how to play chess endgames book

9 The Bishop-Pair in the Endgame
The bishop-pair ... something to win with.
TONY MILES
Wilhelm Steinitz understood that the bishoppair
is stronger than bishop + knight, since the
basic disadvantage of the bishop-that it can influence
only the squares of its own colour - is
offset by the presence of its colleague. Note that
when one bishop is exchanged, its colleague is
also weakened, because then the opponent's
pieces can safely operate on squares of the opposite
colour. Since the bishops are long-range
pieces, the advantage of the bishop-pair is especially
(but not exclusively, as we shall see) apparent
in open positions.
A) Steinitz's Method of
Restriction
This is based on the relative lack of mobihty of
the knight, which sometimes makes it very hard
for it to reach or leave particular complexes of
squares. The following classic is such an excellent
demonstration of this that we really must
include it (see next diagram).
Besides the bishop-pair, Black also has complete
control over the position and a slight initiative,
which prove to be a deadly mixture.
l. ..!l.ad8
Naturally not I...i.xb2?2 !I.ab) i.e5 3 !l.xb7
which would needlessly allow White activity
and provide his pieces with some supportpoints.
It is particularly important to deprive the
knight of any prospects.
2 c3 llie8
Activating the last piece and threatening
... Eixe3.
3 't)b3
3 't)f3 b6 4 Eiadl c5 runs in similar channels
to the game.
3 .•. b6!
B
9.01
B.Englisch - W.Steinitz
London 1883
With this Black begins to increase the scope
of the g4-bishop, which has no opposite number,
and simultaneously restricts the range of
activity of both white minor pieces.
4 h3 i.e6 5 !l.fdl ?!
5 i.d4?! can be answered easily with 5 .. .f6.
The advantage of the bishop-pair should be
greater and easier to exploit in practice than the
rook ending after 5 ... i.xb3 6 axb3 i.xd4 7 cxd4
+.
However, 5 't)d4!? came strongly into consideration;
for example, 5 ... i.d5 6 !l.fel c5 7
't)b5 i.c6, and now:
a) After 8 ltJc7? the great power of the
bishop would be revealed: 8 ... !l.xe3 ! 9 !l.xe3
i.h6 (9 ... !l.c8!?) 10 l;teel (10 .i'.te5? i.f4 11
!l.ael i.xe5 12 !!.xe5 !!.di+ 13 @h2 !l.d2 -+)
10 ... i.f4 11 ltJa6 i.bS 12 ltJxc5 bxc5 13 .i'.tadl
!l.d6+.
b) 8 ltJxa7?! would also be playing with
fire: 8 ... i.a4 9 b3 i.d7 JO laadl i.xc3 11 !I.fl
i.f5 12 i.f4 i.d3.
c) In contrast, with the correct move 8 a4!?
White can still fight tenaciously.
5 ... c5 (DJ