Dreev University – Endgames with Opposite-Coloured Bishops + PGN May 22, 2025

INTRODUCTION BY GM PIER LUIGI BASSO

Welcome, dear chess friends, to Dreev University!

In this new installment, we dive into one of the most intriguing and misunderstood areas of chess strategy—endgames with opposite-colored bishops.

At first glance, these positions may seem drawish or straightforward. But as you’ll soon discover, they are incredibly rich, subtle, and full of hidden depth. Opposite-colored bishop endgames often require precise calculation, deep positional understanding, and sometimes, a great deal of creativity. They are far from the “easy draws” many believe them to be.

Following the structure of our February 2025 module on rook endgames, we’ll begin with 30 theoretical positions that introduce key principles and patterns. These examples lay the groundwork for everything that follows.

From there, we shift to instructive and highly complex endgames, most of which come from recent top-level play. These are not just puzzles—they’re practical challenges that even grandmasters would struggle to solve at the board. One striking example is the endgame from Rapport–Duda, Superbet Classic 2023, where engines show a surreal +100 evaluation (!)—yet finding a clear path to victory is still a monumental task for a human.

We’ve also included a special section on opposite-colored bishops with rooks, a unique subclass of endgames where both subtle strategy and concrete calculation come into play.

Finally, you’ll find a carefully designed exercise section to help you reinforce your learning and test your intuition.

Let’s get started—welcome to the deep end of endgame mastery!