics can be simple to understand (i.e. establishing a blockade with the King and Bishop on squares of the same color as the Bishop; then safely using tempos to "pass"), carrying out the proper maneuvers can be tricky (see "A Not-so-Simple 'Simple Endgame'" and "A Not-so-Simple 'Simple Endgame' Addendum" for a recent example on this blog) especially at blitz speed, with players short of time.

This position is from IWantYourQueen  - Steftcho, blitz, FICS, 2011. Although White is a pawn ahead, Black has firmly blockaded the passer, and a draw should be routine.

White decides to give it one more try.  

65.Kf4 Kh5 66.Ke3 Kg6 67.Kd4 Kh5 68.Kc5 Kg6 69.Kd6 Kh5 70.Ke7 Kg6 71.Kf8

White's King has scrambled around to a position in front of his pawns, while Black's King patiently shuffled back and forth.

Now it is Black's Bishop to join the dance, with 71...Bg4 (or 71...Bh3) 72...Bf5, 73...Bg4, etc. and White can make no progress.

71...Kh7

Inexplicably allowing the blockade to be lifted.

72.Kf7

Of course.

72...Bg6+

Black gives up his pawn, as allowing White's g-pawn to advance (i.e. 72...Bg4 73.g6+) was suicidal.

73.Kxe6 Bf5+

Black could have tried the swindling 73...Bf7+, but if his opponent played 74.Kd6 (taking the Bishop would lead to stalemate) there would be a position with similar chances as in the game.

The text is a serious miscalculation, however, as White can take the Bishop on f5.

74.Kf7

Instead, the game would be over after 74.Kxf5 Kg8 75.g6 Kf8 76.g7+ Kf7 77.e6+ Kg8 78.e7 Kf7 79.g8Q+ Kxg8 80.e8Q+ Kh7 81.Qg6 checkmate 

Although things look dire for Black, I think that the unfortunate placement of White's Bishop, and the proper placement of Black's King, still allow a draw.

74...Bg6+ 75.Ke7 Be4 76.e6 Kg6

If Black's King had gone to g8, instead, could White have won? I do not think so. By committing to blockade the g-pawn, Black lets the e-pawn advance.

77.Kf8 Bd5 78.e7 Bc6 79.e8Q+ Bxe8 80.Kxe8

White's King now just needs to shoulder Black's King out from in front of his pawn and then it, too, can advance.

80...Kf5 81.Ke7 Kg6 82.Ke6 Kh7 83.Kf7

Too funny.

White has bypassed all of the Bishops-of-opposite-colors drawing snares, only to fall into stalemate.

Hats off to Black, for holding on to the last hope.