Chess Puzzle of the Week (220): Solution

On Monday I gave you this bishop ending (Belyavsky/Mikhalchisin 1992), with White to move. I took it from 300 Most Instructive Chess Exercises by Thomas Engqvist: you can read my review here. If you enjoyed this puzzle you should read the book.

The answer, in brief, is that the pawn ending after Bc5, which looks winning, is actually drawn. The win comes from playing 1. g5! hxg5 2. Bxf6+!

Click on any move to play it through on a pop-up board.

There are some important lessons here on bishop endings, pawn endings, sacrificial breakthroughs and the opposition!