by Dorian Rogozenco
In the second part of his new series, Dorian Rogozenco presents two closely related fortress motifs. Both times the attacker is a bishop up, in the first case the pawns are facing each other on h6 and h7 (or a6 and a7):
In the second case, the pawn pair is merely shifted to the b- or g-file:
In both cases - provided the defender has reached one of the saving squares with the king - these are fortresses. In the second example, the defender must know a few of the attackers tricks, especially if the bishop has the option of sacrificing itself for the opponent's pawn.
Introductory video
Fortress or not? Spassky-Fischer 1972
In the first game of the 1972 World Championship match against Boris Spassky, did Bobby Fischer have the chance to build a fortress if he had simply placed his king on c8? Dorian Rogozenco knows the solution.
Interactive videos
How can White save himself?
The same applies here: White to move and draw
White has the "right" bishop - but there is still a way to save for Black. How?
White’s pawns are both under attack. How should they react and continue to win the game?
A variation from Giri-Shankland (Wijk aan Zee 2019) - How does Black hold a draw?