Learn · master endgames · Famous endgames
Veselin Topalov – Alexei Shirov
Linares 15th 1998 · Queen and bishop vs. queen and bishop · 0-1
Start of the endgame, move 42
The story
One of the most famous bishop sacrifices in chess history. Shirov is two pawns up, but the bishops are of opposite colors – such endgames often end in a draw. With 47…♗h3!! he gives his bishop not for material but for a square: after 48.gxh3 the king goes via f5 to e4, and White can no longer stop the pawns on a4 and d4.
The value along the endgame
↑ above: White better ↓ below: Black better
The moves from the start of the endgame
Values: Stockfish 19 at depth 24 with a time limit, for White in pawns; from five men or fewer the verdict of the Syzygy tablebase. A measurement that did not reach the depth does not count.